Fall 2020/Fuller Online

HT504

Ireland

HT504: MODERN THEOLOGY IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT (4 Units: 160 hours). Mareque Ireland

DESCRIPTION: HT504 is a survey of systematic and philosophical theology that focuses especially on the articulation of Christian doctrine in the modern world. The course reflects the historic Christian church’s development of eschatology in its dialogue with its opponents and with its cultural context, including the current global diversity and plurality. It also considers recent constructive theologies, including theologies of liberation, public theology, and contextual theology. Related topics and themes to be addressed may include the development and articulation of the Christian doctrine of the four last things (death, judgment, heaven, and hell), the intermediate state, so-called “contextual” theologies, and the place of theology in contemporary public life; the relation of Christian theology to other religious traditions may also be included in this consideration.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who complete HT504 will demonstrate: (1) a basic critical theological knowledge of the conceptual and normative dimensions of Christian eschatology, and of recent constructive theologies (e.g. theologies of liberation, public theology, and contextual theology); (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.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: HT504 introduces students to a basic historical knowledge of the church in its diverse global expressions of theology and practice, particularly as that diversity has been manifested over the course of the last three centuries, 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: Selections from the following texts. [around 1100 pages]

Bevans, Stephen and Katalina Tahaafe-Williams, eds. Contextual Theology for the Twenty-First Century. Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2011. ISBN: 978-1608999606, Pub. Price $20.00 [Approximately 125 selected pages]. Note that this book is available for Fuller students as an eBook through Fuller’s online database.

D’Costa, Gavin. Christianity and World Religions. Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. ISBN: 978-1405176736, Pub. Price $43.75. [Approximately 100 selected pages]. Note that this book is available for Fuller students as an eBook through Fuller’s online database.

Kärkkäinen, Veli-Matti. Hope and Community, Eerdmans, 2017. ISBN: 978-0802868572, Pub. Price $50.00 [250-300 selected pages].

Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, Matthew D. Lundberg. An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0521690379, Pub. Price $37.99 [200 selected pp.]. .]. Note that this book is available for Fuller students as an eBook through Fuller’s online database.

Articles and Essays (available on Canvas through eReserves and online) including essays and excerpts from historical and contemporary theology, including but not limited to: Augustine (e.g. City of God, chap. 20), Aquinas (e.g. Summa Theologica, “Treatise on the Resurrection”), Calvin (Institutes, on the soul and resurrection), Luther, et al. [Approximately 100 pp.].

Samples of articles and excerpts from texts include but are not limited to:

Althouse, Peter, “In Appreciation of Jürgen Moltmann: A Discussion of His Transformational Eschatology, in PNEUMA: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, vol 28, No. 1 Spring 2006, pp. 21-32.

Griffiths, Paul J., “Self-Annihilation or Damnation? A disputable Question in Christian Eschatology,” in Pro Ecclesia, Vol. XVI, No. 4, pp. 416-44.

Kärkkäinen, Veli-Matti, “Theologies of Religions” in Global Dictionary of Theology, ed. W. Dyrness and V.-M. Kärkkäinen, (Intervarsity Press, 2008), pp. 745-753.

Kelley, J.N.D., “Ch. XVII,. The Christian Hope,“ in Early Christian Doctrines, rev. ed, (Harper One, 1978) pp. 459-89.

LeMarquand, Grant, “’The Hell you Say’”: Salvation and the Final Judgment,” in ATR/95:1, pp. 99-113.

Marmorstein, Art, “Eschatological Inconsistency in the Ante-Nicene Fathers?, Andrews University Seminary Studies, Spring 2001, Vol. 39, No. 1, 125-32, 2001.

Scaer, David, “Luther’s Concept of the Resurrection I His Commentary on I Corinthians 15, in Concordia theological Quarterly, July 1983, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 209-24.

