Christian Life and Biblical Worldview
RLGN-104

RLGN 104 is designed to deepen and broaden the student’s understanding of the core fundamentals of the biblical worldview and to equip the student to present that view in relation to competing worldviews. The goal is to enable the student to think more clearly and critically about Christianity and truth. It is intended to equip the student to become a more effective witness and to participate more constructively in the larger socio-cultural debate. In order to accomplish this goal, the student must (1) understand the essentials of Christian truth, (2) be familiar with the historical opponents to Christianity and truth, and (3) present a biblical, logical, and reasonable defense of Christianity. Through studying worldviews, the student can better understand the nature of humanity and individual conduct so that he or she is prepared to address relevant questions in a culture of relativism. As the apostle Paul states: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6, NIV). By understanding worldviews, the student will acquire a powerful form of wisdom that characterized the sons of Issachar: “men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do…” (1 Chronicles 12:32, NASB).

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Apply critical thinking strategies and identify informal logical fallacies commonly used in argumentation.
2. Define the term worldview and identify components of a biblical worldview.
3. Identify important people and principles of major contemporary moral philosophies and religious worldviews that have helped shape modern society.
4. Examine the Christian gospel and describe and assess common perceptions of the Christian gospel.
5. Employ strategies to communicate the Christian gospel to a person from a non-biblical worldview.

General Education Foundational Skill Learning Outcomes

Foundational Skill Learning Outcomes (FSLO): Critical Thinking (CT) (Primary FSLO): the ability to use analytical, evaluative, logical, and reasonable patterns of thought to establish coherent beliefs, ethics, and strategic decisions.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

CT 2: Structure an argument or position using credible evidence and valid reasoning.

CT 3: Compare and contrast the biblical worldview with a non-biblical worldview, evaluating the influence of assumptions and contexts on ethics and values.

CT 4: Plan evidence-based courses of action to resolve problems.

CT 5: Relate critical thinking and ethics to participation in God’s redemptive work.

Foundational Skill Learning Outcomes (FSLO): Civic and Global Engagement (CGE) (Secondary FSLO): the ability to engage local, national, and global structures as an informed follower of Christ.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

CGE 1: Identify the main features of a worldview, assessing the cultural, political, economic, and industrial implications.

CGE 3: Apply the Christian principles and general practices for effectively engaging people from different social and/or cultural backgrounds.

CGE 4: Describe the impact of a person’s global perspective on evangelism and cross-cultural engagement.

CGE 5: Relate the human experience within various civic and global structures to participation in the redemptive work of God.

Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are registered: Liberty University Online Bookstore.

Additional Materials for Learning 

1. Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
2. Internet access (broadband recommended)
3. Ability to create and submit files in Microsoft Word
4. Canvas recommended browsers
5. Basic Canvas navigation skills
6. Windows Media Player
7. Interactive Turabian-Based Writing Guide

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Threads

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided topic for each Discussion. Discussion: Beliefs requires the student to create a thread that must be a minimum of 75 words for each question (150 words total). Discussion: Gospel Message Perceptions and Discussion: Gospel Message Friendships and Barriers require the student to create a thread that must be 300–500 words. The student is required to add and cite content from two sources (scripture, course materials, and or research) in each thread using current APA, MLA, or Turabian formatting (whichever corresponds to the student’s degree program). (CLOs: C, D and E). This assignment aligns with the following FSLOs: CT 5, CGE3, CGE4, CGE 5.

Replies

In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to at least 2 other classmates’ threads. For Discussion: Beliefs, each reply must be a minimum of 100 words. For Discussion: Gospel Message Perceptions and Discussion: Gospel Message Friendships and Barriers, each reply must be a minimum of 150–200 words. The student is required to add and cite content from two sources (scripture, course materials, and or research) in each reply using current APA, MLA, or Turabian formatting (whichever corresponds to the student’s degree program). (CLOs: A, C, D) This assignment aligns with the following FSLOs: CT4.

This assignment will be completed in four parts:

Research Paper: Worldview Definition Assignment: The student will define the term “worldview” in 75 – 100 words.

Research Paper: Biblical Worldview Assignment: The student will add to the worldview definition the answers to the five worldview questions of Origin, Identity, Meaning/Purpose, Morality, and Destiny from a Biblical Worldview in 400 – 500 words. The student will review chapter four of Finding Your Worldview: Thinking Christianly about the World for content and clarity to these questions.  

Research Paper: Non-Christian Worldview Assignment: The student will add to the first two assignments the answers to the five worldview questions from one of the four worldviews (Secular Humanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Islam) in 400-500 words. The student will review chapter five of Finding Your Worldview: Thinking Christianly about the World for content and clarity to these questions.

