Dr. Rich Knopp
Curriculum Vitae
updated 8-25-11 (Updated August 2011)

rknopp@lincolnchristian.edu

217-732-3168 x2252

Current Positions:

· Professor of Philosophy & Christian Apologetics, Lincoln Christian University (since 1983). On sabbatical during fall 2011 semester. Key project: writing a resource text with supplemental materials for a worldview curriculum.

· Program Director of WorldViewEyes (www.worldvieweyes.org) (since 2000).

· Board member for the Christian Campus Foundation, a campus ministry at the University of Illinois since 1992 (board chairman from 2004-2009, 2011).

Educational History:

• Ph.D. in Philosophy, University of Illinois, 1991. (Dissertation: “Religious Belief and the Problems of Cognitivity and Commitment: A Reappraisal Based on Contemporary Philosophy of Science”).
• M.A. in Philosophy, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, 1983. (Thesis: “Karl Popper’s Concept of Rationality in Science”).
• M.Div. in Philosophy and Theology, Lincoln Christian Seminary, 1979.
• B.A. in Christian Ministries, St. Louis Christian College, 1973.

Professional / Academic Activities:

· Evangelical Philosophical Society member.

· Grant Writer and Director of WorldViewEyes, a program that has been funded by six grants totaling over $1,027,530 from the Lilly Endowment of Indianapolis. The program helps youth and adults expand their Christian mind, engage their culture, evaluate beliefs, and embrace a consistently-lived Christian worldview.  It sponsors a summer Christian teen and youth leader event called “Exchange” on the campus of LCU; produces an educational event in local churches called the “Bible & Worldview Institute” (www.worldviewinstitute.org); and offers a variety of multimedia presentations for conferences, conventions, and churches. WVE has offered multimedia presentations to over 65,000 youth and adults in 20 states and Canada.

· Founding Editorial Board Member for the Stone-Campbell Journal (1998-2002).

· Hosted videotaped interviews with evangelical scholars and authors James Sire, Nancy Pearcey, David Naugle, Millard Erickson, Harold Netland, William Lane Craig, Francis Beckwith, J. P. Moreland, and Josh McDowell.

· Papers & Special Lectures:

o “Lessons from the Philosophy of Science on the Perceptions and Practice of Science” - Invited lecture for the Center for Research in Science (CRIS), Azusa Pacific University (scheduled for Nov. 29, 2011). See http://www.apu.edu/cris/.

o “Philosophy of Science and Christian Concerns: Reflections on a 20-Year-Old Dissertation” – Invited plenary lecture for the Midwest Evangelical Theological-Philosophical Society Meeting (March 2011).

o “The Relevance of the Philosophy of Science for Christian Faith” – Stone-Campbell Journal Conference (April 2010).

o K. T. Norris Lectureship at Maritime Christian College, Prince Edward Island, Canada (January 2010). Four three-hour lectures on developing a Christian worldview.

o “Apologetic Cartography in a Postmodern World: Does Anyone Have a Compass?” - The Theological Forum, North American Christian Convention (2004).

o Midwest Region Evangelical Theological Society, Lincoln, Illinois: “Worldviews for Christian Teens” (2004).

o Lilly Endowment Forum on “The Call to Pastoral Leadership,” Indianapolis, Indiana: “The Call to Ministry by Developing Worldview Eyes” (2003).

o “The Compatibility of Faith and Science” - Faith, Science, and Medicine Seminar, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine and the Christian Medical and Dental Society Continuing Education Seminar, Peoria, Illinois (2000).

o “The Nature of Science and Christian Commitment” - University of Illinois Christian Faculty Colloquium (2000).

o Lectureship on “Science and Christian Faith” - Manhattan Christian College and Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas (1998).

o “On the Value of the Philosophy of Science: Some Implications for Theology and Apologetics” - Wheaton Theology Conference, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois (1993).

o “Contemporary Philosophy of Science and Its Implications for Theology” - Fellowship of Christian Professors’ Meeting, St. Louis (1992).

o “Christianity and Science” - Lecture at Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois (1990).

