Fall 2017/Pasadena

HT503

Ireland

HT503: THE CHURCH’S UNDERSTANDING OF CHURCH, HUMANITY, AND CHRISTIAN LIFE IN ITS THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION (4 Units: 160 hours). Marèque Steele Ireland.

DESCRIPTION: HT503 is a survey of systematic and philosophical theology that focuses especially on revelation and scripture; creation and providence; theological anthropology (human identity and nature, the image of God, the fall, sin, and evil), soteriology (the election, calling, justification, regeneration, and sanctification of the Christian), and ecclesiology (the ministry and mission of the church). The course reflects the historic Christian church's development of these doctrines in dialogue with its opponents and with its cultural context. Related topics and themes to be addressed may include the development and articulation of the inspiration and authority of scripture, God's work in creation, human persons in relation to God, and the place of the church in the purposes of God.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who complete HT503 will demonstrate: (1) a basic critical theological knowledge of the conceptual and normative dimensions of the doctrines of revelation, creation and providence, 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 class meets once per week 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.

REQUIRED READING: 1145-1,200 pages of required reading.

Course Reader (available online) including essays and excerpts from historical and contemporary theology, including but not limited to: Augustine, Pelagius, Luther, Calvin, Yves Congar, Vatican II, John Zizioulas, Wolfart Pannenberg, Jürgen Moltmann, Kathryn Tanner, Alistair McFadyen et. al. [around 300 pages].

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Creation and Humanity. A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World, vol. 3. Eerdmans, 2015. ISBN: 978-0802868558, Pub. Price $40.00 [315 pages assigned].

Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, Matthew D. Lundberg. An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0521690379, Pub. Price $34.99 [330 pages assigned].

Student will choose one text from a list of texts provided on the syllabus, which will allow the student to explore an area of specific interest in more depth [200-250 selected pages].

RECOMMENDED READING: Please see course syllabus for list of recommended reading.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,145-1,200 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3]. [70 hours].

2. One theological textual analysis (20% of grade) (1,250 words, 5 pp.). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 2 and 3] [10 hours].

3. One Exam (20% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1 and 2] [10 hours].

4. A research paper on an assigned topic (2,250-2500 words, 8-9 pp.) on a topic of the student’s choice within the course description parameters (35% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3] [24 hours].

5. Directed learning activity: Field trip with interview. Visit to a religious site and theological reflective analysis (1,250 word 5 pp.). Students are required to attend a Christian church service that is markedly different from their own church experience (e.g. if Protestant, student options would include Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox) to broaden their perspective and understanding of the wider Church and to observe the intersection of theology, praxis and worship within the context of a church service. This assignment includes a formal interview with someone from that specific religious tradition. Insights from the interview will be incorporated and compared to what they observed during the field trip and what they have learned in readings and lectures (25% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 2 and 3] [16 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH2 or TH4 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MAT Programs (Fall 2015). Option to meet the TH2 requirement in the 80 MATM and 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015). Meets the STB requirement in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.