Theology: World Views - Page 1

 

I.           Course Scope

 

An introduction to the major views of life and reality with particular attention given to a biblically based, God‑centered worldview. This course will enable the participant to begin seeing all of life from God's perspective, which is the key to wisdom and discernment.

 

II          Course Goals

 

A.         Relative to Apprehension

 

I.          The student will gain a synthetic overview of worldview categories.

 

2.         The student will be cognizant of the chief categories, central passages and key definitions involved in worldview issues.

 

 

3.         The student will gain insight into the theological implications of such issues as anti‑theistic worldviews and arguments for the existence of God.

 

4.          The student will obtain basic bibliography for further study.

 

B.      Relative to Attitude

 

1.         The student will be encouraged as he comprehends a worldview which is God centered.

 

2.         The student will be sobered by a realization of the devastating effects of naturalism, pantheism, and polytheism; and the consequential necessity of holding fast to Christian theism.

 

3.      The student will have a greater appreciation for the value of studying worldviews.

 

 

C.       Relative to Action

 

 

1.         The student will be able to think through the implications of his own worldviews.  

2.         The student will be able to intelligently and coherently explain the worldview issues discussed in this course.

3.              The student will be able to evaluate the various viewpoints discussed in this course.

4.         The student will become more God centered in his thinking as a result of what has been learned in this course.

 

III.        Course Requirements

 

A.  Regarding Required Reading

 

1.          The student should read the assigned portions of the required text as delineated in the schedule of the course. It is recommended that the reading assignments be completed before class each day, though it is not mandatory. However, it is mandatory that required reading be completed by the end of the course.

 

2.           The designated form reporting the completion of the required reading is due on the last day of class.

 

3.           The required text book is as follows: The Universe Next Door, by James Sire.

 

B.          Regarding Weekly Assignments

 

1.         There will be three (3) weekly assignments in the course. Each assignment will be comprised of a life‑related question which might be asked by an interested lay person concerning the material discussed in class. The question should be answered in I or 2 pages.

 

2.           You are free to use class notes, the required text book, and any other  sources you find helpful in constructing your answer. The questions are designed to help you utilize, synthesize, and evaluate the course material.

 

3.           All weekly assignments will be due no later than the last day of class.

 

C.       Regarding the Book Report

 

I            A three-page report is to be written on a book selected from the bibliography. After reading the book, answer the following questions:

 

a.         What was the purpose of the author? How well did he accomplish his purpose?  

b.          What were the strengths of the book?  

C.          What were the weaknesses of the book?

d.          What theological insights did you gain from reading the book?

e.                   Would you recommend this book to others? Why, or wh

2.   Be sure to include a bibliographic entry for the book.  

3.   A book not listed in the bibliography may be selected with the approval of the teacher. 

4.   The book report is due at the end of the course.  

D.      Regarding Course Attendance

 

Given the nature of the course, it is essential that the students make every e attend all of the lecture sessions. It is the policy that a participant attend four out of six of the class sessions. It is the responsibility of the participant to gather information and assignments which were missed in his absence.

 

IV.       Course Grading

 

A.       Grading Segments  (As determined by class instructor)

 

  1. Required reading completion rate

 

              2.      Required weekly assignments completion

 

              3.      Required book report

 

V.         Course Schedule:

 

Week 1:

 

A.          Topic: Atheism

 

B.          Topic: Agnosticism

 

             Week 2:

 

A.            Topic: Idealism and Naturalism

B.            Assignments: Reading; Sire, Chapters I and 3

   

Week 3:

 

A.          Topic: Supernaturalism

 

B.           Assignment: Reading; Sire, Chapters 4 and 5

 

Week 4:

 

A.          Topic: Arguments for God's existence, intuition, ontological, cosmological and teleological.

 

B.           Assignment: Reading; Sire, Chapters 6 and 7

 

C.           Assignment: Second Question Due

 

Week 5:

 

A.          Topic: Arguments for God's existence, moral, anthropological, experiential and biblical.

 

B.           Assignment: Reading; Sire, Chapters 2, 8 and 9

 

C.           Book Report Due

 

Week 6:                                                                                               

A.          Topic: Immanence and Transcendence

 

B.           Assignment: Third Question Due

 

 

Weekly Assignment Questions

 

The following questions are similar to those which might be asked of you by a church member.

You are free to use your class notes, and any other texts which you might find helpful in

constructing your answer. The purpose of the questions is to enable you to interact with and

synthesize the material that has been covered in class. You should answer each question in 1‑2

pages.                                                                                                                  

 

I .         My son came home from the university yesterday and we were talking about his philosophy class where they were discussing something called "worldview." Exactly what is a worldview? Is it the same as somebody's philosophy of life? My son said he believed in a naturalistic worldview. How do you evaluate it? What should I tell my son? (Lesson #2)

 

2.          I'm teaching an Adult Sunday School class on the doctrine of God and I'm going to start by discussing the arguments for God's existence. Which arguments for God's existence do you consider to be the strongest and why? What objections are made against these arguments? What are the benefits of the arguments and how should they be used in a witnessing situation? (Lesson #4‑5)

 

3.         Last week I heard a sermon in which this pastor mentioned God's transcendence. What does "transcendence" mean? Does the Bible teach that God is transcendent? Why is the transcendence of God important? (Lesson #6)

 

Bibliography

 

Brown, Colin. Philosophy and the Christian Faith IVP : Downers Grove, 1969.

 

Hunnex, Milton. Existentialism and Christian Belie Moody Press: Chicago, 1969.

 

Rookmaker, H. R.  Modem Art & the Death of a Culture, IVP : Downers Grove, IL., 1970.

 

Schaeffer, Francis. Escape From Reason IVP : Downers Grove, IL., 1968.

 

He is There and He is not Silent Tyndale House: Wheaton, IL., 1972.

 

How Should We Then Live? Fleming H. Revell: Old Tappan, NJ., 1976.

 

The God Who is There, IVP : Downers Grove, IL., 1968.

 

Wells, David F., God in the Wasteland, Eerdmans : Grand Rapids, MI., 1994.

 

No Place for Truth, Eerdmans : Grand Rapids, MI., 1993.