Apologetics and World Religions (CT8007L)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit enables the student to critically engage with arguments against theism, and Christianity in particular, while also evaluating and creating Christian responses to these arguments. Then, with an apologetic focus, students will analyse the world’s major religions, engaging their key sources and creating Christian responses to their theological visions.

Unit code: CT8007L

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Systematic Theology

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Australian Lutheran College

Show when this unit is running

Learning outcomes

1.

Discuss the necessity and importance of apologetics as a discipline of theology and the church’s apologetic task
2.

Use apologetic skills in responding to the beliefs and practices of other movements influential in Australian society, in a theological and pastoral manner
3.

Demonstrate critical knowledge of one major world religion and the nature of Christian dialogue with that religion
4.

Identify the points of contact and contrast for Christian apologetics in the context of the world’s major religions

Unit sequence

Course relationship: A level 8 unit in postgraduate theology and ministry courses

Pedagogy

This unit is underpinned by teaching practices and strategies (e.g. lectures, student presentations, tutorial discussions, and optional excursions) which encourage student engagement and participation in a variety of learning tasks and opportunities which foster deep learning.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Braaten, Carl E. No other gospel: Christianity among the world's religions. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1992.
  • Dulles, Avery. A history of apologetics. Rev. ed. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 2005.
  • Frame, Tom. Losing my religion: unbelief in Australia. Sydney, NSW: UNSW Press, 2009.
  • Keller, Timothy. The reason for God: belief in an age of skepticism. New York: Riverhead Books, 2008.
  • Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. Revised and amplified edition. London, UK: HarperCollinsPublishers, 2001.
  • ————. The abolition of man. New York: HarperCollins, 2001 [1944].
  • McGrath, Alister E. Bridge-building: effective Christian apologetics. Leicester, UK: Inter-Varsity Press, 1992.
  • ————. Mere apologetics: how to help seekers and skeptics find faith. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2011.
  • Markham, Ian, ed. A world religions reader. 3rd ed. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
  • Partridge, Christopher H., and Tim Dowley, eds. Introduction to world religions. 4th ed. Oxford, UK: Lion, 2014.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Forum

Reflection and discussion on assigned readings

 1250 20.0
Oral Presentation

Presentation on a contemporary worldview including a written summary

 1000 15.0
Book Review

Review an assigned scholarly text

 1250 20.0
Essay

World religion and Christian engagement

 3500 45.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Maggie Kappelhoff on 5 Oct, 2020

Unit record last updated: 2020-10-05 11:16:09 +1100