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EXPLORING FAITHFUL QUESTIONS
DAVID L. WARD
ENGLISH 370R: THE PHILOSOPHIC AND THEOLOGICAL
WRITINGS OF C. S. LEWIS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
By combining engaging discussions and personal writing, this course
will explore the ideas of C. S. Lewis as the “theological philosophy” of an
insightful writer, who defended Christianity as a philosophy of life.
Through writing to refine class notes and the creation of an intellectual
journal, students will be invited to explore their personal rationale as their
own theological philosophy. In essence they will have the opportunity to
explore why they think, feel, believe, and know as they do.
COURSE TEXTS
Mere Christianity
Problem of Pain
Screwtape Letters
The Great Divorce
A Grief Observed
Miracles
COURSE OBJECTIVES
During this course we will explore Lewis’s insightful doctrinal
perspectives while considering how these may enable members of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to understand the revealed
gospel of Jesus Christ more insightfully. Our particular focus will be to
study through insightful reading and writing how Lewis’s faithful
questioning enabled Lewis to discover the significance of the Christian
doctrines and principles he explored. Just as Lewis faithfully explored what
he had been taught, we will explore the significance of the Revealed Gospel
as we learn how to question what we have been taught in faithful ways. The
purpose of this course, then, is to explore fundamental principles and
doctrines of the Revealed Gospel of Christ through faithful questioning. This
we will do in an effort to come to understand Jesus Christ and how His
atonement may be experienced more meaningfully in our lives.
REQUIREMENTS
This course assumes that students are committed to read and reread
texts closely to gain insight into concepts, principles, and doctrines explored
during the course.
This course assumes that students value ideas to the point that they
ponder, not only the ideas shared through reading and discussion, but the
particular language used by the author to communicate those ideas.
This course will give students an opportunity to use writing as the
fundamental means of enjoying and exploring personal insights prompted by
Lewis and class discussion.
This course will give students the opportunity of creating a collection
of insightful ideas compiled into an intellectual journal. As such this course
assumes that students are competent enough writers to use their writing in
order to learn and to teach.
Course Procedure
This course will meet 8 days from December 17th to the 28th, with two
days off during Christmas Eve Day and Christmas. Each day we will meet
for approximately 4.5 hours. Our schedule will be as follows:
8:00 am to 9:00 am: Class discussion
9:00 am to 10:00 am: Writing workshop (Class notes and personal insights)
10:00 am to 11:00 am: Class discussion
11:00 am to 1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm: Class discussion
2:00 pm to 2:30 pm: Writing workshop (Personal insights)
2:30 pm to 3:00 pm: Class discussion
Grades in this Course
Your grade in this course will be based on a combination of reading
exams, class notes, and an intellectual journal of 10 entries.
A Perspective to Consider
By participating in genuine educational experiences and sharing what
we are learning, we learn what we really know and what we need yet to
know in order to act upon truth more faithfully. This is the basis of
meaningful writing and study in college, and in life. It is the focus of this
course. Choosing to learn, and being willing to teach one’s insights
promotes education in the highest sense of the word. I am committed to it; I
hope you will commit to it as well.