Academic Catalog: Philosophy of Religion
This department helps students prepare for ministry in a pluralistic world that struggles with honest questions about the truth of the foundational tenets of the Christian faith. Sources and tests of truth are investigated and students explore why Christianity’s most basic presuppositions are to be preferred to contradictory assumptions in alternative philosophies, religions, and cults. Courses develop a coherent Christian world view by which to live and minister authentically.
PR 501 Defending the Christian Faith
Trains students in the practice of Christian apologetics by equipping them to build a strong intellectual case for Christian theism as well as providing the tools to discern non-Christian viewpoints, such as naturalism, deism, pantheism, and postmodernism. Offered fall semesters. Three hours.
PR 550 Social Ethics
Constructs a biblically rooted paradigm to apply to contemporary social issues, responding to questions such as: What would a Christian social ethic look like? Has the church anything to offer in the way of public policy? Can the church hold definitive positions on issues such as human rights, politics, economics, poverty, racism, sexism, homosexuality, and bioethics? Two hours.
PR 561 History of Philosophy I
Surveys major thinkers from pre-Socrates to Augustine. Offered alternate fall semesters. Three hours.
PR 562 History of Philosophy II
Examines the philosophies of major thinkers from Anselm to Nietzsche. Offered alternate spring semesters. Three hours.
PR 566 Contemporary Philosophy
Examines and evaluates contemporary philosophical schools of thought, particularly postmodernism. Two hours.
PR 601 Christian Ethics and Modern Culture
Develops a basic theological and philosophical structure for Christian ethics, compares a Christian view of ethics to some non-Christian alternatives and applies Christian ethical principles of character and conduct to current social issues. May also credit as a leadership elective. Offered spring semesters. Three hours.
PR 652 Philosophical Ethics
Analyzes philosophical theories of ethics (e.g., deontology, utilitarianism, relativism, egoism, virtue ethics) in relation to a Christian view of ethics. A Christian perspective will be applied to several ethical issues. Offered alternate years. Three hours.
PR 664 Religious Pluralism
How can Christians present Christ as Lord in a religiously pluralistic world? This class explores the claims of Christian uniqueness and exclusivity in relation to other theories of comparative religion. Several world religions will be analyzed and compared with Christianity. Includes field work with adherents to other faiths and components that meet the globalization awareness requirement for those in the MA (Philosophy of Religion) program. Offered fall semesters. Three hours.
PR 665 The Philosophy of Pascal
Examines Pascal’s contribution to the philosophy of religion in areas of philosophical/ theological anthropology, prudence and the ethics of belief and skepticism and Christian faith. Two hours.
PR 668 Epistemology
An exploration of how we know what we know, which covers the nature and justification of knowledge, the scope of knowledge, and the reliability of claims to knowledge. Traditional approaches such as skepticism, rationalism, and empiricism will be assessed as well as more modern theories such as internalism and externalism. Offered alternate years. Three hours.
PR 669 The Philosophy of C.S. Lewis
This course will explore Lewis’ philosophy of religion concerning the existence of God, miracles, the problem of evil and Christian morality, primarily through studying the books Mere Christianity, Miracles, The Problem of Pain, A Grief Observed, and The Screwtape Letters. Two hours.
PR 741 New Religious Movements
Investigates a growing consensus of ideas from such diverse fields as physics, parapsychology, evolution, eastern religions, economics, brain research, educational philosophy, holistic health, relaxation techniques, and world government. Responsible Christian assessment and courses of action will be explored amid alternative perspectives on these converging trends. Two hours.
PR 742 Metaphysics
This course explores the classical questions in metaphysics such as the relevance of metaphysics, the nature and existence of God, the mind-body problem, freedom and determinism, causation, personal identity, and the nature of time. Historical and contemporary perspectives will be addressed. Offered alternate years. Three hours.
PR 745 Issues in Philosophy of Religion
Addresses such issues as religious language, religious epistemology, the ethics of belief, the problem of evil, the coherence of the divine attributes, the possibility of a natural theology, contemporary God concepts, and immortality. Two hours.
PR 590, 690, 790 Studies in Philosophy of Religion
These course numbers are reserved for courses of special or one-time interest that do not otherwise appear in the catalog or courses designed to free the student for independent investigation in philosophy of religion under the guidance of a professor. One to three hours.
PR 794 Writing for Publication
This course equips students to develop their philosophy of Christian ministry in the world of ideas. It emphasizes the integration of faith and scholarship, as well as the skills needed to publish at the academic and popular levels. Students prepare two pieces for publication—a book review for the Denver Journal, and a substantial essay for an academic or thoughtful publication. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the MA (Philosophy of Religion) program or instructor permission. Four hours.
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