Henry Carter Hull

What is religion? How does it reflect the culture in which it exists? And what functions does it serve? There are key questions asked by virtually every human culture. Those questions, and the way different religions go about revealing the answers, shine a light on what all people and cultures have in common. Explore the differences between religion and spirituality and see how they often work hand-in-hand. Discover how religious practices, religious...

Having covered ways of gaining evidence and justifying belief in pursuit of knowledge, now ask: Is knowledge really possible? See what Plato had to say. Then delve into Rene Descartes’ celebrated struggle with this problem, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of his position.

[Revelation] Conclude the course with a lecture on perhaps the most evocative, unsettling, and yet hopeful book in the Bible: Revelation. After considering the narrative’s vivid word pictures, dramatic plot, and unforgettable characters, you’ll see how Revelation fits into a comprehensive, informed reading of the entire Bible.

Begin a series of lectures addressing the next big question: Does God exist? The most popular proofs appeal to God’s existence as the best explanation for the universe’s existence and nature. In this lecture, test the cosmological and teleological arguments, using the tools of philosophy and the evidence of physics.

Given that faith by its nature makes no claim to being logical, can it ever be considered rational? Learn that all of us unconsciously behave as if it is. What are our grounds for doing so, and how does this apply to religious faith? Your inquiry introduces you to famous arguments by Blaise Pascal, William Clifford and William James.

The Gospel of John differs significantly from the other three canonical Gospels in its conception of Jesus. Investigate John's contention that Jesus had always been the Son of God and the equal of God the Father. Contemplate John's identification of Christ as the embodiment of the word of God, or "logos".

[1 Kings 1–11] Throughout the story of Solomon in 1 Kings, splendor and oppression go hand in hand. Were all the impressive results of Solomon’s monarchy (including his iconic temple) worth the human suffering? Consider this perplexing question as you encounter a king who was both ruthless and wise.

[Acts 1–10] Turn to subsequent texts of the New Testament, which take up the struggle to understand Jesus and what it means to live by his message. The Acts of the Apostles, you’ll find, is a fascinating narrative that shows the Christian community being transformed as it welcomed Jews, Greeks, and Romans.

Close your inquiry into the afterlife by looking at new ways of defining personhood. According to perdurantism, a person is the sum total of an individual’s life experiences and cannot be isolated to a particular time and place. Then question the very concept of a person—a move that may rule out the possibility of an afterlife.

While many mainline Christian churches are in decline, Evangelical Christianity remains a powerful force in the 21st century. With 2.1 billion followers worldwide, this particular branch of faith must be doing something right. In this program, host Tevya enters the world of Evangelicals, meeting a local pastor whose weekly service is broadcast to five different locations and features a full rockband. He learns that it is all about giving back..