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Cultural Apologetics with S. Michael Craven is a
one-of-a-kind ten-week course taught
by Michael that is designed to educate Christians with substantive answers to
today’s most challenging social and moral questions.
By
understanding the ideological roots that form today’s social and moral consensus
Christians can more effectively defend God’s moral truth and thus demonstrate
the relevance of Christianity to all of life. In addition, this course
examines those ideological forces common to contemporary culture that inhibit
both the reception of the Gospel by unbelievers and the integration of the
Gospel [or Christian life and worldview] into the heart and mind of believers.
This course
will train Christians to better understand the various cultural and philosophical
forces that challenge the truth claims of Christianity and equip them to
respond intelligently and with compassion as commanded in Colossians 4:6. This
course teaches rational, relevant, and responsible Christian thought and action
in the culture to the glory of Jesus Christ.
Classroom students receive a 56-page Study Guide. Cost is $9.95 per person.
To inquire about hosting a complete ten-week course or mini conference version
at your church call 972-596-6948 or by e-mail at: info@battlefortruth.org
You
can also take this course online for FREE in the privacy of your home at your
own pace. Listen to Michael share all nine lectures and download a copy
of each session's Study Guide and Course Outline.
To begin the course online click HERE and open the "Cultural Apologetics Course."
What
Others are Saying:
“Your
course has opened my eyes to the crisis in today’s church as well as my own
faith. I can now see how I too have conformed to the world and never knew it.
Thank you for all you do! May God expand your ministry across this nation. Your
voice and knowledge are desperately needed if we are to recover the true
Christian faith in America."
-Carol,
Cultural Apologetics Student, Fall 2004
“This is important information that we all need to study and
understand. It peeled off the layers of deception that the world imposes on all
of us. This class has been another valuable stepping stone in drawing me closer
to the Lord and seeking His wisdom.”
-Lisa, Cultural Apologetics Student,Fall ‘05
"I have been a
Christian since I was 12 years old and have attended church and bible school
since I was 6 weeks old…however, I have to say that the Cultural Apologetics
class, without a doubt, has strengthened my armor and cut the deepest into the
heart of my beliefs and challenged me to know…really know “how to give an
answer” to an unsaved and arrogant culture."
Vickie, Cultural Apologetics Student, Winter 2006
Course Outline:
Session 1: Resurrecting Relevance – The Case for
Cultural Apologetics
This session examines the evidence of growing irrelevance of
Christianity in shaping the culture in Western civilization and specifically America. We
will address the impact of anti-intellectualism in rendering the Church
ineffective in shaping culture and subsequently the advance of the Gospel by
allowing barriers to belief or false pretensions to become established as the
general consensus in American culture. By equipping ourselves with a “Cultural
Apologetic” we can speak to the social and moral issues of our day in a way
that returns Christianity to a place of intellectual and cultural relevance.
Session 2: Modernism and Modernity – Practicing
Resistance Thinking
This session will examine the influence of modernism as a philosophy and
modernity as a reality upon the reception of the Gospel. We will understand how
to identify and gently tear down these false ideas and impulses that present barriers to reception
of the Gospel as well as hinder our own commitment to Christ’s Lordship.
Session 3: Postmodernism
– An Opportunity for Evangelism
This session examines the influence of postmodern ideas and values upon
the contemporary mind and how it has created resistance to the Gospel. Furthermore we will
explore how postmodernism can in fact be used to ultimately create conditions
favorable to the reception of the Gospel.
Session 4: Consumerism
– Want in an age of Plenty
This session
examines consumerism as a pervasive and persistent force working in American
culture that is undermining individuals, disintegrating families and
communities, and sapping the Church of its influence and relevance.
Session 5: Sexual Ethics – The Sexual Revolution’s
Contribution to Unbelief
This session exposes the clearly defined and methodically advanced
worldview behind the efforts to completely redefine sexual ethics and the
family in the West. We will chronicle the historical origins of this ideology
and its rise. We will also examine the Sexual Revolution’s role in the
establishment of postmodern thought and the loss of absolute truth.
Session 6: Homosexuality
– Thinking Critically ~ Acting Compassionately
This session will expose the many myths and misconceptions surrounding
homosexuality and equip Christians with the truth about this devastating
lifestyle. We will examine how the homosexual political agenda both threatens
and hinders the Gospel. Lastly, we will discuss how we as Christians should
respond to the individual trapped in homosexual behavior.
Session 7: Same-Sex Marriage – Defending the Natural
Family
This session will offer the historical, sociological and empirical
evidence affirming biblical marriage and its profound role in society and the
Church. In light of attempts to radically redefine and/or abolish the
biblical standard for marriage, it is imperative that we as Christians first
understand and demonstrate God’s principles for marriage while also working to
offer an articulate defense of God’s truth.
Session 8: Feminism – Debunking Christianity as
Oppressive to Women
This session
explores the allegations that Christianity is inherently oppressive to women
and demonstrates in fact that it is only
Christianity that offers any valid basis for justice and true equality.
Session 9: New Age Spirituality – The Coming Religious
Order
This session examines the rise of neo-pagan religious
thought in Western culture and its growing acceptance as the new religious order
over and against the “old religious order” of Christianity. We will also
explore how both modernism and postmodernism have played a pivotal role in the
embrace of this new religious synthesis and how to refute the truth claims of
these ancient pagan practices and beliefs.
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