Summit Ministries

Homeschool

Understanding the Times is a one or two semester video-based curriculum for 12th grade that brings a host of Christian worldview and apologetic experts into your classroom. This class will help students clearly understand the tenets of the Christian worldview and how it compares with the tenets of other leading worldviews of our day: Islam, Secular Humanism, Marxism, New Age, and Postmodernism.

Some of the issues covered include: abortion, apologetics, the arts, biotechnology, critical thinking, cults, euthanasia, leadership, radical environmentalism, radical feminism, the problem of evil, religious pluralism, scriptural reliability, and more.

Understanding the Times is designed for your school classroom—complete with day-to-day lesson plans and classroom activities, as well as masters for assignments, papers, and unit tests—providing all the material needed to successfully teach worldviews and apologetics in your school.

Note: If you are looking for a worldview assessment test, try Nehemiah Institute and use coupon code SM719 for a 10% discount
Note: If you are an ACSI member school and have not ordered from Summit in the past, please order through ACSI

Homeschool

The Understanding the Times Homeschool Teaching Package includes the following: Teacher Manual (with Supplemental CD-ROM), Student Manual, Textbook, and Teaching Videos (6 DVD-ROMs and 2 DVDs).

Note: In order to help bring the costs down and make this package affordable to home school families, we have encoded the video lectures in QuickTime format. These 6 discs are designed to play on a computer equipped with a DVD-ROM drive. They will not work in a regular DVD player.

Teacher Manual
This manual contains a one and two semester syllabi, day-to-day lesson plans, and classroom activities, as well as masters for assignments, papers, and unit tests, providing all the information needed to successfully teach worldviews in your school. Includes supplemental CD-Rom with unit tests, activity handouts, grading sheets, and more.

Supplemental CD
The Supplemental CD includes unit tests, activity handouts, and grading sheets.

Student Manual
The manual contains fill-in-the-blank notes for each video segment, supplemental readings, and "Fact Sheets" providing further resources on over 30 topics. This manual provides each student with a complete set of notes and outlines for various assignments, discussions, and test reviews.

Textbook
This hardcover textbook (revised in 2006) systematically outlines the six major worlviews of our time: Christianity, Islam, Secular Humanism, Marxism, New Age, and Postmodernism — along ten academic disciplines — Theology, Philosophy, Ethics, Biology, Psychology, Sociology, Law, Politics, Economics, and History.

DVD-ROMS Videos

Introduction to Worldviews
Kevin Bywater lays out the foundation and importance of worldview thinking in our contemporary culture.

Understanding the Times
These documentary style videos systematically compare Christianity to other competing worldviews. Christian, Marxist, Humanist, and New Age adherents personally present the tenants of their respective worldviews.

Loving God with All Your Mind
Dr. J.P. Moreland diagnoses some of the leading problems with the prominent Christian view of the mind, as well as some effective solutions.

Ambassadors for Christ
Gregory Koukl challenges students to conduct themselves as worthy representatives of Christ, employing the characteristics of knowledge, wisdom, and character in a fallen world.

The Existence and Nature of God
Dr. Francis Beckwith offers a discourse on the self-existence of God and all-powerful and all-knowing nature of God as well as some common arguments for his existence.

Understanding Postmodernism
John Stonestreet compares and contrasts reality, truth, and language from pre-modernist, modernist, postmodernist, and Christian perspectives.

Marks of the Cults
Kevin Bywater describes his experience with growing up in the Mormon church and similarities between pseudo-Christian religions in general.

Evil and Suffering
John Stonestreet reviews the problem of evil, various asnwers from differing worldviews, some bad Christian solutions, as well as some suggestions toward a Christian resolution.

Responding to Relativism
Dr. Francis Beckwith and Gregory Koukl address various forms of relativism, providing meaningful and detailed responses to each. They address such issues as values clarification, multiculturalism, political correctness, and same-sex marriages.

Bio-technology
John Stonestreet addresses the issue of bio-technology, bio-ethics, and the question of personhood for today's technological age.

Love, Sex, and Marriage
Dr. Jeff Myers considers the structure of the family from varying worldview perspectives and elaborates upon the Christian position as presented in Scripture.

Entertainment
John Stonestreet considers the worldview role that entertainment plays in culture and offers some suggestions for Christian engagement.

The Case against Abortion
Scott Klusendorf instructs students how to think about abortion and how to dissuade advocates of abortion.

Radical Environmentalism
Dr. Calvin Beisner helps students discern the difference between radical environmentalism and environmentalism from biblical perspective.

The Dangerous Samaritan
Dr. Michael Bauman one who knows the reality of poverty, reveals the dangers of welfare.

Reliability of Scripture
Todd Cothran answers the questions, "Is the Bible really true? Can it be trusted?"

Historical Jesus
Kevin Bywater discusses the issues of "biblical criticism" and the "quest for the real Jesus" as well as offers some good reasons for believing the historical data of the New Testament.

Worldview Witnessing
Kevin Bywater uses worldview analysis to demonstrate ways in which Christians can engage non-believers.

Secrets of the World Changers
Dr. Jeff Myers elaborates upon some of the common traits found among individuals who have influenced great change throughout Western civilization.

DVD Videos

Icons of Evolution
Cold Water Media investigates a number of "icons" (or bad evidences) presented as support for theory of evolution.

Mysteries of Life's Origin
Cold Water Media explores the subject of "irreducible complex" systems found within living organisms.

Homeschool

Understanding the Times has literally equipped thousands of students to become champions of the faith. We believe that those who are using this curriculum are playing a strategic role in the reclaiming of our Christian youth in our current post-Christian culture. Thank you so much for taking the time to consider this life-changing curriculum that will enable you to equip your students to become champions of the faith.

