Apologetics Course
with Mark Brumley
Is the Bible trustworthy? Does God exist? If God does exist, how can we know He is good? How do we know Jesus really died and didn’t merely pass out? How do we know the disciples didn’t steal Jesus’ body and make up the whole story about Him resurrecting? IF YOU ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS, THEN THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU!
WHAT IS APOLOGETICS?
The word apologetics itself stems from the Greek word apologia, which means simply an answer given in reply. Put simply, it is the rational response against the objections people bring up about Christianity. So if you value having a reasoned response over a frustrated folding of arms and a refusal to engage, this apologetics course has something to offer you!
Is the Bible trustworthy? Does God exist? If God does exist, how can we know He is good? How do we know Jesus really died and didn’t merely pass out? How do we know the disciples didn’t steal Jesus’ body and make up the whole story about Him resurrecting? IF YOU ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS, THEN THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU!
ABOUT THIS COURSE?
Challenges to the Catholic Faith Today: an Introduction to Catholic Apologetics with Mark Brumley, Facilitator
This course approaches apologetics as the branch of theology concerned with the rational grounds for the Catholic faith as well as responses to objections raised against it. The course will explore arguments concerning:
1.- The reasonableness of faith
2.- The existence and nature of God and his revelation
3.- Who Jesus is, why he matters, and the case for his death and resurrection
4.- The claims of the Catholic Church.
Challenges to the Catholic Faith Today: An Introduction to Catholic Apologetics with Mark Brumley
READING LIST
- Handbook of Catholic Apologetics, Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2009. ISBN-13: 978-1586172794. You can obtain a copy here.
- Essential Catholic Survival Guide, Catholic Answers. San Diego: Catholic Answers. 2005. ISBN: 978-1-888992-81-6. You can obtain a copy here.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church. Second Edition. Washington DC: US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Revised 2019. You can obtain a copy here. A searchable online edition is here.
- The Seven Deadly Sins of Apologetics, Mark Brumley. San Diego: Catholic Answers. 2014. ISBN: 978-1-938983-75-7. You can obtain a copy here.
READINGS FOR SESSION 2 (MARCH 7)
- Handbook of Catholic Apologetics (see first book in list above), Chapter 2: Faith and Reason, pp. 42-48; pp. 52-94
More to come.
CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS with Mark Brumley – Class #1
• Tuesday, February 28, 2023 (7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Pacific Time)
Apologetics Class-1 slides-condensed to print – 2 slides per page
CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS with Mark Brumley – Class #2
• Tuesday, March 07, 2023 (7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Pacific Time)
READINGS FOR SESSION 2:
- Handbook of Catholic Apologetics (see first book in list above), Chapter 2: Faith and Reason, pp. 42-48; pp. 52-94
CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS with Mark Brumley – Class #3
• Tuesday, March 14, 2023 (7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Pacific Time)
CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS with Mark Brumley – Class #4
• Tuesday, March 21, 2023 (7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Pacific Time)
CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS with Mark Brumley – Class #5
• Tuesday, March 28, 2023 (7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Pacific Time)
CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS with Mark Brumley – Class #6
• Tuesday, April 04, 2023 (7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Pacific Time)
CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS with Mark Brumley – Class #7
• Tuesday, April 11, 2023 (7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Pacific Time)
Professor Brumley graciously agreed to add a class meeting, to give students an opportunity to ask questions.
MARK BRUMLEY
Mark Brumley is president of Ignatius Press, one of the nation’s largest Catholic publishers and distributors of videos and music. A former staff apologist with Catholic Answers, he is author of The Seven Deadly Sins of Apologetics from Catholic Answers Press, co-author of A Study Guide for Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week, and a contributor to The Five Issues That Matter Most.
He is also the executive producer of several documentaries, including The Story of the Nativity, Lost Gospels or False Gospels, and Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?. He is the former director of Communications and of the Office for Social Ministries of the Diocese of San Diego.
Mark Brumley holds a Master’s degree in theology from the University of Dallas and is a regular guest on Catholic Answers Live television and radio, discussing the Catholic faith. His articles have appeared in such places as Catholic World Report.com, the National Catholic Register, This Rock, The Catholic Answer, and National Review Online. Mark is associate publisher of IgnatiusInsight.com.
Mark lives in Napa with his wife, Debbie, and is a parishioner at St Apollinaris Parish.
