When it comes to teaching hashkafa I think there are many problems with the mehalech in place. This has been mentioned by SJSinNYC. This is one of the major problems I have with it:
Many mechanchim and even kiruv rabbis are so caught up on the Rambam’s usage of the word ‘yedia’ (knowledge) when he refers to belief in God, that they refuse to acknowledge that there is an aspect of faith that cannot be proven. Hence they get caught up in ‘proofs’ which are refuted by a capable, thinking adolescent, because certain things cannot be proven, much less by an amateur rabbi with no real background in science or philosophy, and thus lose their integrity.
I have read many books written by well-meaning ‘kiruv-professionals’ and rabbis, and unfortunately did not find a lot of them intellectually satisfying. Many present outdated arguments (by outdated I mean arguments which have known refutations), false arguments (e.g. presenting an opinion as ‘scientific’ when in fact no self-respecting scientist maintains such views), and arguments which appeal more emotionally than logically but claim to be ‘logical proofs’.
(To give credit where credit is due – Mod 80 mentioned a book by Lawerence Keleman – Permission to Believe. It’s a short book that I actually found enlightening, because he is clear that he is not coming to prove our beliefs, but rather to demonstrate that there is no proof to the contrary, and that it cannot be considered unreasonable to take the leap of faith.)
Nobody is qualified to teach this subject unless they have a solid background in today’s science, and they are intellectually honest. Otherwise their teachings are bound to be refuted, and they will make a mockery of the Torah. If only such a rule were implemented, I am sure there would be less teenagers going off.