Fall 2012/San Diego

ST501

Powell

 

ST501: SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY 1: THEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY. Samuel M. Powell.

                                                                                                                                                           

 

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide a theological understanding of Christian beliefs about revelation and Scripture, the triune God, creation and providence, human beings as the image of God, and the fall, evil, and sin; current issues such as ecology and relation to other faiths will also be discussed. On the basis of biblical and historical developments, a contemporary Evangelical theology will be constructed in dialogue with ecumenical, intercultural, and interreligious perspectives.

 

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: An essential part of preparation for Christian ministry is to learn to think theologically through issues of faith and ministry.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a basic understanding of issues in their traditional and contemporary expressions; (2) an ability to reflect theologically upon the course topics; (3) skills towards developing one’s own theology in critical dialogue with various views; (4) an acquaintance with a range of cultural and contextual matters that shape our understanding of theological issues; (5) an appreciation of ecumenical and cultural diversity.

 

COURSE FORMAT: Meets once weekly for lecture, discussion & student presentations.

 

REQUIRED READING:

Placher, W.C., ed. Essentials of Christian Theology. Westminster John Knox, 2003. ISBN: 978-0664223953. Pub.price $40. pp. 1-181, 297-328.

Wright, N.T. The Last Word: Scripture and the Authority of God. HarperOne, 2006. 978-0060872618. Pub.price $20. (160 pp.)

Gunton, Colin. The Triune Creator. Eerdmans, 1998. 978-0802845757. Pub.price $26. (260 pp.)

Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines. Continuum, 2000. 978-0826452528. Pub.price $50. (Ch. 4-6; 9-12; 200 pp.)

 

Plus, choose 350 pages from the following:

Boff, L. Trinity and Society. Orbis, 1988. 288 pp. ISBN: 9781597521383. Pub.price $30.00.

Cone, J.H. God of the Oppressed. Orbis, 1997. 257 pp. ISBN: 9781570751585. Pub.price $20.00.

Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: An African American Systematic Theology. Fortress, 1992. 192 pp. ISBN: 9780800626723. Pub.price $20.00.

Gonzáles, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990. 186 pp. ISBN: 9780687230679. Pub.price $20.00.

Johnson, E. She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse. Continuum, 1992. 344 pp. ISBN: 9780824519254. Pub.price $29.95.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Trinity and Religious Pluralism. Ashgate, 2004. 197 pp. ISBN: 978-754636465. Pub.price $29.95.

Kapolyo, J. M. The Human Condition: Christian Perspectives through African Eyes. InterVarsity Press, 2005. 170 pp. ISBN: 978-0830833023. Pub.price $16.00.

Kimmel, A.F., Jr., ed. Speaking the Christian God: The Holy Trinity and the Challenge of Feminism. Eerdmans, 1992. 348 pp. ISBN: 9780802806123. Pub.price $32.00.

Parratt, J. Reinventing Christianity: African Theology Today. Eerdmans, 1995. 228 pp. ISBN: 9780802841131. Pub.price $21.00.

 

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1.   1,200 pages of required reading, reported in weekly 2 page reflective essays. 30%

2.   One twelve page essay on one of the doctrines covered in this course. 50%

3.   One five page essay on the practice of theology in pastoral ministry. 20%

 

PREREQUISITES: None.

 

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv Systematic Theology “a” (STA); meets MAT, MATM (2010 revision) requirement.