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 evolution, 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 daily for ten four-hour sessions for lecture, discussion & student presentations.

REQUIRED READING: Selections from the following sources:

COURSE READER available at Moodle.

Migliore, D. Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology. 2nd ed. Eerdmans, 2004. 457pp. ISBN: 978-0802827876. $28.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. The Doctrine of God: A Global Introduction. Baker, 2004. 301pp. ISBN: 0801027527. Pub.price $30.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Trinity and Revelation: A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World. Eerdmans, 2013 forthcoming. Unpublished MS available at Moodle.

Schwarz, H. Creation. Eerdmans, 2002. ISBN: 978-0802860668. 266pp. Pub.price $29.

Special topic: Choose one from EITHER A or B (max. 200 pp.):

A.  Revelation and God:

Bacote, L.C., et al., eds. Evangelicals & Scripture: Tradition, Authority & Hermeneutics. InterVarsity Press, 2004. ISBN: 9780830827756. Pub.price $23.

Beilby, J.K. & P.R. Eddy. Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views. InterVarsity Press, 2001. 221pp. ISBN: 978-0830826520. Pub.price $20.

Fiddes, P. Participating in God: A Pastoral Doctrine of the Trinity. Westminster John Knox, 2001. 212pp. ISBN: 978-0664223359. Pub.price $29.95.

Ganssle, G. God & Time: Four Views. InterVarsity Press, 2001. 246pp. ISBN: 978-0830815517. $20.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. The Trinity: Global Perspectives. Westminster John Knox, 2007 (relevant sections). ISBN: 978-0664228903. Pub.price $39.95.

McGrath, A. Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life. Blackwell, 2005. 208 pp. ISBN: 978-1405125383. $27.95.

Moltmann, J. The Crucified God: The Cross of Christ as the Foundation and Criticism of Christian Theology. Fortress, 1993. 364pp. ISBN: 978-0800628222. $25.

Moltmann, J. The Trinity and the Kingdom: The Doctrine of God. SCM, 1991. 276pp. ISBN: 978-0800628253. Pub.price $23.

Pannenberg, W. Systematic Theology. Vol. 1. Eerdmans, 1991, chs. 4, 5. ISBN: 978-0802865038. $55.

Pinnock, C. Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God's Openness. Baker, 2001. 218pp. ISBN: 9780801022906. Pub.price $24.

Volf, M. Exclusion and Embrace. Abingdon, 1996. 336pp. ISBN: 978-0687002825. Pub.price $28.

B.  Creation and Humanity

Bouma-Prediger, S. For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care. 2nd ed. Baker Academic, 2010. 240pp. ISBN: 978-0801036958. Pub.price $24.99.

Davis, J.J. The Frontiers of Science & Faith: Examining Questions from the Big Bang to the End of the Universe. InterVarsity Press, 2002. 200pp. ISBN: 978-0830826643. $15.

Fisher, Christopher. Human Significance in Theology and the Natural Sciences. Pickwick, 2010. ISBN: 978-1606080535. 351pp. Pub.price $40.

Gunton, C.E. The Triune Creator: A Historical and Systematic Study. Eerdmans, 1998. 260pp. ISBN: 978-0802845757. $22.60.

McFadyen, A. Bound by Sin: Abuse, Holocaust and the Christian Doctrine of Sin. Cambridge University Press, 2000. 272pp. ISBN: 978-0521438681. Pub.price $35.99.

McGrath, A.E. A Fine-Tuned Universe: The Quest for God in Science and Theology. Westminster John Knox, 2009. 288pp. ISBN: 978-0664233105. $40.

Moltmann, J. God in Creation: A New Theology of Creation and the Spirit of God. Fortress, 1993, pp. 1-214 OR pp. 185-296. ISBN: 978-0800628239. $25.

Murphy, N. Bodies and Souls or Spirited Bodies? Cambridge, 2006. 164pp. ISBN: 978-0521676762. Pub.price $25.99.

Nelson, D.R. What's Wrong with Sin? Sin in Individual and Social Perspectives from Schleiermacher to Theologies of Liberation. T&T Clark, 2009. 232pp. ISBN: 978-0567266767. $44.95.

Pannenberg, W. Systematic Theology. Vol. 2. Eerdmans, 1994, pp. 1-174 OR pp. 175-275. ISBN: 978-0802837073. Pub.price $55.

Polkinhorne. J. Science and Providence: God's Interaction with the World. Templeton Press, 2005. 140pp. ISBN: 978-1932031928. Pub.price $14.95.

Sanders, J. The God Who Risks: A Theology of Providence. 2nd ed. InterVarsity Press, 2007. 384pp. ISBN: 978-0830828371. Pub.price $24.

Yong, A. The Spirit of Creation: Modern Science and Divine Action in the Pentecostal-Charismatic Imagination. Eerdmans, 2011. 256pp. ISBN: 978-0802866127. $32.

A contextual/intercultural or interreligious text: Choose one from EITHER A or B (max. 200 pp.):

A.  Contextual/Intercultural:

Boff, L. Trinity and Society. Orbis, 1988. 288pp. ISBN: 978-1597521383. Pub.price $30.

Cone, J.H. God of the Oppressed. Orbis, 1997. 257 pp. ISBN: 978-1570751585. Pub.price $20.

Gonzales, M.A. Created in God's Image: An Introduction to Feminist Theological Anthropology. Orbis, 2007. ISBN: 157075697X. Pub.price $24.

Hopkins, D.A. Being Human: Race, Culture, and Religion. Fortress, 2005. ISBN: 9780800637576. $22.

Johnson, E. She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse. Continuum, 1992. 344pp. ISBN: 978-0824519254. Pub.price $29.95.

Kapolyo, J.M. The Human Condition: Christian Perspectives through African Eyes. InterVarsity Press, 2005. 170pp. ISBN: 978-0830833023. Pub.price $16.

Keller, K. From the Broken Web: Sexism, Separation, and Self. Beacon Press, 1986. ISBN: 978-0807067437. Pub.price $23.

B.  Interfaith Encounter and Comparative Theology:

Clooney, F. Hindu God, Christian God: How Reason Helps Break Down the Boundaries between Religions. Oxford University Press, 2010. 220pp. ISBN: 978-0199738724. Pub.price $24.95.

Coward, H., ed. Experiencing Scripture in World Religions. Orbis, 2000, 178pp. ISBN: 978-1570752988. Pub.price $45.

Ipgrave, M., ed. Scriptures in Dialogue: Christians and Muslims Studying the Bible and the Qur'an Together. London: Church House Publishing, 2004. 154pp. ISBN: 978-0898694659.

Schimmel, A.M., and Abdoldjavad Falaturi, eds. We Believe in One God. London: Burns & Oates, 1980. 200pp. ISBN: 978-0860120780.

Tennent, T.C. Christianity at the Religious Roundtable. Baker Academic, 2002. 270pp. ISBN: 978-0801026027. Pub.price: $27.

Volf, Miroslav. Allah: A Christian Response. HarperOne, 2011. 336pp. ISBN: 978-0061927072.

Ward, P. Concepts of God. Images of the Divine in Five Religious Traditions. Oxford: One, 1998. 208pp. ISBN: 978-1851680641. Pub.price $14.95.

Ward, K. Religion & Revelation: A Theology of Revelation in the World's Religions. Oxford University Press, 1994. 360pp. ISBN: 978-0198263753. Pub.price $60.

Ward, K. Religion & Creation. Oxford University Press, 1996, 360pp. Pub.price $25.