Literary Apologetics Certificate Program

This apologetics academy is hosted by Athanatos Christian Ministries. This ministry has a unique approach to apologetics:  it believes that the culture itself has a tremendous impact on what one believes and that the culture in turn is heavily influenced by the arts.  Christianity is often undermined by cultural undercurrents, but historically Christians themselves have been highly involved in contributing to the cultural conversation.   ACM hopes to help renew that involvement by encouraging Christians to enter the public sphere in a knowledgeable fashion.  Criticism has rightly been levied against the ‘Christian ghetto,’ but that doesn’t mean we should dilute- or worse, jettison- our Christian faith in a quest to be accepted by non-Christians.  Rather, our goal should be to understand that there is a relationship between the culture, arts, and one’s worldview, whether we like it or not.  Hence, it is necessary at all times to understand how our own faith impacts our creations while being sensitive to the realities that exist in our largely unbelieving culture.

ACM’s Literary Apologetics Certificate Program is designed to ensure that our artists are theologically informed, alert to modern challenges to the faith, and understand that having a genuine Christian faith is no substitute for the need for excellence in our writing, music, etc.

At this time, ACM’s emphasis is on literature.  In due time, other artistic forms may be added.

Program Director

ACM is pleased to announce a partnership with Hieropraxis, led by Dr. Holly Ordway, who has agreed to be ACM’s Literary Apologetics Program Director.

Dr. Ordway has a doctorate in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, an MA in English Literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an MA in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Dr. Ordway’s book Not God’s Type: A Rational Academic Finds a Radical Faith (Moody Publishers, 2010) chronicles her intellectual and emotional journey from atheism to faith in Christ as her Lord and Savior.

Dr. Ordway understands on both a personal and academic level the power and impact of great art on the human soul and has the expertise to guide artists in their quest to hone their craft.  She understands the objections that the world has to Christ.  She is well suited to show how the arts and belief tie together, either to the benefit, or harm, of individuals in our society.  She looks forward to bringing her expertise and experiences to our academy participants, especially those who are accepted into ACM’s Literary Apologetics Certificate Program.

For more information about Dr. Ordway’s vision for ‘literary apologetics’ please read this essay.  More information about ACM’s other literary apologetics activities, please visit their website:  www.athanatosministries.org

Use the form below to Contact Dr. Ordway.

Program Requirements

In order to successfully obtain the Lit. Apol. Certificate, one must complete four courses in four different areas for a total of sixteen courses.  What follows is subject to revision.

The four areas are:

General Theology

General Apologetics

Literary Apologetics

Writing and the Arts

General Theology:

• New Testament:  The Gospels
• New Testament:  The Epistles
• Survey of the Old Testament Part 1 (Genesis-Deuteronomy)
• Christ Promised in the Old Testament

General Apologetics:

• Accessible Apologetics (or equivalent survey course)
• Apologetics related Elective
• Apologetics related Elective
• General Theology/Apologetics related Elective

Literary Apologetics:

• Principles of Literary Apologetics
• The Fiction of Dorothy Sayers, GK Chesterton, and Charles Williams
• Studies in Myth (CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, George MacDonald)
• Studies in Poetry (Shakespeare, Marlowe, Donne, Herbert, Eliot)

Writing and the Arts:

• Writing related Elective
• Writing related Elective
• Wordsmithing
• Writing for Publication

Course Descriptions

[You can take these courses without being enrolled in our certificate program]

Click here for course descriptions related specifically to the literary apologetics program.

Cost and Payment Plan

• $2,000 if a single payment is made (must be paid prior to beginning the program).
• $2,300 if 2 payments are made (must be paid within 15 month time frame).
• $2,500 if 4 payments are made (must be paid within 24 month time frame).

Application Process

Not all applicants will be accepted.  Please fill out the contact form below to begin the process.  Your inquiry will be directed to Dr. Ordway and other academy staffers.

General requirements for applicants include:

• An orthodox Christian faith.
• A willingness to learn.
• The ability (eg, the applicant has the necessary time available) to complete the program.

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