DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to acquaint the student with leading contemporary African-American theologians. We will encounter traditional European scholars as well. Research methods along with scholarly presentations will be discussed in an attempt to assist the students as they appropriate and develop their own theological resources.

One's theological development, as well as his/her ability to critically analyze data, is directly related to his/her culture. The goal of this course is to illuminate the minds of students in the area of non-traditional theological thought by utilizing the efforts and methods of non-European scholars. The course will also consider the cross-cultural needs of students who are not African-American, Latino or Asian but feel led to ministry in these communities.

The professor will utilize lecture/discussion format. This structure will provide the students with opportunities to engage in dialogue with one another as we consider the required reading assignments.

Cone, James, H. The Spirituals and the Blues. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1991.

Dyrness, William, A. Learning About Theology from the Third World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing, 1990.

Hopkins, Dwight N. and George Cummings. Cut Loose Your Stammering Tongue. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1991.

Wilmore, Gayraud, S. and James H. Cone, eds. Black Theology: A Documentary History, 1966-1979. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1993.

Witvliet, Theo. A Place in the Sun: An Introduction to Liberation Theology in the Third World. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1984.

A series of written assignments have been designed to engage the student with the required texts. A term paper analyzing the components attributing to the development of theology from an African-American perspective is required. Also required is a reflection examining the students' own theological pilgrimage. The written assignments should be no less than 10 pages, 15 pages maximum. The term paper should contain footnotes for all primary sources and a complete bibliography. Papers should be typewritten and double-spaced and are due the eighth week of the course.

ST546, Orientation to Theological Research 1.

Elective.

No.