The New England School of Theology
 
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Fall  2010 Syllabus

Introduction to Christian Apologetics

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Place: Trinity Church, North Benson, Fairfield, CT

(September 14 - December 4)

 

Instructors: Dr. John M. DeMassa, Dr. Ray Pennoyer, Dr. Wayne Detzler, Rev. Chip Anderson, Rev. Henry Brehm, Bob Chenoweth

 

Textbooks: William Lane Craig, On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision (2010); Norman L. Geisler and Ronald M. Brooks, When Skeptics Ask: A Handbook on Christian Apologetics (1990; reprint 2008); Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Faith in an Age of Skepticism (2008). Other materials may be assigned.


Course Objectives: This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about apologetics. We will review fundamentals related to apologetics elaborating on essential questions challenging the modern church. The course will examine the nature of apologetics, comparative religions, God, Science and the Bible, the resurrection, the person of Jesus, interpretive issues, problems in Christian history and special contemporary topics. There will also be an emphasis on practical training of students to address their specific questions and challenges.


Schedule of Classes:

Fall Semester

Fall 2010

Session 1: Introduction to Christian Apologetics (and to the Course)

Sept. 14

Session 2: Classic Arguments for the Existence of God

Sept. 21

Session 3: On Comparative Religions and Competing Truth Claims

Sept. 28

Session 4: On God, Evil, and Human Suffering

Oct. 5

Session 5: Science and the Bible I - Friend or Foe?

Oct. 12

Session 6: On Jesus - His Existence, Ministry, Claims, and Purpose of His Death

Oct. 19

Session 7: On Jesus - His Resurrection

Oct. 26

Session 8: On the Bible - Reliability, Text, and Interpretation

Nov. 2

Session 9: On the Bible - Specific Moral and Historical Difficulties

Nov. 9

Session 10: Science and the Bible II - Questions of Origins

Nov. 16

Session 11: On the Nature and Destiny of Human Beings

Nov. 23

Session 12: The Challenge of Christian History

Nov. 30



* Classes will meet in the Church sanctuary on Tuesday or Thursday.


Attendance: Critical . Things come up but absence from class is unacceptable and unexcused absences will result in a failure for the course.


Homework: Projects and questions from each topic will be assigned after each session. These assignments are the responsibility of the student and should not be taken lightly. They will be collected, recorded and count toward your final grade.


Grading:   There will be weekly quizzes numbering 12. You are responsible for taking each quiz. Notify the staff prior to the scheduled exam time if you are unable to take it. If you miss an exam without permission, you will receive a zero. Unannounced quizzes and extra credit projects may be given.


Final Grade: The final grade will be determined as follows:

                       12 Quizzes                                300 points         

                       Project/Paper                            200 points

                       Total                                          500 points                                                                                    

Details Subject to Change
Our Program

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See below for our exciting Fall 2010 offerings.