Course Syllabus
Teacher Manual Sample
Student Manual Sample
Student Textbook Sample
Curriculum Overview (Video Sample)
Secular Humanist Worldview (Video Sample)
Biblical Christian Worldview (Video Sample)
Responding to Relativism (Video Sample)
Case against Abortion (Video Sample)

Please do not let these Preview Materials be the only way we can serve you. Summit Ministries exists to help you in any way we can, whether answering your questions, providing you with resources to equip others, or even equipping you with the weapons to make a difference on the front lines in this spiritual battle of ideas.

Note: We believe in this curriculum and its purpose. If cost is the only barrier to implementing this curriculum in your school, please let us know when you call and we will do our best to work with you.

Homeschool

Note: College credit can only be offered to students who are using the revised 4th edition of Understanding the Times published in 2006.

Students who complete the 90-day or 180-day syllabus of the Understanding the Times (4th edition) high school worldview curriculum can earn 2 or 3 hours of college credit respectively. This option is offered through Bryan College, a fully accredited Christian liberal arts college in Dayton, Tennessee. These credits are transferable to most colleges and universities (both religious and secular) and are transcripted as Philosophy 111, Bible 111, or Social Studies 111 under the title "Contemporary Worldviews."

Tuition Information

These non-refundable fees must be mailed, with each student's application, directly to Summit Ministries. Checks should be made out to Summit Ministries.

• For students following the 90-day syllabus to earn 2 credits, the tuition is $250.
• For students following the 180-day syllabus to earn 3 credits, the tuition is $350.

Note: The 2 credit and 3 credit options are mutually exclusive and determined solely by the syllabus (90-day or 180-day) that the student uses. The 2 credit option cannot be granted for students who only complete half of the 180-day syllabus, nor can credit be granted if the curriculum is significantly altered by the teacher. This is simply to maintain academic integrity with Bryan College.

College Credit Requirements

To earn 2 hours of college credit, students need to:

1. Register with Summit Ministries and pay $250 tuition no later than May 2nd.
2. Complete the Understanding the Times 90-day syllabus with a grade of C or above. This includes the following:
   • Read the revised textbook and assigned supplemental essays
   • Write the Worldview research paper
   • Take all unit tests and the final exam
3. Submit copies of your Unit Tests and Final Exam with the Final Coursework Form to Summit Ministries by June 2.

To earn 3 hours of college credit, students need to:

1. Register with Summit Ministries and pay $350 tuition no later than May 2nd.
2. Complete the Understanding the Times 180-day syllabus with a grade of C or above. This includes the following:
   • Read the revised textbook and assigned supplemental essays
   • Write the Worldview research paper
   • Write the ten responsive essays ("Dear Doug" letters)
   • Take all unit tests and the final exam
3. Submit copies of your Unit Tests and Final Exam with the Final Coursework Form to Summit Ministries by June 2.

College Credit Application Form

Please print and mail the following form directly to Summit Ministries with your tuition check:

• College Credit Application
• Student Coursework Form

Course Syllabus

Colleges may require the students to turn in a course syllabus when they transfer the credits. These synopses list the lectures, supplemental materials, and topics presented in the curriculum, along with accreditation information:

• Course Syllabus (2-Credit)
• Course Syllabus (3-Credit)

College Credit: Frequently Asked Questions

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Homeschool

Curriculum Package - $125
Additional Student Manual - $14.95
Additional Understanding the Times Textbook - $21.95 Prefer to mail or fax your order?

Homeschool

"My classmates and I took Understanding the Times as a class in high school, and the vast majority of us would heartily agree that it was the best class we've ever taken. I will be a senior in college next year, and to date, I've never taken a class I learned more in or enjoyed more than Understanding the Times. Not only is the information in the curriculum educational and perfect for the world we're living in, but it is also absolutely life-changing. The amazing thing about this series is the ability of the content to impact so many aspects of our lives—an entire worldview."

Laura Wagner, student

"I never would have thought in a million years that this would have been the direction I would be taking. But the information and skills I am learning and then imparting to these kids are life-changing!"

Tracy Britton, student

"Thank you for standing for the truth and seeking to help young people know and defend the truth.

Barton Carlson, student

"One of the stated goals of our school is to instill in our students a 'Christ-centered worldview.' In order to achieve that goal, we have established the Understanding the Times curriculum as a foundational course in our 12th grade Bible curriculum. We feel that this study gives our students the valuable knowledge and tools they need to take on the secular worldview that they will face as they go on to college and into the work force. Our goal is to send out warriors for Christ equipped to storm the gates of Hell and claim victory over Satan's schemes in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that the Understanding the Times study helps us prepare those 'warriors for Christ.' Thanks for making this tool available to us."

Douglas Raines, Ambassadors for Christ Academy teacher

"Ideas have power. My students can now see the power of the competing worldviews. Most importantly, they now see how the Christian worldview is true and comprehensively relevant to their lives and the world in which they live. Thank you for giving us this curriculum!"

Mrs. Ruth Brown, North Idaho Christian School teacher

"The Understanding the Times curriculum has raised our student awareness of problems and issues from a 'my' and 'I' level to a local and national level. We saw kids change into responsible citizens."

Thomas Burkman, Tri-Unity Christian High School teacher

"Understanding the Times hits the issue of our worldview head-on, the way our students want and desperately need."

Mark Hines, First Baptist Academy teacher

"I learned so much from the course! It equipped me for today's society in the US as well as in Germany! After the course, it was easier to identify New Age, Marxist, and Secular Humanist worldviews. It was easier to see their assumptions and their ideals."

Jessie Kumbier, Foreign exchange student from Germany

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