Apologetics: Arguments from the Philosophy of Religion

Apologetics: Arguments from the Philosophy of Religion is a Christian approach to apologetics through the Great Books. Apologetics: Arguments from the Philosophy of Religion is an elective humanities course designed to lead the student through Western Civilization’s foundational works in philosophy and theology in a true liberal arts fashion. Students in Apologetics: Arguments from the Philosophy of Religion course will learn to read and appreciate the Great Books from Plato to Augustine, from Aquinas to William Lane Craig, think critically about, and cultivate answers to, perennial human questions, and expand their imaginative faculties to think critically in a context outside of secular reasoning alone. This year-long course consists of four eight-week sections.

Students will be assigned reading appropriate for the week, relevant reading questions, weekly lecture videos, weekly 1 hour live recitation, one 1200-word essay, and a final exam. In the course of the academic year, the students will have read all the texts listed below, listened to 32 lectures, and attended a minimum of 28 (ideally 30) live recitations to discuss the texts in Socratic fashion.

Course Objectives:

1. To think critically about questions concerning God’s existence, the problem of evil, and free-will and determinism.
2. To gain a grasp of the philosophical figures and the historical framework of their time period.
3. To develop lateral thinking skills by analyzing and synthesizing themes and motifs.
4. To cultivate an appetite for learning as a way of life (the life of the mind).
5. To cultivate a desire to pursue the highest things.
6. To be able to think Christianly and speak persuasively about perennial human questions.

Texts and Required Materials:

• Augustine, City of God, Penguin Classics [ISBN 978-0140448948]
• Aquinas, Shorter Summa, [ISBN 978-1928832430]
• William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics [ISBN 978-1433501159]
• William Lane Craig, On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision [ISBN 978-1434764881]
• Steven M. Cahn, Exploring Philosophy of Religion: An Introductory Anthology [ISBN: 978-0-19-046138-6]
• Occasional articles are given in PDF format as the teacher deems necessary.
• The ability to record and upload oral presentations in a good quality video format.