DESCRIPTION:

This is an advanced seminar for Ph.D. and Th.M. students into which a very limited number of M.A. and M.Div. students will be admitted. This seminar examines the phenomenon of conversion from seven different vantage points: the biblical, theological, historical, psychological, sociological, anthropological, and experiential (personal documents). The aim of the course is to understand better the process of Christian transformation by using the experience of conversion as an extended case study.

Conversion is a prime example of the transformational process. It is important to understand how and why transformation takes place in the lives of men and women in a Christian context. In understanding conversion in depth new insight is gained into the process of evangelism (where conversion is the aim) and into the dynamics of Christian formation (in which continued growth is the goal).

Meeting weekly for a two-hour session, the class will consist of some lecture, student presentations by the Th.M./Ph.D. students, discussion, case studies, and interactive dialogue.

Kerr, Hugh and John Mulder. Famous Conversions: The Christian Experience. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.

Kreider, Alan. The Change of Conversion and the Origin of Christendom. Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press, 1999.

MacMullen, Ramsay. Christianizing the Roman Empire A.D. 100-400. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1984.

Peace, Richard. Conversion in the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999

Percy, Martyn. Previous Convictions. London: SPCK, 2001.

Rambo, Lewis. Understanding Religious Conversion. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1993.

Smith, Gordon T. Beginning Well: Christian Conversion & Authentic Transformations. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001.

Toon, Peter. Born Again: A Biblical and Theological Study of Regeneration. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987.

Wiebe, Phillip H. Visions of Jesus. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Witherup, Ronald. Conversion in the New Testament. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1994.

Readings in Conversion: A Collection of Articles and Papers. Fuller bookstore.

It is expected that each student will read the materials (master's level students are required to read approximately 1500 pages) and be prepared to participate in the classroom discussion and exercises. In addition, a 20 page (EV552) or 40 page (EV852) research paper is required as well as two short reflection papers (2 pages each).

Permission from the Instructor is necessary for master's level students to enroll in this course.

Elective.

None.