Introduction to Philosophy

Final Project – Instructions & Suggestions Dennis Bray || Fall, 2022

FINAL PROJECT – INSTRUCTIONS & SUGGESTED PROJECTS

Instructions
Goals for you
The final project is an opportunity to go deeper in some single aspect of this course. My aim is to give
you room to pursue something that captures your interest, even if you must create your project and topic
to do so. Further, the course is an introduction to philosophy, so I do not expect an intensive philosophy
paper, but rather want you to connect some aspect of philosophy with your study of scripture and your
calling. Therefore, you may expect to spend about 5 to 10 hours on the suggested projects below. Should
you wish to dig down more deeply than these suggested projects require, I am more than open to your
desires and needs, and welcome any original project proposals. Finally, each of the suggested projects
below have a prayer element: though short (usually about 15 to 20 minutes), I take this very seriously. I
have purposely kept the time of prayer rather short as to not burden you at the end of the semester, but
to give you a chance for serious, prayerful conversation with the Holy Spirit on the topic of your final,
asking Him about where we may move our learning from ‘head’ to ‘heart’ and ‘hands’. Any original
projects will need a similar, meaningful prayer element.

Suggested Projects
The following are suggested ideas for your final project. You may pursue any of these as they are
described. You may also modify any of the suggested projects to fit your own interests and learning goals.
If you do modify a project, make sure those changes fit within the goals and parameters I specified above.
Alternatively, you may design your own novel project. Remember, whether you modify one of the
suggestions below, or design a novel project, please run it by me before you begin working on it.
[Suggested Project #1] Group Book Discussion

Overview. This is the default project. It is the most straightforward project in that it requires the least writing.
Instructions..
1. Choose a group of 3 to 4 people total from class
2. Choose a book on a philosophical topic. This can be on subject we have discussed in class, or on a
separate issue altogether (though you will need to speak with me first on this). Any book on the
recommended book list is fine.
3. Read the book (on your own).
4. During the time when I am on campus for in person lectures, make a meeting time to discuss the book
with your group for 45 minutes. I will visit the discussion and grade at that time.
5. Come to the meeting with two copies of the following (one for me, and one for you), prepared as a
typed sheet with your name: (1) Three passages that you found interesting, enlightening, confusing, or
otherwise worth discussing. Each passage should be typed, include page number, and have listed your
thoughts, understanding, questions, etc., regarding the passage. (2) Three discussion questions. That is,
good, open-ended questions that you can ask about some passage, theme, idea, or issue raised in the
book. (3) The percentage of the reading you finished according to the standards set out in the syllabus.

Grading: I will be grading you on the quality of your discussion about your passages, the quality of your
questions and their ability to engender good thoughts from your group, and your participation as your group
members raise their own issues and questions. In short: show me that you have read the book, that you
understand it, and that you can ask thoughtful questions about it with your group.
Introduction to Philosophy
Final Project – Instructions & Suggestions Dennis Bray || Fall, 2022

RECOMMENDED READING LIST: The following is a list of books that you may choose from for the
midterm. Note that this list is only recommended, you may want to pursue another book,. If so, please let me
know what you are interested in and what you want to pursue.
INTELLECTUAL VIRTUES
Armstrong, William. Study Is Hard Work: The Most Accessible and Lucid Text Available on Acquiring and Keeping Study
Skills Through a Lifetime.
Benner, David G. The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery.
Craig, William Lane, and Paul Gould, eds. The Two Tasks of the Christian Scholar: Redeeming the Soul, Redeeming the
Mind.
Ford, David F. The Shape of Living: Spiritual Directions for Everyday Life.
Guiness, Os. The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life.
Kostenberger, Andreas J. Excellence: The Character of God and the Pursuit of Scholarly Virtue.
McEntyre, Marilyn. Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies.
Piper, John, and David Mathis. Thinking. Loving. Doing.: A Call to Glorify God with Heart and Mind.
Schall, James. The Life of the Mind: On the Joys and Travails of Thinking.
Naugle, David K. Reordered Love, Reordered Lives: Learning the Deep Meaning of Happiness.
Noll, Mark. Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind.
Pieper, Josef. Happiness and Contemplation,
Ten Elshoff, Gregg A. I Told ME So: Self-Deception and the Christian Life.
Wright, N. T. After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters.

BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW INTEGRATION

Stott, John R. W. Your Mind Matters to God.
Moreland, J.P. The Kingdom Triangle: Recover the Christian Mind, Renovate the Soul, Restore the Spirit’s Power.

