Christian Thought and Secular Worldviews
This course explores the interaction between Christian theology and secular worldviews. It examines:
- The nature and structure of worldviews
- The foundations of Christian thought
- Major secular philosophies and ideologies
Focus areas include:
- Humanism
- Naturalism
- Secularism
- Relativism
The course equips students to critically evaluate competing worldviews, defend the Christian faith, and engage culture with theological insight.
Course Description
The course provides a study of Christian thought in relation to dominant secular worldviews. It examines philosophical systems and cultural ideologies and evaluates them from a biblical perspective.
Course Objectives
Students will:
- Understand the concept of a worldview
- Identify major secular ideologies
- Analyse differences between Christian and secular thought
- Develop critical thinking skills for worldview engagement
- Defend Christian beliefs in contemporary contexts
Course Content
- Introduction to Worldviews
- Nature of Christian Thought
- Biblical worldview foundations
- Secular Humanism
- Naturalism
- Relativism
- Postmodernism
- Atheism
- Ethics and morality in secular thought
- Christian response to secular ideologies
- Faith and culture
Mode of Delivery
- Lectures
- Discussions
- Independent study
Reading Materials
- Selected theological and philosophical texts
- Biblical references
- Academic journal articles
Evaluation
- Exams: 60%
- Coursework and participation: 40%
Weekly Schedule
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Worldviews |
| 2 | Nature of Christian Thought |
| 3 | Biblical Worldview Foundations |
| 4 | Secular Humanism |
| 5 | Naturalism |
| 6 | Relativism |
| 7 | Mid-term Review |
| 8 | Postmodernism |
| 9 | Atheism |
| 10 | Ethics and Morality in Secular Thought |
| 11 | Christian Response to Secular Ideologies |
| 12 | Faith and Culture |
| 13 | Apologetics in Practice |
| 14 | Final Review and Examination Preparation |
Lecture handouts, topic summaries, and downloadable materials (PDFs) for this course are available in the materials section. Content is file-based and will be updated throughout the semester.
Required Readings
- Selected theological and philosophical texts (provided by instructor)
- Biblical references and passages
- Academic journal articles on worldview and apologetics
Media Resources
Embedded teaching sessions, external video resources, and audio teachings (where available) will be linked in this section throughout the course. Students are encouraged to engage with all provided media to deepen their understanding of Christian thought and secular worldviews.
Types of Assignments
- Essays
- Short answer assignments
- Research papers
- Class participation
Submission Guidelines
- Submitted via LMS or designated platform
- Accepted formats: PDF, Word documents (.doc / .docx)
Writing Guidelines
- Proper referencing required (APA or Turabian)
- Structured academic writing expected
- Clear argumentation: Introduction, Body, Conclusion
Academic Integrity
- No plagiarism ? all work must be original
- Proper citations are mandatory for all submitted work