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SES Also Planning March 4 ‘Tactical Evangelism Seminar,’ Exploring Topics Such as ‘Basic Beliefs of Islam’ and ‘Why Are You a Christian?’
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—“Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse,” “Tree Climbing” and “Magic, Witchcraft and Religion from Stonehenge to Harry Potter.” These are actual classes at American’s colleges—classes that students (and their parents) are paying for, according to an article on FastWeb.com.
In today’s world of higher education, a multitude of courses like these have no real bearing on the current state of society nor what concerns everyday Americans as they live their lives, raise their families and try to keep up with a very fast-moving culture.
But this isn’t the case for two upcoming classes at Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES, www.staging.ses.edu), which is offering a pair of relevant courses as part of its March module.
“Ethics,” taught by SES President Dr. Richard Land, and “The Problem of Evil,” taught by Dr. J.T. Bridges and facilitated by doctoral students, have timely ties to conversations happening at dinner tables, over coffee and around water coolers across America.
“For 25 years, SES has been teaching students of all backgrounds and stages of life to rationally, intelligently and lovingly defend their beliefs, as well as know what they believe and why they believe it,” Land said. “SES coursework equips students of all ages, backgrounds educational experiences to truly know how to talk about good and evil in this world, and how it applies to everything we do and see, from politics and education to church and family.”
Both classes in the March module run from 6 to 10:30 p.m. March 13-17 and from 8 to 4 p.m. March 18 on the SES campus. Coursework will be completed by students on their own time over the next 14 weeks.
“Ethics” looks at the ethical alternatives and issues from a Christian perspective, while “The Problem of Evil” is an in-depth theological and philosophical analysis of the problem of evil in light of classical and biblical theism with a look at such issues as the origin and nature of evil, natural and moral evil, and various theodicies.
SES is also planning the Tactical Evangelism Seminar on March 4. Beginning at 9:30 a.m. with doors opening at 9 a.m., the seminar will focus on “Cults & World Religion.” A central question—“Why are you a Christian?”—will explore the fact that a large part of evangelism is loving people enough to answer their honest questions about Christian convictions.
Cost for the March 4 seminar, which is presented by T.E.A.M. (Truth, Evangelism, and Apologetics Mission), the missions/outreach arm of SES, is $7, plus a small processing fee, which includes lunch. Groups are welcome to attend, and registration is required. View a promotional video here. Registration will close March 2.
SES also recently announced the 2017 National Conference on Christian Apologetics, one of the largest events of its kind, with the fitting and timely theme of “Pursuing a Faith That Thinks.” The conference, offered for 24 out of SES’s 25 years, is set for Oct. 12-14, 2017, at Calvary Church in Charlotte, N.C.
The conference will welcome the nation’s top apologists, who will give the thousands in attendance new presentations on studies, research, history and insight into apologetics and other intellectual, scientific and religious fields. In addition to Land and SES co-founder Norman Geisler, confirmed conference speakers include Richard Howe, Greg Koukl, Jay Richards, Hugh Ross, Frank Turek and J. Warner Wallace, along with many others. The event will also feature a debate between SES professor emeritus Richard Howe and co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, minister turned atheist Dan Barker, on the topic “Is There A God Who Speaks?”
SES was incorporated on Jan. 6, 1992, and began offering classes on Sept. 10, 1992. The year-long 25th anniversary celebration will culminate at the conference.
At SES’s apologetics blog, www.WhyDoYouBelieve.org, Land and other SES voices address the most pressing issues of the day. SES also explores ethical issues through its “Ethics in Emerging Technology” program; for more information, visit www.ethics.staging.ses.edu.
Land is featured in his nationally syndicated daily radio commentary, “Bringing Every Thought Captive,” which airs on nearly 800 stations nationwide, including nearly 200 on the American Family Radio Network, 100 on the Bott Radio Network and almost 400 on the CSN radio network. “Bringing Every Thought Captive” is also podcast daily on the free SES mobile app and airs locally in the Charlotte, N.C., area every weekday. The “Bringing Every Thought Captive” television program, hosted by Land, airs on the NRB Network Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and midnight EST. “Bringing Every Thought Captive” also reaches nearly 2 million households in the Chicago area on the Total Living Network. For details about stations, times, downloads and more, click here.
Land has taught as a visiting or adjunct professor for several seminaries and has authored or edited more than 15 books. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oxford University in England and his bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) from Princeton University. Land also earned a Master of Theology (Honors Program) degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received the Broadman Seminarian Award as the Outstanding Graduating Student. Dr. Land was the 2013 Watchman Award recipient from the Family Research Council for his leadership on moral and cultural issues. He also received the Phillip E. Johnson Award for Liberty and Truth from Biola University in 2010. Land served previously (1988-2013) as president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the Southern Baptist Convention’s official entity assigned to address social, moral and ethical concerns, with particular attention to their impact on American families. In 2014, he was appointed as a Senior Research Fellow of the ERLC’s Research Institute, and in 2015, he was named in the top 15 of Newsmax’s “Top 100 Christian Leaders in America.”
Southern Evangelical Seminary invites visitors to its web site to join the more than 20,000 people who have already downloaded the SES Apologetics App for Windows mobile devices and Android and Apple phones and tablets. Those with the app can get the very best news and information in Christian apologetics, including articles, audio, video, blogs and more from today’s most able defenders of the Christian faith—William Lane Craig, Lee Strobel, Josh McDowell, William Dembski, Frank Turek, Hugh Ross, Gary Habermas and other well-known speakers, authors and teachers.
Southern Evangelical Seminary has been ranked as one of the top graduate programs for General Christian Apologetics by TheBestSchools.org’s “Top 10 Graduate Programs in Christian Apologetics.”
For more information on SES, visit its web site at www.staging.ses.edu or its Facebook page, follow the SES Twitter feed, @sesapologetics, or call (800) 77-TRUTH. For more information about SES’ “Ethics in Emerging Technology” program, visit www.ethics.staging.ses.edu.
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For information on SES or to set up an interview, contact Jen Retallick, 610-584-1096, ext. 100, [email protected], or Deborah Hamilton, 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096, ext. 102.
Southern Evangelical Seminary is a leader in apologetics education—teaching students to defend their faith and talk intelligently, passionately and rationally about what they believe and why they believe it. The Christian college and seminary offers a wide variety of bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. Programs can be completed through residence in the Charlotte area or online. The award-winning education at SES is distinctively Christian and focused on evangelism and world-engaging defense of the Christian faith—Christian Apologetics.
