Description of M.A. In Christian Apologetics Courses

 

Core in Biblical Studies

 

• CSAP521 Survey of Genesis — Malachi

• 3.0 units — A broad survey of the Old Testament books, including selected introductory and critical issues, relevant background, major themes, and divisions and crucial problems. Class Fee.

 

• CSAP522 Survey of Matthew — Revelation

• 3.0 units — A general overview of the New Testament books, including selected introductory and critical issues, relevant background, major themes, and divisions and crucial problems. Class Fee.

 

• CSAP527 Hermeneutics and Bible Study Methods*

• 3.0 units — A study of sound interpretation and application of the Bible, including analysis of presuppositions, general rules, and specialized principles for various biblical genre and phenomena. A presentation of various approaches to studying the Bible. (Program requirement for on-campus students only.)

 

• CSAP529 Scripture: Authority, Canon, and Criticism

• 2.0 units — A course addressing the essential issues in defending the Scriptures against perennial attacks. Topics include historical reliability, inerrancy, canonization, and divine inspiration of Scripture including an examination and critique of modern biblical criticism.

 

Core in Apologetics

 

• CSAP628 Why God Allows Evil

• 2.0 units — A study of one of the most difficult questions in our culture. Topics covered include the nature of man; the roots of evil, pain and suffering; and the glory of God that will be revealed.

 

• CSAP691 Seminar: In Defense of the Resurrection

• 2.0 units — An investigation of a wide range of issues that have been used through history to call into question the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ such as miracles, the nature of history, the historical reliability of the New Testament, contradictions in the resurrection accounts, the Shroud of Turin, and so on. Legal methodologies are employed to determine whether or not the resurrection can be considered proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

• CSAP510 Apologetics Research & Writing

• 1.0 units — Research skills for use of library, internet, and key apologetics reference works. Methods of scholarly and journalistic writing with emphasis on critical thinking, persuasion, and evaluation of data and testimony.

 

Core in Theology

 

• CSAP541 Essential Christian Doctrine I

• CSAP542 Essential Christian Doctrine II

• 2.0 units each — A presentation and biblical defense of the essential Christian doctrines with special reference to contemporary criticism of the value and truth of doctrinal assertions.

 

• CSAP550 Historical Theology

• 3.0 units — History of the Church from the apostolic Fathers to the modern era with an emphasis on the development of doctrine. Highlights key thinkers in the patristic, medieval, Reformation, and modern eras. Class Fee.

 

Apologetics Electives

 

• CSAP601 Defending the Faith I

• CSAP602 Defending the Faith II

• CSAP603 Defending the Faith III

• 2.0 units each — A series of coordinated lectures by experts in various areas of apologetics addressing some of the most serious intellectual challenges to the Gospel and the Christian world view. 601, 602, and 603 do not need to be taken in sequence. Class Fee.

 

• CSAP611 New Testament Greek I

• CSAP612 New Testament Greek II

• 2.0 units each — An introductory study of the basic elements of New Testament Greek. Translation of portions of the New Testament in the second semester. Designed for students who have not completed a full sequence of beginning Greek courses.

 

• CSAP617 Advanced Biblical Apologetics

• 2.0 units — A scholarly evaluation and response to a variety of contemporary attacks on the historical reliability and inerrancy of Scripture including solutions to a range of alleged contradictions in the text. Prerequisite: 521, 522, 527.

 

• CSAP619 Biblical Archaeology

• 2.0 units — An introduction to the science of archaeology in biblical lands. Special emphasis is given to the role specific archaeological exploration has played in providing objective confirmation of the accuracy of the biblical narrative.

 

• CSAP621 Logic & Critical Thinking

• 2.0 units — A study of the methods and principles used to make distinctions between good and bad reasoning with special emphasis on analysis of arguments for and against the Christian faith.

 

• CSAP623 World View Analysis

• 2.0 units — A survey that includes a philosophical and theological analysis of the major types of non-Christian world views such as, pantheism, atheism, polytheism, finite godism, and deism.

 

• CSAP625 Philosophy of Religion

• 2.0 units — A survey of philosophical issues that arise in relation to theistic religions. Problems such as the existence of God, the problem of evil, religious language, faith and reason, etc. are discussed in the context of demonstrating that historic Christianity can provide reasonable solutions.

 

• CSAP626 Ethics

• 2.0 units — A philosophical and theological evaluation of various ethical systems and the application of those systems to high profile moral issues in society.

