Fighting Dragons: Apologetic Approaches And Contemporary Issues

This course is an exploration of five approaches to apologetics (classical, evidential, cumulative, presuppositional, and reformed epistemology), followed by approaches to defending the integrity of the Word (exploring Canon development and textual issues), creation and evolution (thinking through a few different approaches to the questions and issues at stake), and major religious objections to Christianity.

Course Objectives

To increase competence and confidence in the sufficiency of Scripture, and various methodologies and arguments used to defend the faith from enemies to the Gospel, and to encourage the faith of fellow believers. Through student presentations, papers, and in-class discussions, we will approach various problems and see together God's sufficiency to give us competent counsel and wisdom to meet the various forms of the folly of the world. We'll also analyze various clips from evangelists like Ray Comfort, Jeff Durbin, Keith Darrel, and others, and consider the elements of their approach in strengths and weaknesses.

Texts

• Counterpoints: 5 Approaches To Apologetics
• Always Ready by Greg Bahnsen
• On Guard by William Lane Craig
• Classical Apologetics by John Gerstner
• Canon Revisited by Michael Kruger
• Holy Scripture: A Dogmatic Sketch by John Webster
• The Case For The Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona
• Counterpoints: Creation and Evolution
• Old Testament Textual Criticism: A Practical Introduction by Ellis Brotzman and Eric Tully
• New Testament Textual Criticism: A Concise Guide by David Black