OCC - Western Philosophy

Every day we’re told that truth is relative, morality is subjective, and faith is little more than wishful thinking. But when someone says “truth is relative,” “morality is personal,” or “faith is opposed to reason,” the conversation has already become philosophical. Modern apologists need more than a collection of answers — they need to recognize the assumptions beneath the questions, understand where those assumptions came from, and respond with clarity.
In this one-of-a-kind course, Dr. Norman Geisler (in one of the last courses he ever taught) guides you from Socrates to Thomas Aquinas through the ideas that shaped Western thought and still shape how our culture thinks and feels today. You’ll learn what history’s great thinkers got right, where they went wrong, and how their questions can sharpen your defense of the Christian worldview.

What makes this course truly extraordinary is that you’ll be learning from Dr. Norman Geisler, one of the most influential Christian philosophers and apologists of the last century. Dr. Geisler mentored Dr. Frank Turek, and together they co-authored the bestselling classic I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. His teaching has shaped thousands of pastors, professors, and Christian leaders around the world. These original lectures are no longer available in a live classroom. Through careful curation and modern technology, Online Christian Courses has preserved Dr. Geisler’s teaching and transformed it into an engaging online learning experience available exclusively through this course. You won’t find this content anywhere else.

Dr. Norman Geisler, PhD, was a prolific author, veteran professor, speaker, lecturer, traveler, philosopher, apologist, evangelist, and theologian. To those who ask, “Who is Norm Geisler?” some have suggested, “If you can imagine a cross between Thomas Aquinas and Billy Graham, you’re not too far off.” A mentor to countless apologists and theologians, several consider him to be the grandfather of classical, evangelical Christian apologetics.

Norm authored or co-authored over 100 books and hundreds of articles. He taught theology, philosophy, and classical Christian apologetics at the undergraduate and graduate level for over 50 years and served as a professor at some of the finest seminaries in the United States, including Trinity Evangelical Seminary, Dallas Theological Seminary, Veritas International University, and Southern Evangelical Seminary.

Dr. Frank Turek has been providing evidence and answering questions from believers and non-believers about the Christian faith for over 20 years. He is a dynamic speaker and award-winning author or co-author of six books: Stealing from God: Why Atheists Need God to Make Their Case, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, Correct, Not Politically Correct: About Same-Sex Marriage and Transgenderism, Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God, The War On Reality, and Legislating Morality. As the President of CrossExamined.org & CrossExamined International Frank presents powerful and entertaining evidence for Christianity at churches, high schools and at secular college campuses that are often hostile to his message. He has also debated several prominent atheists including Christopher Hitchens and David Silverman, president of American Atheists.

Dr. Richard G. Howe is the Norman L. Geisler Chair of Christian Apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he also serves as Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics and as the Provost. He is a writer, public speaker, and debater who regularly addresses churches, conferences, and university campuses on issues of Christian apologetics and philosophy.
Dr. Howe holds a B.A. in Bible from Mississippi College, an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Mississippi, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Arkansas. Both his master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation focused on the existence of God. His master’s thesis, An Analysis of William Lane Craig’s Kalam Cosmological Argument, defended the argument against later objections. His doctoral dissertation, A Defense of Thomas Aquinas’s Second Way, offered a rigorous defense of Aquinas’s efficient causality argument for God’s existence against philosophical criticisms.
A specialist in classical apologetics, Thomistic philosophy, and the philosophy of religion, Dr. Howe has spoken and debated across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa. He is the past President of the International Society of Christian Apologetics and has interacted with leading thinkers including William Lane Craig, Frank Turek, Greg Koukl, Hugh Ross, and others.
He is co-author (with Norman L. Geisler) of The Religion of the Force and has contributed chapters to numerous books, including I Am Put Here for the Defense of the Gospel: Dr. Norman L. Geisler: A Festschrift in His Honor, Answering the Music Man: Dan Barker’s Arguments Against Christianity, The Comprehensive Guide to Science and Faith, The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, Reasons for Faith, The Jesus Quest, and To Everyone an Answer. His articles have appeared in journals such as the Christian Apologetics Journal, Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry, Christian Research Journal, and Areopagus Journal.
In their free time, Dr. Howe and his wife Rebekah enjoy international travel.

Dr. Frank Turek has been providing evidence and answering questions from believers and non-believers about the Christian faith for over 20 years. He is a dynamic speaker and award-winning author or co-author of six books: Stealing from God: Why Atheists Need God to Make Their Case, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, Correct, Not Politically Correct: About Same-Sex Marriage and Transgenderism, Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God, The War On Reality, and Legislating Morality. As the President of CrossExamined.org & CrossExamined International Frank presents powerful and entertaining evidence for Christianity at churches, high schools and at secular college campuses that are often hostile to his message. He has also debated several prominent atheists including Christopher Hitchens and David Silverman, president of American Atheists.

Unfortunately, due to copyright, privacy and security issues the answer to this question is NO. We understand the desire to share these awesome sessions in this manner, but each course is a “closed” course. This means that each student enrolled in a course with LIVE recorded sessions, through their enrollment, has given permission for recording of the Zoom sessions for use by the students in their enrolled class ONLY and verified that they are not a minor. To remain GDPR compliant and protect privacy and security, we authenticate each student joining our Zoom meetings. This privacy is also sought to create a place where our students get to know the others in their group and feel comfortable in sharing personal thoughts and questions.

Dr. Norman Geisler: Your Guide to the World of Philosophy

Dr. Norman Geisler — Your Guide to the World of Philosophy

The PREMIUM Course Includes LIVE Zoom Sessions!!

Course Schedule

The PREMIUM Course Includes LIVE Zoom Sessions!!

Course Schedule

IDEAS CHANGE HISTORY

IDEAS CHANGE HISTORY