Apologetics 2: Response to New Atheism (CM5)

In the past decade a number of best-selling books have promoted an aggressive form of secularism and anti-theism.  Claiming to be advancing reason and science, these “new atheist” authors have gained notoriety by advocating that “religion should be countered, criticized, and exposed by rational argument wherever its influence arises.”  This course will examine the arguments of the new atheists, and how we as Christians can refute their claims.

Textbooks: The End of Reason: A Response to the New Atheists, Ravi Zacharias
True Reason: Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism, Tom Gilson and Carson Weitnauer
Why God Won’t Go Away: Is the New Atheism Running on Empty?, Alistair McGrath
Classes:  Fridays, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., October 2 – November 20, 2015

Introduction – October 2

Lecture notes in PDF                    Lecture notes in PPT

Faith and Reason – October 9

Read pp. 1-18 of Zacharias, pp. 1-41 of Gilson, and pp. 1-33 of McGrath
Lecture notes in PDF                    Lecture notes in PPT

Midterm Break – October 16

Science and Origins – October 23

Read pp. 19-38 of Zacharias, pp. 42-96 of Gilson, and pp. 34-80 of McGrath
Lecture notes in PDF                    Lecture notes in PPT

Science and Origins 2 – October 30

Read pp. 39-56 of Zacharias, pp. 97-136 of Gilson, and pp. 81-105 of McGrath
Lecture notes in PDF                    Lecture notes in PPT

Morality, Suffering and Violence – November 6

Read pp. 57-74 of Zacharias, pp. 137-189 of Gilson, and pp. 106-134 of McGrath
Lecture notes in PDF                    Lecture notes in PPT

The Influence of Religion – November 13

Read pp. 75-105 of Zacharias, pp. 190-286 of Gilson, and 135-147 of McGrath
Lecture notes in PDF                    Lecture notes in PPT

Final Exam – November 20

Read pp. 106-128 of Zacharias, pp. 287-308 of Gilson, and pp. 1-33 of McGrath