Apologetics and World Religions (CT8096L)

Postgraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit enables students to deeply understand and critically engage with other world religions, worldviews, and non-Christian movements in an inclusive, dialogical, and hospitable manner. With this apologetic focus and sensitivity to diverse perspectives, students analyse key sources from major world religions, and create informed Christian responses to these alternate theological visions. 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: CT8096L

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Systematic Theology

Proposing College: Australian Lutheran College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Critically reflect on one major world religion and the nature of Christian dialogue with that religion
2.

Identify the points of contact and contrast for Christian apologetics in the context of the world’s major religions
3.

Discuss the necessity and importance of apologetics as a discipline of theology and the church’s apologetic task
4.

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

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

  • Dowley, Tim, and Christopher H. Partridge, eds. A Brief Introduction to Buddhism. Fortress Press, 2018.
  • ————. A Brief Introduction to Hinduism. Fortress Press, 2018.
  • ————. A Brief Introduction to Judaism. Fortress Press, 2018.
  • Hamm, Jeffery L.* Turning the tables on apologetics: Helmut Thielicke’s reformation of Christian conversation*, Pickwick Publications, 2018.
  • Kärkkäinen, Veli-Matti. Christ and reconciliation, A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World, vol 1. Eerdmans, 2013.
  • ————. Trinity and Revelation, A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World, vol 2. Eerdmans, 2014.
  • McGrath, Alister E. *Mere apologetics: how to help seekers and skeptics find faith. Baker, 2012.
  • Morley, Brian K. Mapping apologetics, InterVarsity Press, 2015.
  • Partridge, Christopher H., and Tim Dowley, eds. A Brief Introduction to Islam. Fortress Press, 2018.
  • Sire, James W. The universe next door: A basic worldview catalog, 5th ed, InterVarsity Press, 2009

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Forum

Reflection and discussion on assigned readings

 1000 25.0
Oral Presentation

Presentation on a contemporary worldview including a written summary

 1500 25.0
Essay

Contemporary worldview and Christian engagement

 3000 50.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 29 Aug, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-08-29 10:20:17 +1000