· National/Regional Convention Presentations:

o Eastern Christian Convention, Hershey, Pennsylvania (2004): “The Church’s Need for Worldview Inoculation.”

o North American Christian Convention Teen Convention, Phoenix, Arizona (2004): “Worldview Inoculation: Get a Christian Shot Where It Counts!”

o National Missionary Convention, Tulsa, Oklahoma (2001): “The Worldviews of My Neighbors” and “A Birdseye View of World Religions.”

o National Youth Leaders’ Convention, Joplin, Missouri (2000): “Destined to Encounter Competing Worldviews” and “Destined to Interact with Science.”

o National Missionary Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee (2000): “Defending Christian Faith Against Competing Worldviews” and “Encountering Competing Worldviews.”

o North American Christian Convention, St. Louis, Missouri (1998): “Science and Christian Apologetics.”

o Southern Illinois Christian Convention, Mt. Vernon, Illinois (1992): “A New Testament Model for Developing Moral Values in an Amoral World.”

· Youth & Youth Leader Conferences:

o 2010: American Baptist Youth Conference: Workshop on World Religions.

o 2000-2004: Wrote, produced, and helped offer a variety of multimedia presentations for 99 Christ in Youth summer conferences in 11 states. Estimated attendance: 45,000.

o 2000-2002: Wrote, produced, and helped offer multimedia presentations for 28 Christ in Youth winter Discipleship retreats in 12 states. Estimated attendance: 6,000.

o 2000-2003: Wrote, produced, and offered multimedia presentations for state youth conventions in Illinois, Indiana, and Tennessee.

· Multimedia Presentations for Churches and Christian Schools:

o “Christian Apologetics: Why Should I (or Anyone) be a Christian?” Eastview Christian Church college retreat (Sept. 2011).

o “Learning to Love God with Your Worldview”: Northview Church, Carmel, IN. Six 90-minute presentations (April-May, 2011). (Videos available at http://media.aspireone.com/mediaplayer/nvcl/. Click on “Northview University” tab.)

o “Singing in Our Celebration (Psalm 19): Chapel sermon for Lincoln Christian Seminary (Nov. 2010). For audio/video files, go to http://lincolnchristian.edu/GeneralInformation/Podcasts/Seminary.FA10.2010-11-10rknopp.mp4.

o “Genesis, Science, and the Christian Worldview”: Mahomet (IL) Christian Church (Oct. 15-16, 2010).

o “The Story of One Universe (Genesis 1)”: Lincoln Christian University, Undergraduate Studies chapel (Sept. 2010).

o “Science, Genesis, and the Christian Worldview”: Madison Park Christian Church, Quincy, IL (2010). For handout and audio files, go to: http://www.worldvieweyes.org/media-Madison-Park.html.

o Sermons for the K. T. Norris Lectureship, Maritime Christian College (2010).

§ “Living a Biblical Worldview: Monitoring Moses”

§ “Living a Biblical Worldview: Principles from Paul”

§ “Detecting and Deciding on the Influences in Your Life”

o “An Orientation to Worldviews and a Biblical Worldview”: Leadership training event for Lincoln (IL) Christian Church (2009).

o “Being Truly Christian in a World with Clashing Worldviews”: 3 sessions presented at Westbrook Christian Church in Bolingbrook, IL (2009).

§ “Hearing God's Call to a Biblical View of the World”

§ “Detecting Clashing Worldviews in Our Culture”

§ “Constructing a Christian Response to Competing Worldviews”

o “A Christian Perspective on Science and Evolution”: Bible & Worldview Institute presentation at Morris (IL) Christian Church (2009).

o “The Need for a Biblical Worldview in an Age of Options”: Bible & Worldview Institute presentation at Morris (IL) Christian Church (2009).

o “The Need for a Biblical Worldview in an Age of Options”: Bible & Worldview Institute presentation at Lincoln (IL) Christian Church (2008).

o “Developing and Living a Biblical Worldview in an Age of Options” (5 weeks): Lincoln Christian Church Crusaders’ Sunday School (2007).

o “Me, My World, and My Worldview” (3 weeks): Lincoln Christian Church Senior High Fusion (2007).

o “Biblical Ethics and Absolutes”: Madison Park Christian Church, Quincy, IL (2006).

o “Starting to Think about BIGGER Things”: Eastview Christian Church, Bloomington, IL (2006).

o “Evolutionism, Creationism, and Intelligent Design”: Southside Christian Church, Springfield, IL (2006).

o “Learn 2 See: Understanding and Developing a Biblical Worldview” - Staff development workshop at Lincoln Christian College & Seminary, Lincoln, IL (2005).

