Winter 2015/Fuller Live!

Houston, Menlo Park, and Pasadena

HT503

Garcia-Johnson

HT503: THE CHURCH’S UNDERSTANDING OF CHURCH, HUMANITY, AND CHRISTIAN LIFE IN ITS THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION (4 Units: 175 hours). Oscar Garcia-Johnson.

DESCRIPTION: HT503 is a survey of systematic and philosophical theology that focuses especially on revelation and scripture; theology of creation; theological anthropology, soteriology, and ecclesiology. The course reflects the historic Christian church’s development of these doctrines in dialogue with its opponents and with its cultural context in the view of understanding how these developments have been received and interpreted particularly in the Americas. Related topics and themes to be addressed may include the role of preColombian texts and hermeneutics in the interpretation of the biblical text during the colonial period, views on human representation in the Americas and the role of western theological anthropology, the authority and uses of scripture in church and politics, and the place of the church in a globalized and pluralistic world.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who complete HT503 will demonstrate: (1) a basic critical theological know-ledge of the conceptual and normative dimensions of the doctrines of revelation, creation, anthropology, soteriology, and ecclesiology as those and other selected doctrines emerged in the early church and developed to this day; (2) a basic competence in interpreting historic and contemporary perorations of these doctrines and an ability to evaluate these theological issues and their historical and contemporary development; and (3) a critical and sympathetic appreciation for the breadth, unity, and diversity of the Christian church.

COURSE FORMAT: This course meets over four weekends for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction including a combination of lecture and discussion, plus 10 hours of directed learning activities. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: Approximately 1,022 pages in total.

Boff, Leonardo. Iglesia: Carisma y Poder. 7th ed. Sal Terrae, 1984. ISBN: 978-8429306187, Pub. Price €10.00 [200 pp.].

González, Justo. L. Culto, Cultura y Cultivo. Ediciones Puma, 2009. ISBN: 978-9972701498, Pub. Price $12.99 [144 pp.].

Martell-Otero, Loida, Zaida Maldonado Perez, and Elizabeth Conde-Frazier. Latina Evangélicas: A Theological Survey from the Margins. Wipf and Stock, 2013. ISBN: 978-1608991365, Pub. Price $15.00 [178 pp.].

Zizioulas, Ioannis. El Ser Eclesial. Sigueme, 2003. ISBN: 978-8430114931, Pub. Price €20.00 [250 pp.].

Other selected readings to be made available weekly via e-Reserves, including selections from Augustine, J. Calvin, Karl Barth, D. Bonhoeffer, Kwok Pui-Lan, J. H. Yoder, Walter Mignolo, Enrique Dussel, Ivonne Gebara, José Miguez Bonino, and others [approximately 250 pp. assigned].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Class attendance and participation [30 hours], including group discussion of reading assignments (10%) [2 hours of Directed Learning Activity]. [This requirement is related to learning outcomes #1 and 3] [32 total hours].
  2. Careful reading of assigned texts: 1,022 pages of required reading. The quality and extent of readings will be assessed in the form of one final exam, reflective reports and a Creedal Document. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3] [70 hours].
  3. Collaborative-spirituality: Each week students will reflect upon a reading selection with a theological-practical content, post their impressions in Moodle (250 words), and interact with two members of their group (200 words) (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [20 hours].
  4. Four 700-word reflective reports (40%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [24 hours].
  5. A final exam (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2]. [5 hours].
  6. A Creedal document based on personal convictions, course readings, and researched themes [2,000-2,500 words] (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2,3]. [24 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH2 or TH4 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the STB requirement in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.