2009 - 2010 Academic Catalog - Westminster Theological Seminary

{Course Descriptions}
Apologetics
2009–2010
AP 511 Christianity and Film
Purpose:
• To learn how to “read” a film (in general)
• To explore the role of film in contemporary culture
(i.e., how film reflects and shapes culture)
• To develop a Christian framework for looking at film
Topics covered include film and culture; the idea of “story” and
representation in film. A key question: What do we learn through
film of other human beings, of our own hearts, and even of God
himself? Students will watch and journal about one film per week.
The weekly film will be watched outside of class time.
Fall semester, two hours. (Not given in 2009-2010.) Mr. Edgar.
AP 522 Music and Worship in the
Changing Church
Purpose:
• To acquaint students with several issues surrounding
music and worship in today’s church
• To arrive at certain solutions for the challenges involved
• To look at these issues from the point of view
of the pastor, worshipers, and musicians
• To understand the balance between
preaching, music, and liturgy
Topics covered include Bible study, the history of music in worship,
comparative evaluations of church worship styles, field work
in several churches, and discussions of hymns and other worship
music.
Winter term, two hours. Mr. Ward.
AP 543 Intercultural Apologetics
See AP 843 below. Spring semester, two hours. (Not given in
2009-2010.) Mr. Park.
AP 566 Theodicy
See AP 861 below. Prerequisites, AP 101. Fall semester, two
hours. (Not given in 2009-2010.) Mr. Edgar.
AP 583 The Problem of Knowledge
and Christianity
See AP 883 below. Prerequisites, AP 101. Spring semester, two
hours. (Not given in 2009-2010.) Mr. Oliphint.
AP 603 Cultural Analysis
See AP 903 below. Prerequisites, AP 101. Spring semester, two
hours. Mr. Edgar.
AP 623 The Apologetics of C. S. Lewis
See AP 923 below. Spring semester, two hours. Mr. Park.
AP 631 Philosophy for Theologians
See AP 931 below. Fall semester, two hours. Mr. Oliphint.
AP 663 Warrant and Christian Epistemology
See AP 963 below. Spring semester, two hours. Mr. Oliphint.
AP 681 Theology of Science
See AP 981 below. Prerequisites, ST 113, and AP 101, completed
or in progress. Fall semester, two hours. (Not given in 2009-
2010.) Mr. Poythress.
Th.M. and Ph.D. level
AP 713 Christianity in Conflict I
Purpose:
• To study the major apologetics texts of the church
in the first thousand years of its history
• To compare the methods and arguments used
• To assess those methods in relation to
the needs in apologetics today
Topics covered include texts by Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Iranaeus,
Origen, Augustine, and Boethius. The approach will generally be
inductive, based on the actual texts. Some lectures will be given.
Spring semester. (Not given in 2009-2010.) Mr. Edgar and
Mr. Oliphint.
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