Spring 2016/Pasadena
TH577/877
Johnson/Johnston
TH577/877: SACRAMENTS AND SACRAMENTALITY. (4 Units: 160 hours; 6 Units: 380 Hours). Todd E. Johnson and Robert K. Johnston.
DESCRIPTION: This doctoral seminar is open to a limited number of master’s level students by special permission. The word sacrament is a term that conjures up images of sacred objects and sacred actions. The theology of those ecclesial rites known as sacraments has been one of the most divisive theological topics in the history of the church. In the last century, however, there has been a great deal of convergence between traditions using as a starting point for discussion the concept of “sacramentality,” that is, the general question of how God is present in the world. This seminar will take up the question of sacramentality and then explore specific expressions of God’s presence in the world commonly referred to as sacraments (or ordinances). This seminar will explore the history of sacramental theology, as well as models of the relationship between the doctrine of God and sacramentality. After defining various models of sacramentality, these models will be applied to specific rites, practices, and concepts, such as Baptism, Eucharist, Ministry, Word, Prayer, Church, and our experience of God extra ecclesia.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: In completing this course the student will have: (1) Acquired an overview of the relationship between the philosophical paradigms of cosmology and their expression in spirituality and sacramentality; (2) Attained a knowledge of various schools of thought in spirituality and sacramental theology in the Christian churches; (3) Examined and evaluated the spiritual and/or sacramental paradigms of important figures across the history of the Christian churches; (4) Begun to develop a theology of spirituality and sacramentality; (5) Applied principles of sacramentality to the rites, practices, and offices of the pastoral ministry within one’s ecclesial context.
COURSE FORMAT: The seminar will meet weekly for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. It will have some lectures by the professors, but will be mostly seminar presentations and discussions. Students will be expected—beyond assigned class readings—to do the necessary primary and secondary research for their presentations. The seminar will cover a broad swath of the Christian traditions: East and West, ancient through contemporary, traditional and nontraditional.
REQUIRED READING:
Course Reader. (on eReserves found on Moodle) [105 pp. required for TH577; 725 pp. required for TH877].
González-Andrieu, Cecilia. Bridge to Wonder: Art as a Gospel of Beauty. Baylor University Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-1602583511, Pub. Price $29.95 [165 pp.].
Johnston, Robert K. God’s Wider Presence: Reconsidering General Revelation. Baker Academic, 2014. ISBN: 978-0801049453, Pub. Price $29.99 [165 pp.].
Luhrmann, T.H. When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God. Vintage, 2012. ISBN: 978-0307277275, Pub. Price $15.95 [TH877: 340 pp.; TH577: 190 pp.].
Macy, Gary. TheBanquet’s Wisdom. Rev. ed. OSL Publications, 2005. ISBN: 978-1878009500, Pub. Price $19.95 [TH877: 150 pp.; TH577: 125 pp.].
Mitchell, Nathan. Meeting Mystery: Liturgy, Worship, Sacraments (Theology in a Global Perspective). Orbis Books, 2006. ISBN: 978-1570756740, Pub. Price $34.00 [TH877: 280 pp.; TH577: 140 pp.].
Moltmann, Jürgen. The Spirit of Life. Fortress Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0800634247, Pub Price $29.00 [TH877: 310 pp.; TH577: 190 pp.].
Natural Theology. Comprising “Nature and Grace” by Emil Brunner and the reply “No!” by Karl Barth. Translated from the German by Peter Frankel. Wipf and Stock, 2002. ISBN: 978-1592441129, Pub. Price $17.00 [130 pp.].
White, James F. The Sacraments in Protestant Practice and Faith. Abingdon, 1999. ISBN: 978-0687034027, Pub. Price $20.00. [135 pp.].
RECOMMENDED READING:
Boff, Leonardo. Sacraments of Life, Life of the Sacraments. Trans. John Drury. Pastoral Press, 1987. ISBN: 978-0912405384, Pub. Price $8.95.
Cooke, Bernard J. The Distancing of God: The Ambiguity of Symbol in History and Theology. Fortress, 1990 (available through Sigler Press). ISBN: 978-0800624156, Pub. Price $34.00.
.Sacraments and Sacramentality. Twenty-third Publications, 1994. ISBN: 978-0896225886, Pub. Price $24.95.
Hilkert, Mary Catherine. Naming Grace: Preaching and the Sacramental Imagination. Continuum, 1997. ISBN: 978-0826410603, Pub. Price $39.95.
Jones, Paul. Christ’s Eucharistic Presence: A History of the Doctrine. Peter Lang, 1994. (Out of print).
Macquarrie, John. A Guide to the Sacraments. Continuum, 1997. (Out of print).
Osborne, Kenan. Christian Sacraments in a Postmodern World: A Theology for the Third Millennium. Paulist Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0809139049, Pub. Price $19.95.
Ross, Susan A. Extravagant Affections: A Feminist Sacramental Theology. Continuum, 1998. ISBN: 978-0826413208, Pub. Price $24.95.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS:
TH577:
Completion of assigned readings, participation in our class discussions and attendance. (20% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5.] [130 hours].
Two short (2-3 page) papers reflecting on assigned readings. (20% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2-4.] [6 hours].
An oral presentation to the class in which the student defines his or her theology of sacramentality. The student is expected to draw upon course materials, life experiences, and scriptures in this assignment. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5.] [12 hours, including 10 hours of DLAs].
A final paper in which the student defines his or her theology of sacramentality. The student is expected to draw upon course materials, life experiences, and scriptures in this assignment. (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5.] [12 hours].
TH877:
Completion of assigned readings, participation in our class discussions and attendance. (10% of grade) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5.] [195 hours].
Six short (2 page) papers reflecting on assigned readings. (20% of grade) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2-4.] [30 hours, including 10 hours of DLAs].
Either (a) an entire syllabus of a Sacraments class (College or beyond); or, (b) a rough draft of the syllabus of a theology or worship class (College or beyond) with a detailed section on sacramentality and sacraments studies. In both cases you must include: learning outcomes, class topics, and readings. (10% of grade) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2-5.] [25 hours].
An hour long presentation to the class (including leading class discussion in response to their presentation) on a specific theologian’s theology of sacramentality. Students are expected to develop a handout to accompany their presentation. In the presentation they should include the historical context and theological influence on the theologian, the particular model of sacramentality in question, and a bibliography of primary and secondary sources. Doctoral students are expected to make evaluative comments on the value of this theologian’s thought. (20% of grade) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5.] [60 hours].
A 20 page final paper in which the sacramental theology of a particular theologian is described and assessed according to the philosophical integrity of their cosmology, the internal consistence of their thought, its compatibility with scripture and tradition, and its pastoral application within particular Christian traditions. (40% of grade)[This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5.] [70 hours].
PREREQUISITES: For master’s level students: permission of the instructor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: TH577: Elective, TH4. TH877: Meets a Christian Worship, Spirituality, and Theology and Culture requirement.
FINAL EXMAINATION: None.