DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to introduce students to the nature of theological study, developing a structure of divine revelation as fundamental to understanding how African theology influenced the development of an organized, coherent, relevant theology in the African Diaspora. This course will trace the relationship of African American theology with its African origins by focusing on ancient African theology.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Application of theoretical course content to ministry situations will take place through the take-home exam questions and online interaction. Basic human questions about the reality of God, the authority of Scripture, the use of ancient African texts, and the spiritual/psychical dynamics of African Americans and their theology will be addressed in this course.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Students will create an appropriate assessment, analysis, and engagement of the systematic African antecedents to African American/Black Theology.

2. Students will understand the theological issues present in the African American community from their time of coming from Africa up through slavery.

3. Students will appreciate the importance of interpreting culture and how that affects one's theology; this should inform priorities for ministry, especially in the African American context.

Burton, Keith Augustus. The Blessings of Africa: The Bible and African Christianity. IVP Academic, 2007. 294 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0830827626. Amazon price: $15.00.

Bynum, Edward Bruce. The African Unconscious: Roots of Ancient Mysticism and Modern Psychology. Teachers College Press, 1999. 355 pages (read 152). ISBN-13: 978-0807737743. Amazon price: $150.00.

Diop, Cheikh Anta. The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality. Chicago Review Press, 1974. 336 pages (read 125). ISBN-13: 978-1556520723. Amazon price: $10.91.

Hood, Robert E. Must God Remain Greek? Afro Cultures and God-Talk. Augsburg Fortress, 1994. 288 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0800624491. Amazon price: $21.00.

Keita, Maghan. Race and the Writing of History: Riddling the Sphinx. Oxford University Press, 2000. 224 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0195112740. Amazon price: $85.50.

Oden, Thomas. How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity. InterVarsity Press, 2010. 204 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0830837052. Amazon price: $11.56.

1. Students will be given two take-home exams (50% of total grade). Answers will be evaluated on the basis of depth of theological insight, appropriateness to the practice and goals of Christian ministry, and evidence of critical reflection upon the assigned readings and course content. Students will have to evidence that they can develop and critique the cannon that is referred to as an organized, coherent, relevant African/African American/Black theology.

2. Weekly Activities (50%). This course is organized into ten activity weeks. Each activity week involves the following:

  I. Online activities and discussion via Moodle

 II. Weekly Activities - The weekly activities and discussion topics are designed to actively involve participants in a collaborative learning format, where participation builds and develops your learning in the course. Please remember the importance of sharing your observations, reflections, and topical contributions.

III. Weekly Course Content posting will include segmented lectures; seminar notes; reading assignments; activity descriptions, group assignments and posting dates; along with course reference material for that week (video, discussion starters, movie clips, songs, web-resources). The weekly Web material will be posted on Moodle the weekend preceding the Monday start of a course week. Our work will be active online engagement will be from Tuesday through Thursday.

Please plan to log in to the course at least three to four times each week and to be online posting / in discussion groups / chat rooms / synchronous and asynchronous discussions approximately three hours per week. Time will be monitored and recorded via Moodle. This will be the basis for your weekly class participation.