Our Modules
Engaging Skeptical Minds (ESM) – A Comprehensive Framework
Course Description
Today’s young Muslim generation often grapples with challenging questions about their faith. Responses to these skeptical inquiries have varied widely—from outright dismissal to apologetic explanations. Any response that fails to address the underlying reasons behind these questions risks unintentionally fueling religious doubts, leading to agnosticism and relativism, where individuals question the very foundations of their beliefs and values.
The ESM framework is designed to address contemporary skeptical questions and critically evaluate the sources of knowledge that claim to provide answers. It aims to empower parents and educators to engage with the skeptical inquiries posed by youth.
Our approach involves a thorough cause-and-effect analysis, combining intellectual rigor with spiritual insight, and balancing challenge with empathy.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand religious skepticism and distinguish between symptoms, triggers and causes of skepticism.
- Explore different tradition-based solutions for different causes of skepticism.
- Engage skeptical questions of youth and enable them to critically think about humanity’s real big questions.
- Connect right questions with right sources by evaluating scope and authenticity of sources of knowledge, i.e. science, logic, philosophy, history & religion in answering skeptical questions.
Course Modules
ESM consists of 9 comprehensive modules designed to engage skeptical minds through critical thinking and authentic knowledge.
Big Questions and Their Answers
Learning Outcomes:
- Explore today’s youth big questions and their common answers
- Comprehend the foundations and position of ESM as an answer providing framework
- Analyze core principles of ESM
Right Questions and Right Sources
Learning Outcomes:
- Explore humanity’s big questions
- Establish criteria for a right question
- Understand different channels and sources of knowledge
- Identify major sources of knowledge for our questions
Questions and Logic
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the scope & nature of logic in relationship to answer humanity’s big questions
- Comprehend few basic Universal logic principles
- Differentiate between possible, impossible and necessary events
- Apply logic principles to some of humanity’s questions
Questions and Science
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the scope & nature of science in relationship to answer humanity’s big questions
- Comprehend scientific process and its core principles
- Critically analyze the prevalent perception about universality, certainty & neutrality of science
- Distinguish between science and scientism
Questions and Philosophy
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the scope & nature of philosophy in relationship to answer humanity’s big questions
- Explore philosophical thought development related to ethics determination
- Apply different ethical theories to common ethical dilemmas and questions
- Recognize the conflict of ethical theories by examining real life case studies
Questions and Religion (I & II)
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the scope & nature of religion in relationship to answer humanity’s big questions
- Examine core principles of religion
- Evaluate different proofs of God
- How to establish the authenticity of a religion/prophethood
Introduction to Causes of Skepticism
Learning Outcomes:
- Distinguish between symptoms, triggers & causes of skepticism
- Understand the role of world views in rise of skepticism
Solutions to Skepticism
Learning Outcomes:
- Explore different tradition-based solutions to skepticism
- Understand the nature and scope of solutions to different causes of skepticism
- Comprehend the foundations and position of HTF as a solution to skepticism
Each module is designed to build critical thinking skills while maintaining empathy and intellectual rigor in addressing skeptical questions.