Research Paper: Critical Thinking Assignment: The student will compile all content comparing and contrasting the Biblical Worldview and the worldview they chose in the Non-Christian Worldview responses to the five worldview questions in 500 words.

(CLOs: A, B, E) This assignment aligns with the following FSLOs: CT2, CT3, CT 4, CT5, CGE1, CGE 3, CGE4, and CGE5.

For this assignment, the student is to research and articulate two different approaches to sharing the gospel message with a non-Christian (250-400 words). In addition, the student will interview a non-Christian. They will ask them the assignment questions and type out their responses to the questions. The student is encouraged to record the session with the interviewee’s permission to help complete the assignment after the interview. The word count for this assignment will be 300-500 words based on the interviewee’s responses. The student will submit the Gospel Interview Assignment using the Template provided. (CLO’s D, E). This assignment aligns with the following FSLO’s: CT2, CT4, CGE3, CGE4 & CGE5.

Each Quiz will cover the Learn material for the assigned Module: Week. Each Quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 20 multiple-choice and true/false questions, and have a 30-minute time limit. (CLOs: A, B, C) This assignment aligns with the following FSLOs: CT3, CT4, CT5, CGE1, CGE 3 , CGE 4.

Formatting Policy

The student will format all written assignments, including Discussions, according to the guide corresponding with his or her degree program (APA, MLA, or Turabian). All written assignments in the course, with the exception of Discussion posts, must be submitted as Microsoft Word documents.

Course Assignments, including discussions, exams, and other graded assignments, should be submitted on time.

If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email.

Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:

1. Late assignments submitted within one week after the due date will receive up to a 10% deduction.
2. Assignments submitted more than one week and less than 2 weeks late will receive up to a 20% deduction.
3. Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the course will not be accepted outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.
4. Group projects, including group discussion threads and/or replies, and assignments will not be accepted after the due date outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.

Students with a disability and those with medical conditions associated with pregnancy may contact Liberty University’s Online Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) at [email protected] for accommodations.  Such accommodations require appropriate documentation of your condition.   For more information about ODAS and the accommodations process, including how to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.liberty.edu/online/online-disability-accommodation-support/. Requests for accommodations not related to disabilities or pregnancy must be directed to the Registrar’s Office, which generally handles medical needs support.

If you have a complaint related to disability discrimination or an accommodation that was not provided, you may contact ODAS or the Office of Equity and Compliance by phone at (434) 592-4999 or by email at [email protected].  Click to see a full copy of Liberty’s Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy or the Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedures.

In an effort to comply with U.S. Department of Education policies, attendance is measured by physical class attendance or any submission of a required assignment within the enrollment dates of the course (such as examinations, written papers or projects, any discussion posts, etc.) or initiating any communication with one’s professor regarding an academic subject. More information regarding the attendance policy can be found in the Academic Course Catalogs. Regular attendance in online courses is expected throughout the length of the term. Students who do not attend within the first week of a sub-term by submitting a required academic assignment (such as the Course Requirements Checklist, an examination, written paper or project, discussion post, or other academic activity) will be dropped from the course. Students who wish to re-engage in the course are encouraged to contact Academic Advising to discuss their enrollment options. Students who begin an online course, but at some point in the semester cease attending, and do not provide official notification to withdraw, will be assigned a grade of “FN” (Failure for Non-Attendance). Students wishing to withdraw from courses after the official start date should familiarize themselves with the withdrawal policy.

For courses with a Pass/NP final grade, please refer to the Course Grading section of this syllabus for the assignment requirements and/or point value required to earn a Passing final grade.

The full policy statement and procedures are published in the Policy Directory.

Liberty University comprises a network of students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters that together form a Christian community based upon the truth of the Bible. This truth defines our foundational principles, from our Doctrinal Statement to the Code of Honor. These principles irrevocably align Liberty University’s operational procedures with the long tradition of university culture, which remains distinctively Christian, designed to preserve and advance truth. Our desire is to create a safe, comfortable environment within our community of learning, and we extend our academic and spiritual resources to all of our students with the goal of fostering academic maturity, spiritual growth and character development.

Communities are predicated on shared values and goals. The Code of Honor, an expression of the values from which our Doctrinal Statement was born, defines the fundamental principles by which our community exists. At the core of this code lie two essential concepts: a belief in the significance of all individuals, and a reliance on the existence of objective truth.

While we acknowledge that some may disagree with various elements of the Code of Honor, we maintain the expectation that our students will commit to respect and uphold the Code while enrolled at Liberty University.

Adherence to the principles and concepts established within facilitates the success of our students and strengthens the Liberty community.

The Code of Honor can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.liberty.edu/students/honor-code/.