Contemporary Apologetic Courses (CAP)

CAP 500 - Case for Christianity (2 hrs.)
Apologetics is an academic discipline which focuses on establishing a rational reasoned defense of the Christian faith, as well as engaging current social issues and the truth claims of other faiths. In this course we will examine various apologetical methodologies, both historical and contemporary and grapple with the various roles Apologetics plays within Christianity, as well as within modern culture as a whole. We will also look at a number of current issues of great importance to modern apologists and seek to actively engage these issues in our online forums.
CAP 501 - Philosophy of Religion (3 hrs.)
The goal of this course is to explore fundamental issues lying at the heart of religious belief and practice. These will include alleged difficulties regarding God's attributes, the meaningfulness of religious language, God and the meaning of life, the relationship between faith and reason, and the justification of religious belief itself. These issues will be examined with the underlying purpose of more effectively communicating and defending Christian faith in a postmodern world. Students will be exposed to both current and classical writings in the Philosophy of Religion and will be expected to read the assigned writings and be prepared for active discussion in class. It is hoped that each student will begin to develop reasoned positions on each of the issues studied.
CAP 550 - Apologetics in a Postmodern World (3 hrs.)
This foundational course gives students an orientation to the language and process of apologetics. Specific areas covered include a history of apologetics activity, definitions and purposes of apologetics, the relationship of apologetics to evangelism, the role of the Holy Spirit in the apologetic task, a survey of some contemporary apologetics issues, how postmodernism affects the way apologetics must be done, and various apologetics approaches.
CAP 560 - Challenges to Christianity in a Postmodern World
This course is an examination of postmodernism and some of the challenges to Christian faith in a postmodern culture. Specific areas studied will include postmodern understandings of truth, reality, reason and community, Christian exclusivism, religious pluralism, hell, the plight of the unevangelized, the God of the Old Testament, and how an effective apologetic can be carried out in a postmodern culture.
CAP 600 - Christian Theism & Postmodernism (3 hrs.)
This course assists students in understanding both the necessity of and strategies used in making the case for the existence of the Judeo-Christian God in a postmodern world. The nature of theism, atheism, and agnosticism are studied along with questions concerning burden of proof. Major theistic arguments are also evaluated. In addition, this course seeks to provide convincing responses to some of the foremost challenges to Christian theism such as the problem of evil, alleged contradictions in the concept of God, and difficulties with religious language.
Prerequisites:CAP 550; CAP 560
CAP 601 - Christian Spirituality & Postmodernism (3 hrs.)
A study of the current trend toward spirituality in western culture and the effects of this trend upon Christian evangelism and apologetics. The nature of contemporary spirituality is analyzed and its roots studied. In addition, this course seeks to assist students in understanding how this trend has affected culture and, consequently, how evangelism and apologetics can most effectively be done.
CAP 602 - Communicating Christian Truth in a Postmodern World (3 hrs.)
This course is devoted to enhancing students’ skills in the process of communicating a Christian message in a postmodern culture. Whether in small groups or large, whether formally or informally, the task of apologetics requires effective communication with others. Areas studied include assumptions in communicating, postmodern assumptions which affect successful communication, ways of defusing postmodern obstacles to Christian faith through careful communication, and approaches to effectively responding to questions raised in a postmodern culture.
Prerequisites: CAP 550; CAP 560
CAP 603 - Reliability of Scripture (3 hrs.)
Christians have been defined for centuries as people of the book. Much of who we are is inexorably bound up with our scriptures. We see the Bible as canon, a measuring stick by which we evaluate our doctrines and behavior. We hold that the Bible was preserved throughout history by the providential hand of God and remains a faithful witness to the life of Christ and the character of God, infallible in all matters of faith and practice. But on what basis do we hold this confidence? How can we be sure that the Bible is reliable? In this course we will both examine the foundation for the reliability of Scripture and also interact with critics of biblical reliability both within and without the church. Our constant goal will be to establish confidence in the scriptures as reliable, true, and trustworthy for all time.
Prerequisites: CAP 550; CAP 560
CAP 650 - The Historical Jesus & Postmodern World (3 hrs.)
A course which explores the evidence for the historical Jesus and his relationship to “the Christ of faith.” Areas of inquiry include key challenges to the quest for the historical Jesus, the reliability of the New Testament documents, the resurrection of Jesus, and strategies for making the case for the historical Jesus in a postmodern world.
Prerequisites: CAP 550; CAP 560
CAP 651 - Social Ethics & Christianity (3 hrs.)
A number of prominent current social and moral issues in western culture are examined. These include ethical relativism, the question of the objectivity of moral truth, foundations of morality, tolerance, and specific moral topics such as euthanasia, genetic engineering, gay rights, environmental ethics and animal rights.
Prerequisites: CAP 550; CAP 560
CAP 652 - Problem of Evil (3 hrs.)
Prerequisites: CAP 550; CAP 560