Ph 300 Classic Christian Philosophers Required Textbooks

Ph 300 Classic Christian Philosophersrequired Textbooksmurray Michael

Construct abstracts for each required text, beginning with the bibliographic citation formatted according to Turabian style, followed by a one-page double-spaced abstract discussing key concepts, strengths and weaknesses, and personal reflections related to life, work, or ministry. Compile all abstracts into a single file.

Create precis summaries of the main contents of each chapter in the Murray textbook, using Chapter and Section headings as titles. The precis should be 1,500 words (5-6 pages double-spaced) and summarize the material without critique. Compile all precis into one document.

Write a research or argumentative paper on a topic related to the course readings. Incorporate at least four outside sources beyond the textbooks, cite all references in Turabian style footnotes, and ensure the paper is grammatically correct. Use a standard font size 12 in Arial, Georgia, Times New Roman, or Cambri, with a title page formatted per assignment guidelines.

Paper For Above instruction

The course PH 300 on Classic Christian Philosophers requires an integrative and analytical engagement with key theological texts and themes. The assignments are designed to develop students' understanding through summaries, critical abstracts, and research-based papers that demonstrate both comprehension and personal reflection on the material. This paper synthesizes the requirements and pedagogical goals of the course, emphasizing academic rigor, biblical and philosophical integration, and proper formatting using Turabian style.

In the first assignment, students are tasked with creating abstracts for each required textbook, “Reason for the Hope Within” edited by Michael Murray and “The Analytic Theist” edited by James F. Sennett. The abstracts should include bibliographic citations formatted according to Turabian, followed by a detailed one-page single-spaced discussion on the key concepts, strengths, weaknesses, and personal implications of each text. This exercise encourages students to distill complex theological arguments and philosophical ideas into concise summaries while engaging critically with the content.

The second assignment involves writing precis summaries of each chapter in Murray’s textbook. The precis should be a comprehensive synthesis of the main content, organized under chapter and section headings. This task aims to hone students’ ability to extract essential information and present it clearly, without critique or personal commentary. The goal is a cohesive, 1500-word overview that captures the core teachings and arguments of the book.

The third and most extensive task is the research or argumentative paper, requiring students to select a topic closely related to the readings. The paper must demonstrate scholarly research, incorporating at least four credible outside sources, and employ Turabian footnote citations. The topic should reflect an aspect of Christian philosophy that sparks inquiry or debate, allowing students to develop a well-argued, evidentially supported position. Clarity, grammatical accuracy, proper formatting, and adherence to academic standards are essential for success in this assignment.

Throughout, students are expected to demonstrate not only comprehension of the theological and philosophical content but also critical thinking, personal reflection, and proper scholarly writing. The course emphasizes the integration of faith and reason, cultivating a deep understanding of Christian philosophical tradition within an academic context.

References

  • Rowe, William L., and Christopher M. Weaver. 2018. Philosophy of Religion: An Introduction. 3rd ed. Routledge.
  • Plantinga, Alvin. 2000. Warranted Christian Belief. Oxford University Press.
  • Craig, William Lane. 2008. The Kalām Cosmological Argument. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
  • Kvanvig, J. L. 2003. The Value of Knowledge and the Pursuit of Truth. Cambridge University Press.
  • Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. 2008. The Craft of Research. University of Chicago Press.
  • Murray, Michael, ed. 1998. Reason for the Hope Within. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co.
  • Sennett, James F., ed. 1998. The Analytic Theist: An Alvin Plantinga Reader. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co.
  • Turabian, Kate L. 2018. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 9th ed. University of Chicago Press.
  • Smart, J. J. C. 1977. Sensuous Knowledge: Surprising Ways in which Humans Discover the World. Oxford University Press.
  • Swinburne, Richard. 2004. The Existence of God. Oxford University Press.

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