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 twice weekly for two-hour sessions for lecture, discussion & student presentations.

REQUIRED READING:

*Dyrness, W. & Kärkkäinen, V.-M., eds., Global Dictionary of Theology. InterVarsity, 2008 (sel. pp.).

*Grenz, S.J. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000, pp. 1-242

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. The Doctrine of God: A Global Introduction. Baker, 2004.

Placher, W.C., ed. Essentials of Christian Theology. Westminster John Knox, 2003, pp. 1-181, 297-328.

Special topic, choose one:

Beilby, J.K. & P.R. Eddy. Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views. InterVarsity Press, 2001.

Bouma-Prediger, S. For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care. IVP, 2001.

Fiddes, P. Participating in God: A Pastoral Doctrine of the Trinity. Westminster John Knox, 2001.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. The Trinity. Global Perspectives. WJKP, 2007 (relevant sections).

McKim, D.K. The Bible in Theology & Preaching. Abingdon, 1985/Wipf & Stock, 1999.

Moltmann, J. The Trinity and the Kingdom: The Doctrine of God. SCM, 1991.

Murphy, N. Bodies and Souls, or Spirited Bodies? Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Pinnock, C. Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God's Openness. Baker, 2001.

Plantinga, A. Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin. Eerdmans, 1996.

Schwarz, H. Creation. Eerdmans, 2002.

Shuster, M. The Fall and Sin: What We Have Become as Sinners. Eerdmans, 2003.

Volf, M. Exclusion and Embrace. Abingdon, 1996.

A contextual/intercultural/interreligious study (relevant sections) choose one:

Boff, L. Trinity and Society. Orbis, 1988.

Cone, J.H. God of the Oppressed. Orbis, 1997.

Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: An African American Systematic Theology. Fortress, 1992.

Gonzáles, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990.

Johnson, E. She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse. Continuum, 1992.

Kapolyo, J. M. The Human Condition: Christian Perspectives through African Eyes. IVP, 2005.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Trinity and Religious Pluralism. Ashgate, 2004.

McDermott, G. R. Can Evangelicals Learn from World Religions? InterVarsity Press, 2001.

Parratt, J. Reinventing Christianity: African Theology Today. Eerdmans, 1995.

Tennent, T.C. Christianity at the Religious Roundtable. Baker Academic, 2002.

* = These books are required reading in all three systematics courses taught by Dr. Kärkkäinen