Spring 2020/Fuller Online

HT502

Murphy

HT502: THE CHURCH’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHURCH, HUMANITY, AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN ITS HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT (4 Units: 160 hours). Karen R.J. Murphy.

DESCRIPTION: HT502 is a survey largely of medieval and Reformation history and theology that focuses especially on the doctrines that received their crucial shape for Protestant Christians during this period. Among these are the doctrine of the church (including the authority and office of the ministry, sacraments, the place of councils, and the role of the laity), the doctrine of scripture (including the place of tradition), theological anthropology (including human nature as created and fallen, and original sin), and the doctrine of the Christian life (including the entire order of salvation—election, calling, faith, justification, sanctification, and final glory). Key figures to be studied include Aquinas, Luther, and Calvin.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who complete HT502 will demonstrate: (1) a basic historical and theological knowledge of the doctrines of the church, humanity, and the Christian life as those and other selected doctrines emerged especially in the medieval and Reformation church and developed to this day, (2) a basic competence in interpreting this history and theology and an ability to evaluate these theological issues and their historical development; and (3) a critical and sympathetic appreciation for the breadth, unity, and diversity of the Christian church.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: HT502 introduces students to a basic historical and theological knowledge of the doctrines of the church, humanity, and the Christian life as these doctrines and associated practices developed especially in the medieval and Reformation church, with an eye to developing skills in interpretation and critical appreciation; it thereby seeks to implement the SOT PLO, “Students will have demonstrated capacities for historically informed theological and ethical reflection.”

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours. 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: ~1,200 pp. of required reading.

Hillerbrand, Hans J., ed. The Protestant Reformation. Revised ed. Harper and Row Perennial, 2009. ISBN: 978- 0061148477, Pub. Price $16.99 [110 pp. assigned].

MacHaffie, Barbara J. Her Story: Women in Christian Tradition. 2nd ed. Augsburg Fortress, 2006. ISBN: 978-0800638269, Pub. Price $49.85 [135 pp. assigned].

Placher, William.Readings in the History of Christian Theology, Vol 1: From its Beginnings to the Eve of the Reformation. Revised ed.Westminster, 2015. ISBN: 978-0664240578, Pub. Price $27.00. [70 pp. assigned].

Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, and Matthew D. Lundberg. An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0521690379, Pub. Price $37.99 [220 pp. assigned].

Sittser, Gerald L. Water From a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries. InterVarsity Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0830837458, Pub. Price $26.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [145 pp. assigned].

Readings packet (~505 pp., online), including excerpts from Cyprian, Augustine, Pelagius, Patrick, Aquinas, Julian, Zwingli, Calvin, the Council of Trent, Wesley, and Vatican II.

Cross, F. L. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford, 2005. ISBN: 978-0192802903, Pub. Price $215.00.

Gonzalez, Justo L. A History of Christian Thought: From Augustine to the Eve of the Reformation. Vol 2. 2nd Revised ed.Abingdon, 1987. ISBN: 978-0687171835, Pub. Price $34.99.

Gonzalez, Justo L. A History of Christian Thought: From the Protestant Reformation to the Twentieth Century. Vol 3. 2nd Revised ed.Abingdon, 1987. ISBN: 978-0687171842, Pub. Price $34.99.

Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, vol 3. University of Chicago, 1980. ISBN: 978-0226653754, Pub. Price $23.00.

Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, vol 4. University of Chicago, 1985. ISBN: 978-0226653778, Pub. Price $25.00.

Pine-Coffin, R. S., trans. Saint Augustine: Confessions. Penguin, 1961. ISBN: 978-0140441147, Pub. Price $10.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Instruction, including videos, audio lectures, PowerPoint presentations, etc. [20 hours].
2. Assigned readings [~1,200 pp.] [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [80 hours].
3. Weekly online participation, including initial discussion posts (300-400 words) and responses (100-150 words) (20% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2 and 3]. [20 hours].
4. Weekly quizzes (20% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, and 3]. [5 hours].
5. One 3-4 page reflection paper (10%; graded on a credit/no credit basis). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2 & 3]. [5 hours].
6. Two 5-7 page [1,750 word] research/analytical essays (15% each). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2 & 3]. [20 hours].
7. Final exam covering readings and lectures (20% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, & 3]. [10 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 CHB 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. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.