DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide a foundational understanding of Christian beliefs about the incarnation, the person of Christ as the basis for reconciliation with God, justification and sanctification, and the atonement. We will emphasize the christological and soteriological themes most relevant for Hispanic/Latino Christianity, such as popular christologies and jesuologies, pneumatological christologies, marginality, and liberationism. On the basis of biblical and socio-historical developments, a contemporary Evangelical-Latino/a theology will be constructed in dialogue with ecumenical, contextual, classical theologies in connection with spiritual reflections on the ministry of Jesus Christ.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Christologies and soteriologies within the context of Latino religiosity (Latin Americans and U.S. Latinos/as) represent a fertile and challenging loci for theological reflection due to the merging of Roman Catholicism, Evangelicalism, and Pentecostalism. Naturally then a sound biblico-doctrinal foundation informed by traditional and contextual theological views and endowed by a domestic spirituality are vital for any ministry worker interested in impacting these communities and their greater contexts.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a foundational knowledge of the central doctrines of Christianity, particularly: the incarnation, the person of Christ as the basis for reconciliation of the world with God, justification and sanctification, and the atonement; (2) an understanding of the interrelated character of these doctrines as experienced and expressed within Latino/a religious communities; (3) an acquaintance with an ecumenical environment disclosing a range of cultural and historical variations informing a diverse and yet common ground for the practice of these Christian beliefs; (4) an ability to reflect theologically upon contemporary and controversial themes, particularly pneumatological christologies, popular christologies/jesuologies, marginality, and human liberation; (5) an integrated experience where doctrine and spiritual reflections on the ministry of Christ forge a domestic spirituality for Latino/a ministry.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly for three-hour sessions. Students are expected to study beforehand the required readings for the week and take part in online forums, blogs, and class discussions.

REQUIRED READING:
Barth, Karl. Esbozo de dogmática. Sal Terrae, 2000. ISBN: 8429313761, 9788429313765. (80 pgs). (U.S. price unavailable.)
García-Johnson, ¡Jesús, hazme como tú! 40 maneras de imitar a Cristo. Santa Ana, CA: Kerigma, 2010. ISBN: 9780976734147 (100 pgs) $10.00.
González Faus, J. I. La humanidad nueva: Ensayo de cristología. 9th ed. Sal Terrae, 1984. ISBN: 8429306935 (600 pgs) $29.95.
Course Reader

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: (1) Students are expected to have studied the reading assignment for the week in its entirety. (2) students will prepare 4 two-page critical-reaction paper based on the reading (20%). (3) Each week students will keep a Christological-devotional journal (10%). (4) A midterm exam on theological concepts (15%). (5) A Personal Creedal Document (of doctrines discussed in this course), 8-10 pages (40%). (6) A Final [case study] Exam (15%).

PREREQUISITES: Spanish.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Systematic Theology "B" (STB).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes, case study exam

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (revised November 9, 2010)