Spring 2016/Fuller Online

MH506

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MH506: THE MAKING OF GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY (4 Units: 160 hours). Peter T. NG.

DESCRIPTION: Christianity was a global faith—with its center of gravity in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia before it became a predominantly Western religion (c. 1500). Now, after roughly five centuries, it is re-emerging as a non-Western phenomenon. A full historical account reveals a faith that is inherently global but ultimately local and therefore exhibits an interplay between its global and local dynamics. This course explores Christianity with a focus on its inherent dynamic that propels cross-cultural transmission and the critical elements that have defined the experience and expressions of the faith. Five core issues will guide the discussion: the translation principle, or indigenous appropriations and vernacular expressions of Christian faith; the agents and agencies of missionary expansion; major movements of reformation and renewal; interaction with non-Christian faiths/ cultures; and the interplay between global and local forces which shaped the expressions of the faith.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: The student should expect to (1) gain an understanding of the multiplicity of processes that characterize the Christian missionary engagement and the spread of the gospel; (2) acquire insight into the nature of the Christian encounter with a variety of cultures across the world; (3) gain a working knowledge of the agents, agencies, structures, and processes that facilitated or hindered the growth of the Christian church worldwide; (4) come to some understanding of the immensely variegated nature of Christian faith and practice globally.

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:

Irvin, Dale T., and Scott W. Sunquist. History of the World Christian Movement: Earliest Christianity to 1453. Orbis, 2001. ISBN: 978-1570753961, Pub. Price $34.00 [104 pp. assigned].

Irvin, Dale T., and Scott W. Sunquist. History of the World Christian Movement: 1453-1800, Vol. II. Orbis, 2012. ISBN: 978-1570759895, Pub. Price $40.00 [147 pp.].

Jenkins, Philip. The New Faces of Christianity; Believing the Bible in the Global South. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0195368512, Pub. Price $15.95 [272 pp.].

Jenkins, Philip. The Lost History of Christianity. Harper One, 2009. ISBN: 978-0061472817, Pub. Price $15.99 [136 pp.].

Robert, Dana L. Christian Mission: How Christianity Became a World Religion. Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. ISBN: 978-0631236207, Pub. Price $40.00 [148 pp. assigned].

Sanneh, Lamin. Disciples of All Nations: Pillars of World Christianity. Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0195189612, Pub. Price $19.95 [159 pp. assigned].

Sanneh, Lamin. Whose Religion is Christianity? The Gospel beyond the West. W.B. Eerdmans, 2003. ISBN: 978-0802821645, Pub. Price $16.00 [94 pp.].

Sanneh, Lamin. Translating the Message: The Missionary Impact on Culture. Orbis, 2009. ISBN: 978-1570758041, Pub. Price $30.00 [190 pp. assigned].

Walls, Andrew F. The Missionary Movement in Christian History. Orbis, 1996. ISBN: 978-1570750595, $26.00 [124 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Coakley, John, and Andrea Sterk. Readings in World Christianity to 1453. Orbis, 2004. ISBN: 978-1570755200, Pub. Price $40.00.

Hunt, Stephen J. (ed.) Handbook of Global Contemporary Christianity. Brill, 2015. ISBN: 978-9004265387, Pub. Price $194.00.

Kim, Sebastian, and Kirsteen Kim. Christianity as a World Religion. Continuum, 2008. ISBN: 978-0826498410, Pub. Price $39.95.

Koschorke, Klaus, Frieder Ludwig, and Mariano Delgado, eds. A History of Christianity in Asia, Africa and Latin America: A Documentary Sourcebook. Eerdmans, 2007. ISBN: 978-0802828897, Pub. Price $35.00.

Ng, Peter T.M. Chinese Christianity: An Interplay between Global and Local Perspectives. Koninklijke, Brill NV, 2012. ISBN: 978-9004225749, $144.00.

Sanneh, Lamin & Joel Carpenter (eds.). The Changing Faces of Christianity: Africa, the West and the World. OUP, 2005. ISBN: 978-0195177282, Pub. Price $25.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: All assignments are to be turned in through Moodle.

1. Students are required to attend to the weekly instruction online with structured class activities such as video lectures, PowerPoint presentations, class instructions and guidelines for discussion etc. [20 hours].

2. To participate in the bi-weekly forum posts and responses (20%). [10 hours].

3. Read a minimum of 1,200 pages during the course and turn in a reading diary the last day of each week (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2 & 4]. [60 hours].

4. To write five (5) one page (at least 250 words) essay as reflections on the readings and lectures during the course. (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & 2]. [10 hours].

5. To work with another student partner and prepare for the group presentation on Moodle during the course. (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [15 hours].

6. To participate in the follow up reflections and discussions of group presentations of all students on Moodle forums (10%). [10 hours].

7. Write a 12-15 pages (250 wpp.) research paper on the topic, “Global Christianity in Local Contexts”, and give examples of significant expression of Christianity in different socio-cultural contexts (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3 & 4]. [35 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MAICS (2010 revision) requirements; meets Globalization (GLBL) requirement for SOT MA programs.

FINAL EXAMINATION:None.