Student will choose one text from a list provided on the syllabus that will allow the student to explore an area of specific interest in more depth. (200-300 selected pages per text). A sample selection of these texts include:

Focus on eschatology:

Bauckham, R. & Hart, T. Hope Against Hope: Christian Eschatology at the Turn of the Millennium. Eerdmans, 1999. ISBN: 978-0802843913. Pub. Price $21.50 [247pp.].

Bloesch, D. The Last Things: Resurrection, Judgment, Glory. ISBN: 978-0830827572, Pub. Price $32.00 [336pp.].

Fudge, E.W. & Peterson, R.A. Two Views of Hell. InterVarsity Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0830822553, Pub. Price $26.00 [228 pp.].

Grenz, S.J. The Millennial Maze. InterVarsity Press, 1992. ISBN: 978-0830817573, Pub. Price $24.00 [239 pp.].

Kelly, Anthony. Eschatology and Hope (Theology in Global Perspectives). Orbis Books, 2006. 978-1570756511, Pub. Price $28.00 [242 pp.]

Ladd, George Eldon. The Presence of the Future: The Eschatology of Biblical Realism. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1996. ISBN: 978-0802815316, Pub. Price $25.00. [384 pp.].

Moltmann, J. The Coming of God: Christian Eschatology. Augsburg Books, 2004. ISBN: 978-0800636661, Pub. Price $29.00 [selections] [412 pp.]

Parry, Robin, and Chris Partridge, eds.Universal Salvation: The Current Debate.Eerdmans, 2004. ISBN: 978-0802827647, Pub. Price $31.50 [319 pp.].

Polkinghorne, J. & Welker, M, ed. The End of the World and the Ends of God: Science and Theology on Eschatology. Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2000. ISBN: 978-1563383120, Pub. Price $55.00 [320 pp.].

Focus on a contextual, interreligious book or one exploring the relationship between religion and contemporary culture:

Coleman, Monica A. Making a Way out of No Way: A Womanist Theology. Fortress Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0800662936, Pub. Price $21.00.

Cone, J.H.A Black Theology of Liberation.2nd ed. Orbis, 1986. ISBN: 978-1570758959, Pub. Price $21.00 [200 pp.].

D’Costa, Gavin. Christianity and World Religions: Disputed Questions in the Theology of Religions. Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. ISBN: 978-1405176736, Pub. Price $43.75 [248 pp.]

Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: An African American Systematic Theology. 2nd Edition. Fortress, 2012. ISBN: 978-0800698782, Pub. Price $29.00 [192 pp.].

González, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990. ISBN: 978-0687230679, Pub. Price $22.99 [184 pp.].

Healey, Joséph Healey, and Donald Sybertz, Towards an African Narrative Theology, Orbis Books, 1997. ISBN: 978-1570751219. PPub. Price $32.00 [400 pages].

Lee, Sang Hyun. From a Liminal Place: An Asian American Theology. Fortress, 2010. ISBN: 978-0800696689, Pub. Price $29.00 [200 pp.].

Parsons, S.F., ed. The Cambridge Companion to Feminist Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0521663809, Pub. Price $36.99 [188 pp.].

Ward, Keith. The Big Questions in Science and Religion. Templeton Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-1599471358. Pub. Price $16.95 [272 pp.].

Yong, A.Beyond the Impasse: Toward a Pneumatological Theology of Religions.Baker, 2003. ISBN: 978-0801026126, Pub. Price $22.00 [208pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING: For recommended reading, please see syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1050-1150 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3]. [70 hours].
2. Video Instruction [15 hours].
3. Weekly online interaction and assignments consisting of one 300-350 word opening post and two response posts of 150-250 words. (25% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3] [30 hours].
4. One theological textual analysis (1,250 words, 5 pp.) (20% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 2 and 3] [10 hours].
5. One exam (20% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1 and 2] [10 hours].
6. A research paper on an assigned topic (2,500 words, 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] [25 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH3 or TH4 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program and the 80 MAT Program (Fall 2015). Option to meet the TH3 requirement in the MATM Program (Fall 2015). Meets STC in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

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.