About the Cultural Apologetics Certificate
The Cultural Apologetics Certificate at Palm Beach Atlantic University encourages students to expand their knowledge of culture, the gospel, and apologetics through academic exploration. This program aims to foster personal Christian development and prepare participants to effectively communicate the goodness, truth and beauty of Jesus and the gospel to others. The certificate is exclusively offered to non-degree seeking students. Those pursuing a degree and interested in these subjects are encouraged to explore the Apologetics Major or Minor.
What You'll Learn in the Cultural Apologetics Certificate
The cultural apologetics certificate is 18 credits and consists of six engaging classes. Here are some of the classes you’ll take and topics you’ll learn about:
- Culture, Technology, and the Future of Humanity
Learn about the worldview issues related to advanced technology (e.g., Artificial Intelligence, transhumanism, social media, etc.), how technology influences daily life in contemporary society and culture, and how both relate to human flourishing and spiritual formation.
- Evil, Suffering, and Doubt
Explore various ways to understand arguments and assumptions against Christian belief from the human experience of suffering, doubt, and divine hiddenness. Special attention will be given to Christian and naturalist concepts of faith and reason, intellectual and emotional doubt, interpersonal relationships with God, cognitive science, and religious belief.
- Philosophy of Religion
A philosophical inquiry from a Christian worldview into such subjects as the nature of beliefs, arguments for and against the existence of God, the problem of the supernatural, the problem of evil, and the meaning of religious language.
- Cultural Apologetics
Students will explore various ways to show how Christianity is both reasonable and desirable, using the tools of reason, conscience, and the imagination. Special attention will be given to the concepts of culture, cultural artefacts, cultural change, worldview, beauty, art, justice, virtue, and their connections to apologetics.
- Faith and Science
Study the nature of the Christian faith, science, and the relationship between the two. Special attention will be given to the various models relating faith and science (conflict, independence, dialogue, convergence), the debate on biblical interpretation and contemporary science, as well as the origins of the universe, life, species, and humans.
- Evangelism & Apologetics
Dive deeper into the biblical and theological basis for evangelism and apologetics in contemporary ministry. The course includes an examination of the content of the gospel, the imperative of the Great Commission, the value of evidential and propositional apologetics, and strategies for evangelism and apologetics for individual Christians and churches.