PHILOSOPHY
Baggett, David, Gary R. Habermas, and Jerry L. Walls. C.S. Lewis as Philosopher: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.
Clark, Kelly James, ed. Philosophers Who Believe: The Spiritual Journeys of 11 Leading Thinkers.
DeWeese, Garrett J., and J.P. Moreland. Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner’s Guide to Life’s Big
Questions.
Ganssle, Gregory E. Thinking About God: First Steps in Philosophy.
Groothuis, Douglas. On Jesus.
DeWeese, Garrett J. Doing Philosophy as a Christian.
Geivett, R. Douglas, and James S. Spiegel. Faith, Film, and Philosophy: Big Ideas on the Big Screen.
Introduction to Philosophy
Final Project – Instructions & Suggestions Dennis Bray || Fall, 2022

LIFE OF THE MIND

Horner, David. Mind Your Faith: A Student’s Guide to Thinking and Living Well.
Kreeft, Peter. Back to Virtue: Traditional Moral Wisdom for Modern Moral Confusion.

APOLOGETICS AND EVANGELISM

Copan, Paul. When God Goes to Starbucks.
Craig, William Lane. On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision.
Geisler, Norman, and Patrick Zuckeran. The Apologetic of Jesus: A Caring Approach to Dealing with Doubters.
McDowell, Sean, ed. Apologetics for a New Generation: A Biblical and Culturally Relevant Approach to Talking About
God.
Newman, Randy. Bringing the Gospel Home: Witnessing to Family Members, Close Friends, and Others Who Know You
Well.
Clark, David K. Dialogical Apologetics: A Person-Centered Approach to Christian Defense.
Wooddell, Joseph. The Beauty of the Faith: Using Aesthetics for Christian Apologetics.

[Suggested Project #2 Passage Study: Does Scripture Forbid the Philosophical Mindset?

Overview. This project is a chance to choose a passage to investigate its implications for the practice of
philosophy. After selecting your passage you will perform some basic exegetical work to provide context, then
do some careful reading of the selected sentence. You will refer to some good commentaries, but ultimately you
must state your own understanding of the passage and what it means for how Christians understand and do
philosophical thinking.

Instructions. Each of the following steps must be carefully followed. Steps 1, 3-7 must be clearly expressed in the
written assignment. Steps 2 and 8 cannot be so clearly expressed. Therefore, at the end very end of the paper
please state “I have followed step 2 by reading my book X number of times”, and “I have spent X minutes in
uninterrupted, prayerful reflection on this passage”. Each step counts for 12.5% of the final project grade (i.e.,
each step is 1/8 of the project grade).
6. Choose one of the following passages: Colossians 2:8; Hebrews 11:1; 2Corinthians 5:7; Romans 8:24
7. Read the entire book 1-3 times (3 times for Colossians; 2 times for Hebrews; 1 time for 2Cor. and
Romans).
8. In a paragraph (about 200-250 words or so; no more than 350 words), describe the book’s: author;
audience; setting (what were the people who received the letter all about? What was going on with
them); main themes; author’s goals; and any other relevant contextual data.
9. Briefly outline the book’s main sections.1 The outline should be fairly simple, such as in the example
provided in the footnote. You may refer to other authors’ outlines, but please read the epistle through
and outline its main themes on you own before using any commentaries or other resources.

1 Here is a sample outline adapted from Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on Ephesians:

1. Introduction (Eph 1:1-1:2
2. Our spiritual possessions in Christ (Eph 1:3-14)
3. Our spiritual position in Christ (Eph 2:1-22)
Introduction to Philosophy
Final Project – Instructions & Suggestions Dennis Bray || Fall, 2022

