Fall 2020/Fuller Online

ET533

Dufault-Hunter

ET533: CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP IN A SECULAR SOCIETY (4 Units: 163 hours). Erin Dufault-Hunter.

DESCRIPTION: Paul charges us in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Such a statement presumes that part of our calling is participation in moral discernment, sifting our culture’s perceptions of what is good or acceptable through the lens of Scripture with the help of the Spirit. This class explores “secular” conceptions of what is suitable and pleasing in various arenas—economics, politics, ecology, sexuality, and ethnicity. We also discuss the importance of having a theology of suffering and evil as it pertains to these subjects. We will develop an explicitly Scripture-shaped vision of the world, so that we might worship God truthfully and participate in Christ’s ongoing work of creating us and all creation anew.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will: 1) clearly explain main arguments of various authors; 2) construct a theological lens through which they interpret contemporary ethical concerns; 3) practice Hays’s four-fold approach to reading Scripture for moral formation; 4) analyze how history, culture, personal experience, and faith shape moral perceptions; 5)identify shared convictions while practicing respectful disagreement about moral concerns.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This class introduces students to theological ethics and moral frameworks for engaging economics, violence, politics, ecology, sexuality, and ethnicity/race. 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, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. 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+ pages required, plus 4 hours viewing/listening.

Cavanaugh, William T. Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire. Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2008. ISBN: 978-0802845610, Pub. Price $14.00 [121 pp. assigned].

Hays, R. The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation, A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament. Harper, 1996. ISBN: 978-0060637965, Pub. Price $29.99 [250 pp. assigned].

ONE of the following (on mental health, disability, or suffering):

Coleman, Monica. Bipolar Faith: A Black Woman’s Journey with Depression and Faith. Fortress, 2016. ISBN: 978-1506408606; Pub. Price $24.99, available as ebook through library. [180 pp. assigned].

Greene-McCreight, Kathryn. Darkness is My Only Companion: A Christian Response to Mental Illness. Brazos Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-1587433726, Pub. Price $19.99 [178 pp. assigned].

Gutierrez, Gustavo. On Job: God-talk and the Suffering of the Innocent. Orbis, 1987. ISBN: 978-0883445525. Pub price: $24.00; available Kindle; free as ebook through library. [170 pp. assigned].

ONE of the following (a commentary on Acts or Revelation):

Gorman, Michael J., Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb Into the New Creation. Wipf and Stock, 2010. ISBN: 978-1606085608, Pub. Price $25.00 [230 pp. assigned].

Jennings, Willie. Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible, WJK, 2017. ISBN: 978-0664234003, Pub price $40.00 [150 pages assigned].

ONE of the following texts (on sexuality generally or an aspect of sexuality):

Coakley, Sarah. The New Asceticism: Sexuality, Gender, and the Search for God. Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN: 978-1441103222, Pub price $24.95. [150 pages]

Grant, Jonathan. Divine Sex: A Compelling vision for Christian Relationships in a Hypersexualized Age. Brazos Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-1587433696. Pub price: $19.99; kindle $9.99. [230 pp. assigned].

Rogers, Eugene. Theology and Sexuality: Classic and Contemporary Readings. Wiley-Blackwell, 2002. ISBN: 978-0631212775. Pub price: $63.95 (read 150 pages)

Yarhouse, Mark et al. Listening to Sexual Minorities: A Study of Faith and Sexual Identity on Christian College Campuses. InterVarsity Press 2018. ISBN: 978-0830828623, Pub. Price $25.00. [200 pp. assigned].

Students may suggest a book or ask for a recommendation of a book on sexuality appropriate to ethical concerns that arise in their particular socio-cultural context.

The Gospel of Mark [approx. 30 pages]; Acts [approximately 15 pages]; Revelation [approximately 10 pages]

Approximately 200 pages & 6 hours of viewing/listening including (roughly in order of how they are utilized in course): Ellen Davis, “Learning our Place: The Agrarian Perspective of the Bible” * Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, “Siempre Lo Mismo: Theology, Rhetoric, and Broken Praxis;” * Carlos Pozzi, “Race, Ethnicity, and Color among Latinos in the United States” * Barbara Fields, “Whiteness, Racism, and Identity” * Helen Lee, “Silent no More: Asian American Christians…” *Dufault-Hunter, “A Letter from the Archdemon of Racialization to her minions in the white church of N. America”* Ada María Isasi-Díaz, “Mujerista Theology” * Rafiq Khoury, “The Theological Implications of the Current Situation in the Holy Land: A Point of View of a Christian Palestinian”* Kim Yong-Bock, “Messiah and Minjung: Discerning Messianic Politics over against Political Messianism” *Vinoth Ramachandra: “The Myth of Religious Violence,” * Hauerwas and Burrell, “Self-Deception and Autobiography: Reflections on Speer’s Inside the Third Reich”

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

Log of course reading, perusing your usual newsfeed, and viewing of instructional materials (approx. 1 – 2 hours/week, consisting of mp3 or video lectures). (15%) [This assignment related to learning outcomes 1, 2; must earn 75% to pass course above C] [80 hours].
Weekly: Before & after engaging in instruction, reflect on your experience with other students on topic, guided by questions provided in Canvas; questions appear when you click on the assignment for that week (120-150 words each; one pre and one post-instruction). (10%) [This assignment related to learning outcome 1, 2] [15 hours].
Reviews: Following the form provided, identify main argument, themes, & concerns of the week's readings or instruction (three total; 700-750 words each). (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1, 2, 4] [30 hours].
Throughout quarter, complete comprehension quiz on instructional material [This assignment related to learning outcomes 1, 4] (Not graded but must be completed to move into next week) [1.5 hours].
Bi-weekly: Post substantive response to one other student in your small group (120-150 words). (Not graded but must complete to get credit for #2 above). [This assignment related to learning outcome 5]. [5 hours].
Three pairs of paragraphs practicing the descriptive and interpretive tasks modeled on Hays’s approach to reading Scripture for moral formation; each pair 300 – 400 words (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 3]. [6.5 hours].
Final project: A cumulative, culminating paper of approximately 4000 words that engages at least two different perspectives on the same ethical topic in light of student's own particular cultural context. (25%). [This assignment related to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, & 5]. [30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Fulfills the TH5 or TH6 requirements in the 120 MDiv Program (Fall 2016). Fulfills the TH6 requirement in the 80 MAT and 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2016). Option to meet the C4 or TH5 requirements in the 120 MDiv Program (Fall 2014). Option to meet the C4 requirement in the 80 MATM and 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015). Meets ETH in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.