DESCRIPTION: This course is specially designed to introduce Psychology students to the discipline of theology, with the aim of helping participants develop as constructive Christian theologians. Topics that will be considered include (1) theological method, (2) revelation, (3) God, (4) creation/ providence, and (5) humankind. The course is intended to challenge SOP students to develop and appropriate their own understanding of these topics in the context of their professional preparation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a basic understanding of the theological topics stated above; (2) an ability to engage in theological dialogue on these topics in light of their professional preparation; (3) skill in developing one's own theology using Bible, history, one's church community, experience, and culture; (4) an appreciation of theology's ecumenical and cultural diversity.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Understanding the principal doctrines of the faith, as well as how to think theologically, is foundational to any integrative work as a Christian health care professional.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly for a three-hour session for lecture, discussion, media presentations, and small group activity.

REQUIRED READING:

Grenz, S. J. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000.
or Placher, William C., ed. Essentials of Christian Theology. Westminster John Knox, 2003.

Johnson, Elizabeth. She Who Is. Crossroad Herder, 2002.
or Gutiérrez, Gustavo. The God of Life. Orbis, 1991.

Johnston, Robert K. The Use of the Bible in Theology. Wipf & Stock, 1985.

Murphy, Nancey. Bodies and Souls, Or Spirited Bodies? Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Otto, Rudolph. The Idea of the Holy. Oxford University Press, 1958 [1923].

Pinnock, Clark. Most Moved Mover. Baker, 2001.

Scholer, David. Women in Ministry. Covenant Publications, 1983-1984.

Course Reader of selected articles and stories; films; biblical texts; FTS Statement of Faith.

Marshall, I. Howard. Beyond the Bible. Baker, 2004.
or Theissen, Gerd. The Bible and Contemporary Culture. Fortress, 2007.

An Inconvenient Truth (d. Guggenheim, 2006).
and Bouma-Prediger, Steven. For the Beauty of the Earth. Baker Academic, 2001.

Anderson, Ray. On Being Human. Fuller Theological Seminary Press, 1982.
or Jewett, Paul, and Marguerite Shuster. Who We Are: Our Dignity as Human. Eerdmans, 1996.

George, Timothy, ed. God the Holy Trinity. Baker Academic, 2006.
or Work, Telford. Ain't Too Proud to Beg. Eerdmans, 2007.
or Sobrino, Jon, and Margaret Wilde. Where Is God? Orbis, 2004.

González, Justo. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990.
or Fraser, Elouise Renich. Confessions of a Beginning Theologian. InterVarsity Press, 1998.
or McGrath, Alister. Theology: The Basics. Blackwell, 2004.