CrossExamined Instructor Academy

Have skill and a passion for apologetics?

Join FRANK TUREK, GREG KOUKL, HANK HANEGRAAFF

& others at the CrossExamined Instructor Academy (CIA)

Learn how to impact your world with I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist

August 13-15, 2008, held at Southern Evangelical Seminary near Charlotte, NC

 

Why are we conducting the CrossExamined Instructor Academy (CIA)?

As you know, 75% of churched youth leave the church after high school.  Intellectual skepticism is a major reason they leave, much of which they get at college. This will be the last Christian generation in America unless the Body of Christ acts immediately.

 

CrossExamined.org exists to engage primarily colleges, but also high school campuses and churches, with a reasonable and engaging case for Christianity.  We do that by conducting I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist seminars on college campuses and at other venues to which we are invited.  Due to the magnitude of the problem, we would like to train other qualified people to do this as well. An entire team needs to be trained and mobilized. That’s why we have established the CIA. 

 

What is the CrossExamined Instructor Academy?

CIA is an intense three-day program where you will learn how to present I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist—which involves four main topics: Truth, God, Miracles and the New Testament—and how to answer questions about those topics in a hostile environment. During those three days, in addition to hearing lectures and participating in discussions, you will be asked to present portions of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist and answer questions from several instructors. These instructors, who will coach and challenge you, will include Frank Turek, co-author of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, Greg Koukl and Brett Kunkle of Stand to Reason (www.STR.org), and Jason Reed, Professor of Philosophy at Southern Evangelical Seminary (www.SES.edu). Hank Hanegraaff, the Bible Answerman (www.Equip.org) will join us on Wednesday night for a special Q&A session. Iron will sharpen iron

 

What are the qualifications?

CIA is not a course where beginners learn apologetics, but a place where those with a solid foundation have their skills deepened and sharpened. While it is not an absolute necessity to have a degree in apologetics or philosophy, we are looking for people with those kinds of qualifications who have good presentation skills. Please apply if you have those qualifications, OR if you have significant experience and skill in presenting apologetics. Send a recording of one of your presentations if you have one available. Space is limited — the class will be small to allow for personal instruction — so don't delay, apply now!

 

CIA Application

Download CIA Application

Get Acrobat Reader

 

When is the application due?

Applications must be received no later than June 27, 2008. Notification will be given via e-mail no later than July 7, 2008. To reserve your spot, full payment must be received by July 23. If not received by then, your spot will be given to someone on the waiting list. Make your checks payable to "CrossExamined.org."

 

What is the agenda?

The following is the tentative agenda (open to modification):

Wednesday August 13, 2008

Morning
(9 a.m.)

1. Turek: Introduction and Part 1 of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Truth and God)

2. All: Questions and open forum on Part 1 of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

Afternoon

1. All: Questions and open forum on Part 1 of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist continued (if necessary)

2. Koukl: Tactics in Defending the Faith, Part 1 (3 hours)

3. Kunkle: The Moral Argument for God

Evening

Food, Fellowship, and Q&A with Hank Hanegraaff

Thursday August 14, 2008

Morning
(9 a.m.)

1. Turek: Part 2 of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Miracles and NT)

2. All: Questions and open forum on Part 2 of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

Afternoon

1. Koukl: Tactics in Defending the Faith, Part 2 (2 hours)

2. Reed: Answering Atheists: Making Key Distinctions

3. Turek, Koukl, Kunkle, Reed: The Toughest questions you will face

Evening

Informal Q&A and preparation for Friday’s student presentations

Friday August 15, 2008

Morning
(8 a.m.)

1. Student Presentations: Students present short sections of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist and are coached and questioned by CIA Instructors (there will be no water-boarding).

Afternoon

1. Student Presentations continue

2. Turek: Lessons learned and where do we go from here? (End by 4 p.m.)

How much is tuition?

Tuition is $695. Students or alumni from our host, Southern Evangelical Seminary, may attend for $495. Financial aid may be available (see the application). However, tuition will not cover all costs. Therefore, any donations beyond tuition are deeply appreciated and are completely tax deductible (CrossExamined.org is a non-profit 501 C 3 organization). Tuition includes lunches and the Wednesday night dinner, but travel, lodging and other meals are your responsibility. CIA will be held at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Matthews, NC (near Charlotte). A list of area hotels can be found here.

 

How can I prepare?

Don’t just read or listen, but study and outline: I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (may be purchased from www.impactapologetics.com) and Tactics in Defending the Faith (www.STR.org). On the last day of CIA, you will be asked to present a short portion of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. As a result, you may want to get the I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist PowerPoint in advance from www.impactapologetics.com.

 

There are several other important works. But for now, these additional works are essential:

  • Lee Strobel: The Case for the Real Jesus, The Case for Faith, The Case for the Creator (these are great because you get the main arguments from the best scholars)
  • Francis Beckwith and Gregory Koukl: Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid Air
  • William Lane Craig: Hard Questions, Real Answers
  • Gary Habermas and Mike Licona: The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus
  • The Norman L. Geisler Library on CD (available from www.impactapologetics.com), which contains 12 of his most essential books, including The Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, Answering Islam, and When Critics Ask. (This CD is more for reference, not necessarily to read through.)
  • The Bible Answerbook II by Hank Hanegraaff gives concise answers to difficult questions.
  • Start listening to the Stand to Reason (STR) podcast and The Bible Answerman podcast. If you want to get a jump on things, you can also get the I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist TV series at www.impactapologetics.com.
  • You also will need to be familiar with the works of the popular atheists such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens.

 

What happens after completing CIA?

We would like you to present I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist where ever you can—your church, youth groups, middle and high schools and anywhere else people will hear you. We are also looking for seasoned apologists that CrossExamined may call on to present I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist on college campuses. CIA will help us identify potential candidates, but attending CIA does not guarantee you will be offered such a role. If after attending CIA you are interested in such a role, you may submit your name for consideration.

 

Questions?

If you have any questions, please drop us an e-mail at . I hope to see you at CIA in August!

 

In His Service,
Dr. Frank Turek

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