 

• CSAP627 Bioethics

• 2.0 units — A survey of and Christian apologetic response to some of the most critical ethical issues of the day coming from biomedical research and practice. The course addresses the difficult questions involved in areas such as human reproduction, cloning, abortion, end-of-life issues, organ transplant, genetic engineering, euthanasia and more.

 

• CSAP629 Scientific Apologetics

• 2.0 units — A survey of the issues and ideas involved in the relationship between science, philosophy and the biblical world view. Special emphasis is given to scientific issues and controversies that are used by skeptics to call Christianity into question.

 

• CSAP632 A History of Christian Apologetics

• 2.0 units — A survey of apologists and apologetic activity from the time of the apostles and the early Church fathers to the great apologists of our own century.

 

• CSAP636 Modern Apologetics: Theory & Method

• 2.0 units — A study and evaluation of the various modern approaches to the apologetic task (e.g., evidentialism, presuppositionalism, and combinationalism) and religious epistemology, with constant reference to the theological underpinnings and the nature and value of Christian apologetics inside and outside the church.

 

• CSAP638 Spiritual Formation & the Life of the Mind

• 2.0 units — A course designed to enhance the personal spiritual development of the apologist. Special emphasis is given to the importance of defending the faith with humility and reverence, as well as defining the role of apologetics in the overall mission of the Church.

 

• CSAP641 Contemporary Theology: Survey & Critique

• 2.0 units — A course designed to enhance the personal spiritual development of the apologist. Special emphasis is given to the importance of defending the faith with humility and reverence, as well as defining the role of apologetics in the overall mission of the Church.

 

• CSAP643 Cultural Apologetics

• 2.0 units — A study of the ways in which the truths of the Gospel and the Christian world view are reflected in elite and popular cultural products such as art, literature, film, music, and television.

 

• CSAP645 Christian Faith in the Public Square

• 2.0 units — An exploration of the proper model for Christian involvement in public discourse, policy and activity. Attention is given to the intelligent analysis and critique of key social issues with respect to the Christian world view and techniques for the defense of the Christian position in public forums.

 

• CSAP647 Religion, Law, and Human Rights

• 2.0 units — An analysis of the way in which the Christian faith can provide the only defensible basis for legal absolutes and basic human rights. Cases in domestic and international law are used to illustrate the need for a transcendent perspective on such issues and that the biblical revelation is the only reasonable source of such a perspective.

 

• CSAP651 Comparative Religions

• 2.0 units — A survey of the beliefs, practices, and sacred texts of the major non-Christian religious traditions of the East and West. Special attention is given to the critique of the various belief systems along with ways in which Christians can effectively communicate and defend the Gospel to people of other faiths.

 

• CSAP653 Cults of America

• 2.0 units — The distinctive features of the cults of America with their significance in the development of religious thought. Special attention is paid to their mistreatment of the central features of orthodox Christian doctrine and apologetic responses.

 

• CSAP655 Mormonism: Doctrine & History

• 2.0 units — A survey of the history of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints from 1820 to the present with an emphasis upon Joseph Smith, Jr., the beginning of the church, Mormon doctrinal development and change, and a critique/response vis-a-vis the Bible and the original Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

• CSAP656 Biblical Demonology & The Occult

• 2.0 units — An overview of and Christian response to a range of occult ideas and practices. Topics include divination, ritual magic, sorcery, spiritism, witchcraft, Satanism, as well as occult elements in various New Age beliefs and practices.

 

• CSAP680 Special Topics in Christian Apologetics

• 2.0 units — The program occasionally offers courses by special lecturers or visiting scholars to address their areas of expertise on an elective basis. May be repeated for credit.

 

• CSAP693 C. S. Lewis Seminar

• 2.0 units — A reading and discussion course covering the breadth of Lewis' work as one of the premier apologists of the 20th Century.

 

• CSAP695Directed Study

• 1.0 – 4.0 units — Supervised research and / or reading in selected areas of Christian apologetics.

 

• CSAP697 Apologetics Project

• 1.0 – 4.0 units — A student-proposed project related to the defense of the Christian faith that may involve teaching, writing, research, debating, video/audio productions, etc.

 

• CSAP698 Apologetics Internship

• 1.0 – 4.0 units — An approved internship with an apologetics organization or an apologetics-related ministry.

 

• CSAP699 Apologetics Thesis

• 1.0 – 4.0 units — Original research and writing in an applicable apologetics topic. Subject, length, and due dates to be determined by the coordinating professor. Second reader provided. Note(s): Class may be repeated. Credit / No Credit. Fee: $100 per unit.