o College Park Christian Church, Normal, IL (2005):

§ “A Christian Orientation to Competing Worldviews”

§ “Evolutionism and Creationism”

§ “Intelligent Design: Is It an Intelligent Movement?”

o Lincoln Christian College & Seminary Staff Retreat (2005)

o Western Illinois University Campus Ministry Retreat (2005)

o LeRoy Christian Church, LeRoy, Illinois (2004): “Worldview Vaccination”

o Cornerstone Christian Academy, Bloomington, Illinois (2004): “Learning to Do and Teach Worldview Thinking”

o First Christian Church of Champaign (2001): Apologetic Series (4 sessions)

o First Christian Church of Mattoon, Illinois (2001): Christianity & Science Series (3 sessions)

Publications:

· Review of The Language of Science and Faith by Karl Giberson and Francis Collins. Grand Rapids, MI: InterVarsity, 2011 in The Stone-Campbell Journal (in process).

· Review of Loving Wisdom: Christian Philosophy of Religion by Paul Copan. St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 2007 in Encounter (forthcoming in 2011).

· Review of The Future of Atheism: Alister McGrath and Daniel Dennett in Dialogue edited by Robert Stewart. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2008 in The Stone-Campbell Journal (Spring 2010): 108-110.

· Co-editor with John Castelein, Taking Every Thought Captive: Essays in Honor of James D. Strauss. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1997.

· “On the Value of the Philosophy of Science for Christian Faith and Ministry,” chap. in Taking Every Thought Captive: Essays in Honor of James D. Strauss. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1997.

· “Apologetics in Our Modern Postmodern Age: Some Insights from the Philosophy of Science. The Journal of Campus Ministry 2 (1996): 1-4.

Current Research/Writing Projects:

· “The Philosophy of Science and Christian Concerns.” Article for The Stone-Campbell Journal (in process).

· Review of The Language of Science and Faith by Karl Giberson and Francis Collins. Grand Rapids, MI: InterVarsity, 2011 in The Stone-Campbell Journal (in process).

· Loving God with Your Worldview. A text and other resources for a worldview curriculum.

Courses Taught at LCU:

School of Undergraduate Studies:

o ID101 An Introduction to Worldviews

o ID101NET (Internet version of An Introduction to Worldviews)

o PH202 Logic

o ID301 and ID302 (guest lecturer on topics in philosophy and the history and philosophy of science)

o ID316 Christianity and Science

o PH482 Ethics

o PH487 Philosophy of Religion

o TH467 Biblical & Philosophical Foundations for Apologetics

Seminary:

o AP603 Approaches to Apologetics

o AP604/PH604 Philosophy of Religion

o AP605 Christianity and the Philosophy of Science

o AP606/PH606 Ethics

Hargrove School of Adult and Graduate Studies:

o TH472 Biblical & Philosophical Ethics

o BE606 Biblical & Philosophical Ethics (for the graduate program in Bio-Ethics)

Additional Professional and Ministry Experience:

· Board member (and current chairman) for Axiom, the campus ministry of the Christian Campus Foundation at the University of Illinois (1992-present).

· Preaching Minister, McLean Christian Church, McLean, IL (1974-1979).

· Youth & Bus Minister, First Christian Church of Florissant, MO (1972-1974).

· Youth Minister, First Christian Church, Wood River, IL (1970-1971).

· Deacon, First Christian Church, Champaign, IL (1982-1983).

Grants/Awards:

• Grant writer (and Program Director) for WorldViewEyes, a program funded by six grants totaling $1,027,530 from the Lilly Endowment in Indianapolis.
• “Distinguished Alumni Award” from St. Louis Christian College (2010).
• The Wolford Award (2007) from St. Louis Christian College. Granted to SLCC alumni “who exhibit Christian character and have made significant impact on SLCC athletics and in ministry.”
• $10,000 award winner from the Templeton Foundation for developing model courses in science and religion (1991). Course entitled “Science and Theology: Problems, Perspectives, and Possibilities.”

Travel and Cultural Experiences:

· Preacher’s son who lived in Iowa, Wyoming, Missouri, Illinois, and North Carolina.

· Travels outside the U.S.: England, France, Italy, New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, Jamaica, Greece, and Turkey.