MIS 401 CHRISTIAN FAITH AND WORLD RELIGIONS
SCWF, Cky J. Carrigan, 919-844-9434,
ccarrigan@namb.net ~ www.ontruth.com
Spring 2006, 3hrs, Wednesdays 2:30-5:20p
I. DESCRIPTION: An
examination of contemporary world religions from the standpoint of the genuine
Christian faith, including Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Traditional African
Religions, Native American Religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Baha'i
Faith, Jainism, Chinese Popular Religions, Religions of the Japanese Synthesis,
the New Age Movement and two key Counterfeit-Christian Religions (Mormonism and
Jehovah's Witnesses).
II. PURPOSE: Equip
the student to fulfill the Great Commission by developing evangelism strategies
for world religions and counterfeit Christian groups.
II. OBJECTIVES:
A. Gain basic knowledge about
major world religions.
B. Understand
the developments and figures of the major world religions including their
history, doctrines and practices.
C. Compare-contrast essential
features of Christianity and world religions.
D. Formulate evangelistic
strategies for world religions.
III. REQUIRED TEXTS
Corduan, Winfried. Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions.
Interfaith Witness,
NAMB, SBC. Comparative Belief Charts. Nashville: Lifeway Christian
Resources, n.d.
Carrigan Lecture
Notes, available at http://www.ontruth.com/worel.html
Assigned online
articles. List available at http://www.ontruth.com/mis401reading.html
Selected
Bibliography on World Religions available at http://www.ontruth.com/worelbooks.html
IV. ASSIGNMENTS
Plan A (Maximum Best Grade Possible is an A): Weekly Reading Quizzes (20%), Midterm Exam
(20%), Final Exam (20%), Doctrine Mini-Paper (10%), Evangelism
Mini-Paper (10%), Event Observation (10%) and Evangelism Encounter (10%).
Plan B (Maximum Best Grade Possible is a B): Weekly Reading Quizzes (20%), Midterm Exam
(25%), Final Exam (25%), Evangelism Mini-Paper (10%), Event Observation (10%)
and Evangelism Encounter (10%).
Midterm Exam: This
exam will be given on Mar 22. It will cover only the class lecture material
from 2/1 to 3/15. This exam will be composed of objective questions (fill in
blank, short answer, true-false). A study guide for the midterm exam is
available at ontruth.com.
Final Exam: This
exam will be given on May 24. The configuration of the final will be like the
midterm. Most of this exam will cover the lecture material from 3/22 to 5/17.
However, there may also be several repeat questions taken directly from the
midterm exam (possibly up to 20 points). A study guide for the final exam is
available at ontruth.com
Quizzes: There will
be a quiz each week over the assigned reading material from Corduan and online
articles assigned for that day. The lowest two quiz grades will be dropped and
the remaining quizzes will be averaged for a single composite quiz score.
Quizzes will be given at the beginning of each class period. There will be no quiz
make-ups or late quiz taking. Missing a quiz due to an absence or tardiness for
any reason will be recorded as a zero which will be counted as a drop (up to
two drops). A study-guide for the quizzes is available at ontruth.com
Doctrine Mini-Paper:
Write a five page (dbl. sp.) research paper in good form (according to the
latest ed. of Turabian) and style on one of the research questions provided at
ontruth.com. A minimum of five sources are required. One of the sources may
be the course textbook. At least one source must be a printed journal
article. At least one source must be a book on Christian doctrine. Only one
internet source may be used. Detailed instructions for this assignment
are available at ontruth.com. This assignment is due on Mar 15.
Evangelism
Mini-Paper: Write a five page (dbl. sp.) research paper in good form (according
to the latest ed. of Turabian) and style on the most effective evangelism
strategies and methods for making disciples from among one of the world
religions covered in Corduan (Mormonism, JW, and New Age are NOT valid).
A minimum of five sources are required. One of the sources may be the
course textbook. At least one source must be a printed journal article,
and only two internet sources may be used. Detailed instructions for
this assignment are available at ontruth.com. This assignment is due on Apr 26.
Event Observation:
Attend and carefully observe at least one official religious gathering of a
world religion covered in Corduan (Mormonism, JW, and New Age are NOT
valid). This assignment is due on Apr 5.
Evangelism Encounter
(10%): Engage in one deliberate evangelism encounter with a person from a world
religion covered in Corduan (Mormonism, JW, and New Age are NOT valid). The
survey entitled “Twenty Questions About Your Religion” may be used to start
a religious conversation that may lead to an evangelistic conversation, but
this tool is optional. The survey is available at ontruth.com. The encounter must meet the following
requirements to receive full credit for the assignment: 1) must be face-to-face
encounter, 2) must include a minimal gospel presentation, and 3) must include
an invitation to follow Jesus. Extensive religious conversations that do not
include a gospel presentation or an invitation to follow Jesus will be marked
down fifty points. The student may have to make several attempts to talk with
several people to complete this assignment. This assignment is due May 10.
V. LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
Assignments are due promptly at the beginning of the class on the assigned
date. The penalty for late assignments will be 10pts for each class week, or any
portion of a class week, that the assignment is late. Late assignments must be
submitted at the beginning of a regularly scheduled class. No late assignments
will be accepted after 3:30pm on the day of the final exam.
VI. GRADUATING
SENIORS may take the final exam on May 17 at 2:30p and will not be responsible
for the lecture material or reading assignment for the last scheduled class
session.
VII. ALTERNATIVE
EXAMS: The student is strongly advised to take the midterm and final exams on
the scheduled days and times. Alternative exams may only be taken with prior
permission from the professor at scheduled times on scheduled days.
VIII. GRADING SCALE: A = 95-100, B = 87-94, C = 77-86, D = 70-76,
F = 0-69
IX. COURSE SCHEDULE:
Feb 1, Course
Summary and Introduction.
Feb 8, Introduction,
Corduan 13-44, Article #1.
Feb 15, Judaism,
Corduan 45-76, Article #26.
Feb 22, Islam (part
1), Corduan 77-112.
Mar 1, Islam (part
2), Corduan 77-112, Article #s 2, 27, 28, 29, 30.
Mar 8, Spring
Recess.
Mar 15, Traditional
Religions: African & Native American, Corduan 135-188,
Doctrine Mini-Paper
Due.
Mar 22, Mid-term Exam 2:30-3:50, E. Religions
Lecture (part 1) 4:00-5:20.
Mar 29, Hinduism (part 1), Corduan 189-219.
Apr 5, Hinduism
(part 2), Corduan 189-219, Article #s 21, 22, 23, Event Obs. Due.
Apr 12, Buddhism, Corduan, 220-250.
Apr 19, Resurrection
Day Recess.
Apr 26, Sikhism
& Baha'i Faith, Corduan 251-279, Article #3, Evangelism Mini-Paper Due.
May 3, Chinese
Popular Religion, Corduan 280- 309.
May 10, Japanese
Synthesis & New Age Movement, Corduan 310-336, Article #s 4,5,6,
Evangelism
Encounter Due.
May 17, Mormonism
& Jeh Witnesses, Article #s 17,18,19, 23,24,25. Graduating Seniors Final
Exam Today.
May 24, Final
Exam.
MIS 401 CHRISTIAN FAITH AND WORLD RELIGIONS
SCWF, Cky J. Carrigan, Spring 2006
Event Observation Report
Due April 5
NAME_______________________________________
CLASS ID# ___________
Event Observation
(10%): Attend and carefully observe at least one official religious gathering
of a world religion covered in Corduan (Mormonism, JW, and New Age are NOT
valid).
Date event was
attended _________________________________
Religion
_____________________________________________
Location _____________________________________________
Kind of event
_________________________________________
“I attended and
carefully observed at least one official religious gathering of a world
religion covered in Corduan.”
Student
Signature_________________________________
MIS 401 CHRISTIAN FAITH AND WORLD RELIGIONS
SCWF, Cky J. Carrigan, Spring 2006
Evangelism Encounter Report. Due May 10.
NAME____________________________________
CLASS ID# ___________
Evangelism Encounter
Assignment (10%): Engage in one deliberate evangelism encounter with a person
from a world religion covered in Corduan. The encounter must meet the following
requirements to receive full credit: 1) must be face-to-face encounter, 2) must
include a minimal gospel presentation, and 3) must include an invitation to follow
Jesus. Religious conversations that do not include a gospel presentation or
an invitation to follow Jesus will be marked down fifty points.
Questionnaire:
1. With
which one of the following world religions was the person associated? (Judaism,
Islam, Traditional Religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Baha’i
Faith, Confucianism, Daoism or Shinto.)
2. When
and where did the encounter occur?
3. Did
the person understand the language you were speaking well enough to make clear
sense of the Gospel and respond to it?
4. What was the duration of the encounter?
5. Could the encounter be fairly described
as a religious conversation?
6. Was the encounter face-to-face (if not,
explain)?
7. Did the encounter include a minimal
Gospel presentation (description at ontruth.com)?
8. Did the encounter include an invitation
to follow Jesus?
9. What techniques or strategies were
employed?
10. What was the immediate result of the
encounter?
11. What would you do differently next time?