10. In a paragraph or two (300-600 words) describe the section in which your passage is located.
Explain what is being discussed, how it fits in with the bigger themes and purpose of the book, etc.
Basically, you are giving a more focused explanation of the context of your passage.
11. Summarize the views of 2 or 3 thinkers on the meaning of your passage. In this step you look at a
few commentaries to see what those thinkers have to say. The commentary must be a published book
from a reputable publisher (e.g. IVP, Baker, Zondervan, etc.) or series (e.g. New International Commentary
on the Old and New Testaments; Expositor’s Bible Commentary; Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament; Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament; New International Greek Testament
Commentary; Evangelical Exegetical Commentary). In other words, you cannot use blogs or sermons for this
step. This step should be between 250 and 500 words or so; please do not go over 600 words.
12. Detail your own stance on passage’s implications for philosophy. What does this passage mean
for the philosophical mentality? That is, what bearing does this passage have for philosophy as we’ve
defined it in this class? Should Christians think hard and well (and clearly, critically, supporting their
conclusions, etc.)? If you’ve chosen the Colossians passage, answer this question: What does Paul mean
when he says ‘philosophy’? What type of thinking does he have in mind, and how does it compare to the philosophical
thinking we’ve discussed in this class? If you’ve chosen any of the other passages, answer this question: What
place does philosophy have in faith as discussed in your passage? What is the relationship between philosophy (as I’ve
defined it) and faith (as discussed in your book/passage)? This step is about 300-500 words.
13. Prayerful reflection. Spend 15 to 20 minutes in uninterrupted, prayerful reflection on your passage.
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you eyes to see any actions He would have you take. If your attitude needs
to change in any way toward philosophy (whether you should become more open to it, or be more
careful and measured with it, or whatever else), speak with the Helper, asking Him to help change your
attitude.
The total written project will be between about 1100 words and 1800 words.

[Suggested Project #3] Passage Study: The Christian Life of the Mind

Overview. In this project you will explore the relationship between our mind and the activities and abilities
described in a chapter from a biblical book.

For example, if the chapter describes aspects of worship, you will list those aspects and explain in detail how
our mind is involved. In Psalm 8, for instance, the Psalmist states that he considers the heavens (and much
more), leading him to declare “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Thus, you will
investigate the Psalmist’s intellectual virtues, such as curiosity, carefulness, and maybe humility. You will then
explain how these led to knowledge, and how that knowledge is connected to his praise.

Instructions..
1. Choose one of the following passages: 1 John 5; Psalm 51; Proverbs 2; or Ephesians 1.
2. Read the entire book (two times for 1 John; read Psalm 51 three times (not the whole book of
Psalms!); read Proverbs 2 three times; read Ephesians one time).
3. In a paragraph (about 200-250 words), describe the book’s: author; audience; setting (what were the
people who received the letter all about? What was going on with them); main themes; author’s goals;
and any other relevant contextual data. For Psalms and Proverbs, you will need to mention the aims
and nature of the Wisdom books.
4. In a paragraph (about 200 words) describe the section in which your passage is located. Explain
what is being discussed, how it fits in with the bigger themes and purpose of the book, etc. Basically,
you are giving a more focused explanation of the context of your passage.
5. Summarize the views of 1 or 2 thinkers on the meaning of your passage. In this step you look at a
few commentaries to see what those thinkers have to say. Noting specifically what they say, if anything,

4. A call to walk in unity (Eph 4:1-16)

5. A call to walk in purity (Eph 4:17-5:21)
6. A call to walk in harmony (Eph 5:22-6:9)
7. A call to walk in victory (Eph 6:10-20)
8. Conclusion (Eph 6:21-24)
Introduction to Philosophy
Final Project – Instructions & Suggestions Dennis Bray || Fall, 2022

about the life of the mind or the mind’s role. The commentary must be a published book from a
reputable publisher (e.g. IVP, Baker, Zondervan, etc.) or series (e.g. New International Commentary on the
Old and New Testaments; Expositor’s Bible Commentary; Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament;
Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament; New International Greek Testament Commentary;
Evangelical Exegetical Commentary). In other words, you cannot use blogs or sermons for this step. This
step should be between 200 and 400 words.
6. Investigate the mind’s role in this chapter. This step is the primary step of the project, and counts
for 2/3 of the project grade. Please note the following instructions well! (i) Here you are on the hunt
for all the activities, commands, descriptions, etc., that involve the mind. List these out, giving a brief
explanation when necessary. (ii) Look back to the lecture notes for Module 2, lecture 2. There I posed a
series of question regarding each book in this project. Answer the questions thoughtfully and
thoroughly. (iii) Explain which of the seven intellectual virtues are present in this passage (they will be
implicit, so you must think carefully through your book), and explain how they present/necessary in
this book. This step is about 600-1000 words.
7. Prayerful reflection. Spend 15 to 20 minutes in uninterrupted, prayerful reflection on your passage.
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you eyes to see any actions He would have you take. If you notice any
intellectual virtues that you can grow in, bring these to the Spirit, asking Him to help instil these in your
heart.
The total written project will be between about 1100 words and 1800 words.