Winter 2016/Fuller Online

CH506

Westbrook

CH506: AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY IN A GLOBAL HISTORICAL CONTEXT (4 Units: 160 hours). Donald Westbrook.

DESCRIPTION: CH506 analyzes the history and distinctive global roles of American Christianity to illumine and facilitate the interpretation of the church in the present generation. Christians from many countries and people groups have come to the United States, making it one of the most ethnically and religiously diverse nations on earth. The class offers an introductory overview of the history of Christianity in America, which will explore some of the major persons, ideas, and movements that have shaped Christian faith and practice, both in North America and throughout the world. The course will also involve students in opportunities for more intensive pursuit and presentation of their particular interests in the story of North American Christianity and its global implications.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who complete CH506 will demonstrate: (1) a basic historical and theological knowledge of the doctrines of the Christian church as these developed distinctively in the North American context from the sixteenth century to the present day and shaped its local cultures, experience of immigration, and global mission outreach; (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.

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: 1172 total number of pages required.

Gaustad, Edwin S. and Mark A. Noll, eds. A Documentary History of Religion in America to 1877. 3^rd ed. Eerdmans, 2003. ISBN: 978-0802822291, Pub. Price $65.00 [100 pp. assigned].

MacHaffie, Barbara J. Her Story: Women in Christian Tradition. 2^nd ed. Fortress Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0800638269, Pub. Price $44.00 [219 pp. assigned].

Noll, Mark A. A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada. Eerdmans, 1992. ISBN: 978-0802806512, Pub. Price $52.00 [553 pp. assigned].

Instructor-approved historical figure reading from primary and secondary sources for student presentations. [100 pp.]

Instructor-approved readings from primary and secondary sources for research paper. [200 pp.]

RECOMMENDED READING:

Extra Credit Reading—Choose one.

Gabaccia, Donna R. Immigration and American Diversity: A Social and Cultural History. Wiley Blackwell, 2002. ISBN: 978-0631220336, Pub. Price $62.95 [ix + 306 pp.]

Orsi, Robert A. The Madonna of 115^th Street: Faith and Community in Italian Harlem, 1880-1950. Third ed. Yale Univ. Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0300157529, Pub. Price $24.00 [360 pp.]

Robeck, Cecil M., Jr. The Azusa Street Mission and Revival: The Birth of the Global Pentecostal Movement. Thomas Nelson, 2006. ISBN: 978-1418506247, Pub. Price $16.99 [352 pp.]

Sweeney, Douglas A. The American Evangelical Story: A History of the Movement. Baker Academic, 2005. ISBN: 978-0801026584, Pub. Price $22.00 [208 pp.]

Recommended Resources:

Cullen, Jim. Essaying the Past: How to Read, Write, and Think about History. 2^nd ed. Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. ISBN: 978-144435140, Pub. Price $22.95 [224 pp.]

Gaustad, Edwin S. and Mark A. Noll, eds. A Documentary History of Religion in America Since 1877. 3^rd ed. Eerdmans, 2003. ISBN: 978-0802822307, Pub. Price $65.00 [352 pp.]

Rampolla, Mary Lynn. A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, 8^th ed. Bedford/St. Martin’s (Macmillan), 2015. ISBN: 978-0312610418, Pub. Price $25.99.

Reid, Daniel G., et al., eds. Concise Dictionary of Christianity in America. Wipf & Stock, 2002. ISBN: 978-1579109691, Pub. Price $39.00 [378 pp.]

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. On-line mini-lectures, document workshops, and other learning activities (assessed by forum posts #2) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, and 3] [20 hours]

2. Active weekly forum posts (initial posts and replies) on mini-lectures, document workshops, and readings; also includes online class devotional post (25%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and 3] [25 hours]

3. 1,172 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, and 3] [78 hours]

4. Historical figure reading list for student group presentations. (5%) [graded credit-no credit; hours included in #6] [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]

5. Research paper proposal (10%) [graded credit-no credit; hours included in #7] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and 3]

6. Online historical figure group presentations (15%) [graded credit-no credit] [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [10 hours, including #4]

7. Research paper (2500 words) based on an instructor-approved proposal (25%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and 3] [20 hours, including #5]

8. Final exam (2000 word maximum) covering readings, mini-lectures, and document workshops. (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, and 3] [7 hours, including #3]

PREREQUISITES: None.

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

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.