Recording of live session on April 27, 2024, 9:30 am – 1:00 pm, featuring author, speaker, apologist, and expert on the Resurrection of Jesus, Mike Licona, Ph.D. Mike is the author, co-author, or editor of seven books, including an award-winning book on the Resurrection and several books about apologetics and evangelism.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a recording of a live session. The recording is immediately available to all who register here.
The goal of the AIM Spiritual Perspectives Module is to prepare students to engage sensitively and effectively with others from a wide variety of differing denominational, religious, and philosophical perspectives.
The AIM Spiritual Perspectives Module includes extensive training in apologetics and evidence for the Christian worldview, an introduction to significant worldviews and world religions, including Catholicism, Orthodoxy, the Church of the East, Protestantism, Charismatic/Pentecostal Movements, and Restoration Movements, New Age Movements, atheism, postmodernism, in-depth teaching about the Holy Spirit, and various popular teachings within groups and denominations professing Christianity, as well as an introduction to the history of world Christianity, and much practical training about how to effectively evangelize and share the Good News about Jesus with others.
This module is for anyone desiring sound and effective training and knowledge on how to reach out to anyone sensitively and knowledgeably. Students will learn how to make new relationships and engage in great conversations about personal belief with nearly anyone, regardless of what they may believe.
Many people question God, the Bible, and the Christian faith. We believe that asking questions regarding your beliefs is a very good thing to do. We also believe there are good answers to many of the questions people have about faith. In a world where questions and doubts surround matters of faith, it's crucial to equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to engage in meaningful conversations. Whether you're a seasoned believer looking to deepen your understanding or a curious seeker seeking answers, this course is designed for you. Led by experts in apologetics and evangelism, this course combines theological foundations with practical techniques, ensuring you're equipped to navigate complex discussions with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
A significant component of this course is pneumatology, the study of doctrines related to the Holy Spirit. In addition overviews of the fundamental beliefs and worldview of pentecostalism, Calvinism and Arminianism, Mormonism, Catholicism and Protestantism, Sabbatarianism, Messianic and Judaic Christianity, New Age Movements, postmodernism, liberal theology, fundamentalism, prosperity theology, the megachurch movement, and several influential doctrinal systems developed in America will all be covered in this course.
As one wise person said, "Those who ignore the lessons of history are bound to repeat them." There is so much to learn from two millennia of church history--a valuable course indeed. Includes sections on the early church, Patristics, Restoration Movement, Crossroads/Campus Ministry, ICOC, and more. 20 church history dates will be learned.
AIM Worldviews 2025 Description
Introduction to Major World Religions
Islam (900 million followers), Hinduism (800 million followers), Buddhism (300 million followers)
[Note: Christianity and Judaism are covered respectively in AIM Doctrine/Holy Spirit and AIM Old Testament Survey]
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the world's major religious traditions through direct engagement with their foundational texts and lived practices. Instead of relying solely on secondary sources, students will engage with these faiths through their primary scriptures—including the Qur'an, Upanishads, Vedas, and Buddhist sutras—to gain a genuine insight into each tradition's core teachings and worldview.
The curriculum emphasizes experiential learning through required visits to mosques, Hindu temples, or Buddhist centers, allowing students to observe religious practices firsthand and engage with practitioners. This combination of textual study and personal encounter provides essential preparation for respectful and informed interfaith dialogue.
The course aims to equip students with practical worldview apologetics for pre-evangelism contexts. Students will develop strategies for meaningful cross-cultural conversations by first thoroughly understanding others’ belief systems and perspectives. This foundation enables more authentic connections with people from diverse religious backgrounds.
Learning Objectives:
- Master 50 key biblical passages relevant to World Religions
- Develop competence in worldview apologetics and pre-evangelism strategies
- Apply new approaches for respectfully connecting with those from different faith traditions
Required Readings and Assignments:
- Charles E. Farhadian, Introducing World Religions: A Christian Engagement, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2015. [Read sections on Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and choose one of (Jainism, Sikhism or Taoism/Confucianism)]
M. A. S. Abdel Haleem, The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) (selections: half the pages in your Qur'an)
- Douglas Jacoby, Jesus & Islam. Spring, TX: Illumination Publishers, 2009
- Gregory Koukl, Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions. HarperCollins, 2019
- James Sire, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog, 5th Edition (any edition is acceptable)
Required Experiential Learning:
- Visit a Hindu or Buddhist temple or a mosque
- Learn the location of the 50 useful worldview passages
Live Sessions:
- Zoom meeting: 9:30-1:00 on Saturday, October 4, 2025
- Zoom Q&A Session: 10:00-11:00 on Saturday, November 15, 2025