Summer 2015/Fuller Online

HT504

Burton

HT504: MODERN THEOLOGY IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT (4 Units: 163 hours). Professor Bryan Burton.

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.

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 pages of reading required.

Ford, David, ed. The Modern Theologians [3^rd edition]. Wiley-Blackwell, 2005. ISBN: 978-1405102773, Pub. Price $64.95 [842pp.] selections will be assigned.

Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, Matthew D. Lundberg. An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0521690379, Pub. Price $34.99 [652 pp.] selections will be assigned.

Tennent, Timothy. Theology in the Context of World Christianity. Zondervan, 2007. ISBN: 978-0310275114, Pub. Price $24.99. [320pp.] selections will be assigned.

CHOOSE ONE (1) Text from the following as Required Text on Eschatology:

Bloesch, D. The Last Things: Resurrection, Judgment, Glory. ISBN: 978-0830827572, Pub. Price $25.00 [336 pp.].

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

Schwarz, H. Eschatology. Eerdmans, 2000. ISBN: 978-0802847331, Pub Price $35.00 [447pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

ELECTRONIC COURSE READER (Moodle) contains two kinds of materials:

1. Historical Texts on Eschatology [100 pp.].

J.N.D. Kelly, “Ch. XCVI. The Christian Hope” in Early Christian Doctrines, rev. ed. (Harper One, 1978), pp. 459-99.

T. Aquinas, “Treatise on the Resurrection,” Questions 69-86 in Supplement to the Third Part of Summa Theologica (available online in English in various translations; e.g., http://www.newadvent.org/summa/5.htm )

J. Calvin, “Ch. 25: Of Last Resurrection” in Institutes of Christian Religion, book 3 (pp. 2259-2276 in the version available at www.ccel.org , tr. H. Beveridge).

2. Contemporary Texts on Theology and Eschatology (max. 300 pp):

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

_____. “Introduction,” in Christ and Reconciliation. A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World, vol. 1. Eerdmans, 2013 (pp. 1-32)

R. E. Olson, “Karl Barth Drops a Bombshell on the Theologian’s Playground” in The Journey of Modern Theology. From Reconstuction to Deconstruction (InterVarsity Press, 2013), pp.301-325.

_____. “Theologians Look to the Future with Hope” [on J. Moltmann and W. Pannenberg] in The Journey of Modern Theology, pp. 421-501.

_____. “Evangelical Theology Comes of Age and Wrestles with Modernity” in The Journey of Modern Theology, pp. 591-614.

Polkinghorne, J. The God of Hope and the End of the World. Yale University Press, 2002; chs. 1 and 2

Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: An African American Systematic Theology. Fortress, 1993. ISBN: 978-0800626723, Pub. Price $20.00 [192 pp.].

González, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990. ISBN: 978-0687230679, Pub. Price $20.00 [184 pp.].

Grenz, S.J. The Millennial Maze. InterVarsity Press, 1994. ISBN: 978-0830817573, Pub. Price $18.00 [239 pp.].

Lee, Sang Hyun. From a Liminal Place: An Asian American Theology. Fortress, 2010. ISBN: 978-0800696689, Pub. Price $20.00 [200 pp.].

Schwarz, H. Theology in a Global Context. Eerdmans, 2005. ISBN: 978-0802829863, Pub. Price $42.00 [615pp.].

Walls, Jerry, ed. The Oxford Handbook of Eschatology. Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978- 199735884, Pub. Price $55.00 [455 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Instruction hours with class activities such as video lectures, lecture/lesson notes, etc. [20 hours].

2. 250-word weekly forum posts with 100 word weekly replies to two fellow student’s posts. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1,3] [13 hours].

3. 1,200 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1,2,3] [78 hours].

4. Two quizzes 250-word each (5% each, 10% total). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1,2]. [10 hours].

5. Three 1,000-word critical response essays (30%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [18 hours]

6. A research essay on an assigned topic [2,000-2,500 words] (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [24–30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH3 or TH4 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets STC in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.