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, (5) humankind, and (6) sin. The course is intended to challenge students to develop and appropriate their own understanding of these topics in the context of their professional preparation.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND 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.

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.

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

REQUIRED READING:

Grenz, S. J. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000 (215 pp.).
Or Placher, W. C., ed. Essentials of Christian Theology. Westminster John Knox, 2003 (175 pp.).

Johnson, Elizabeth. She Who Is. Crossroad Herder, 2002 (228 pp.).
Or Gutiérrez, Gustavo. The God of Life. Orbis, 1991 (189 pp.).

Johnston, Robert K. Doing Theology (PDF; 150 pp.).

Pinnock, Clark. Most Moved Mover. Baker, 2001 (186 pp.).

Plantinga, Cornelius. Not the Way It's Supposed to Be. Eerdmans, 1995 (205 pp.).

Young, William P. The Shack. Windblown Media, 2007 (240 pp.).

Course Reader of selected articles and stories; films; biblical texts; FTS Statement of Faith (150 pp.).

Green, Joel. Seized by Truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture. Abingdon, 2007 (185 pp.).
Or McKnight, Scott. The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How to Read the Bible. Zondervan, 2008 (229 pp.).

Bouma-Prediger, Steven. For the Beauty of the Earth. Baker Academic, 2001 (174 pp.). And either An Inconvenient Truth (d. Guggenheim, 2006) Or Wall-E (d. Stanton, 2008).

Anderson, Ray. On Being Human. Fuller Theological Seminary Press, 1982 (226 pp.).
Or Gonzalez, Michelle. Created in God's Image. Orbis, 2007 (184 pp.).

González, Justo. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990 (167 pp.).
Or Koyama, Kosuke. Waterbuffalo Theology. Orbis, 1974 (215 pp.).