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2024 Fall A Term Calendar view

APOL 203: Comparative Worldviews


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Russ Hilton
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This 3-semester hour ELECTIVE course introduces students to the concept of worldview and compares non-Christian worldviews to Christian theistic worldview.. Click "Purchase" and use "BILLTOACCOUNT" as the coupon code to have this billed to your Student Account per contract.

COURSE LEARNING LEVEL OUTCOMES

1.     Define and explain differing definitions of “worldview” and topics by which one may delineate distinctive worldviews.

2.     Summarize a Christian worldview through divine and human action, emphasizing creation, fall, redemption, and restoration.

3.     Inventory presuppositions and beliefs that inform a worldview

4.     Analyze worldviews in various philosophical and theological categories.

5.     Identify and explain key differences between the Christian worldview and competing or contradictory non-Christian worldviews.

6.     Summarize how new forms of Christian expressions both shape and are shaped by various other worldviews and cultural factors.

7.   Discuss persuasive and compelling reasons for acceptance of the Christian worldview and engage in practical apologetics in defense of Christianity.

 

REQUIRED TEXTS:

(Textbooks can be purchased from http://iccsonline.net/textbooks/ or click on the title of each resource below)

Sire, James. The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2009.

 

Dockery, David. Christian Worldview Handbook. Holeman Reference, Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2019.

 RECOMMENDED TEXTS:

NIV Daily Bible, hardcover
By F. LaGard Smith / Harvest House Publishers

The Daily Bible, with commentary by F. LaGard Smith, is highly recommended for daily Bible reading. This resource provides a substantial amount of commentary throughout the text and keeps the reader engaged in reading the Bible throughout the entire year on a continuous basis.

It is highly recommended that students purchase and keep their textbooks as they may be used in more than one class. These textbooks also serve as an excellent reference source.

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED MATERIALS FOR LEARNING:

-           Computer with basic audio/video output equipment

-           Internet access (broadband recommended)

-           Microsoft Office, or suitable substitute (i.e., Office Libre) which can save into a document compatible with Microsoft Word.

-           Adobe Acrobat Reader

-           Media Player software

Here is the course outline:

1. Module 1

MODULE 1 Theism: Christianity, Judaism and Islam Readings: • Sire: pgs. 25-46 and 244-277 • Dockery: pgs. 41-43; 79-96; 137-140 • Competing Worldviews influence on Today's Christians link https://www.barna.com/research/competing-worldviews-influence-todays-christians/ • Judaism, Christianity, Islam: Similarities and Differences in Faith link https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=compare%20differences%20between%20Judaism,%20Christianity%20and%20Islam&view=riverview&mid=79BDF302A7631FA7BDDB79BDF302A7631FA7BDDB&ajaxhist=0 Forum discussions/essay: After viewing the video “10 Surprising Similarities Between Islam, Christianity, & Judaism” write an essay comparing Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.

2. Module 2

MODULE 2 Deism Readings: • Sire: pgs. 47-65 • Dockery: pgs. 21-39 • Exam 1 Forum discussions/essay (choose one): 1. Discuss whether popular deism is fully Christian or not providing evidence for your results, or 2. Compare and contrast the belief that humans are part of deism's clockwork with Christian theism understanding humanity.

3. Module 3

MODULE 3 Naturalism Readings: • Sire: pgs. 66-93 • Dockery: pgs. 43-73 • What is Naturalism? Philosophy in 60 seconds https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=417bc6eb85d48c0f&hl=en&sxsrf=ADLYWILgLqyA5dbyzl1lEiVNTdniEuzhDw:1723922764817&q=naturalism+worldview&tbm=vid&source=lnms&fbs=AEQNm0A2upiO_GHeTz6R89sNEjTHXSUfB8x3gweQ77S5CBNH1qkT9yo9p8LiN9Ph7QzgeH30iP61xKdhHkWU-Ava8l8n Video: Three Kinds of Naturalism https://plato.stanford.edu/archIves/spr2010/entries/naturalism/ • Forum discussions/essay: Discuss what naturalism holds about human beings with what the Bible teaches us.

4. Module 4

MODULE 4 Nihilism Readings: • Sire: pgs. 94-116 • Dockery: pgs. 79-96 • Video: Nihilism: History, Philosophy, Theories • https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-nihilism-5271083 • Nihilism: Embracing the Void of Existence • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lejrVRIK9w • Forum discussions/essay Discuss how Nihilism is incompatible with Christian theism. • Exam 2

5. Module 5

MODULE 5 Readings: Existentialism • Sire: 117-143 • Dockery: pgs. 127-141 • Video: What is existentialism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_tgqj9MU8M • Forum discussions/essay Discuss the question "What is my greater purpose?" from a Biblical understanding.

6. Module 6

MODULE 6 Pantheism Readings: • Sire: 144-165 • Dockery: pgs. 145-169 • Video: Understanding Pantheism Worldview • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIzn_rbj6A8 • Forum discussions/essay • Discuss the main points of Pantheism from a Christian perspective. Respond to two other posts. • Exam 3

7. Module 7

MODULE 7 The New Age Readings: • Sire: pgs. 167-213 • Dockery: pgs. 203-215 • Video: What All Christians Should Know about New Age • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQfXtPnJyzA • Research Paper Due • Forum discussions/essay Discuss the concept of monism.

8. Module 8

MODULE 8 Postmodernism Readings: • Sire: pgs. 214-243 • Dockery: pgs. 166-168 • Forum discussions/essay Discuss the concept of postmodernism. • Exam 4 • End of Course Survey
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