Fall 2016/Fuller Online

HT504

Gutenson

HT504: MODERN THEOLOGY IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT (4 Units: 160 hours). Chuck Gutenson.

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 total of relevant readings selected from the required readings.

Aquinas, Thomas. “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)

Calvin, John. “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).

Olson, Roger E. The Journey of Modern Theology: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction. IVP Academic, 2013. ISBN: 978-0830840212, Pub. Price $40.00 [315 pp.].

Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, Matthew D. Lundberg. An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0521690379, Pub. Price $32.99 [662 pp.].

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

Volf, M. A Public Faith. Brazos Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-1587433436, Pub. Price $18.99 [192 pp.].

Required essays provided by the instructor:

Bergmann, Michael. “Rational Religious Belief Without Arguments,” in Louis Pojman and Michael Rea, eds., Philosophy of Religion: An Anthology. Wadsworth Publishing, 2012, pp. 534-549 [15 pp.].

Coleman, Monica A. Making a Way out of No Way: A Womanist Theology. Fortress Press, 2008. Ch. 1 [26 pp.].

D’Costa, Gavin. Christianity and World Religions: Disputed Questions in the Theology of Religions. Wiley- Blackwell, 2009, ch. 1 [30 pp.].

Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: An African American Systematic Theology. Fortress, 1993. Introduction [12 pp.].

González, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990. Ch. 1 [30 pp.].

Lee, Sang Hyun. From a Liminal Place: An Asian American Theology. Fortress, 2010. Ch. 1 [31 pp.].

McDougal, Joy Ann. “Feminist Theology,” in John Webster, Kathryn Tanner, and Iain Torrance,

eds., TheOxford Handbook of Systematic Theology. Oxford University Press, 2009. Ch. 37 [19 pp.].

Plantinga, Alvin. Warranted Christian Belief. Oxford University Press, 2000. Ch. 1 [27 pp.].

Vanhoozer, Kevin J. “Theology and the Condition of Postmodernity: A Report on Knowledge,” in

Vanhoozer, Kevin J., ed. Cambridge Companion to Postmodern Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2003. Ch. 1 [24 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Baker, G. A. ed. Jesus in The World’s Faiths: Leading Thinkers from Five Religions Reflect on His Meaning. Orbis Books, 2005. ISBN: 978-1570755736, Pub. Price $20.00.

Bellah, Robert Neelly. The Broken Covenant: American Civil Religion in Time of Trial. University of Chicago Press, 1992. ISBN: 978-0226041995, Pub. Price $22.50.

Boff, L. Jesus Christ Liberator: A Critical Christology for Our Time. Orbis, 1978. ISBN: 978-0883442364, Pub. Price $35.00.

Cavanaugh, W. and Scott. The Blackwell Companion to Political Theology. 1st ed. Wiley-Blackwell, 2006. ISBN: 978-1405157445, Pub. Price $58.95.

Cone, J.H. A Black Theology of Liberation. 2nd ed. Orbis, 1986. ISBN: 9780883446850, Pub. Price $22.00.

D’Costa, Gavin. Christianity and World Religions: Disputed Questions in the Theology of Religions.

Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. ISBN: 978-1405176736, Pub. Price $37.95.

Flint, Thomas C., and Michael C. Rea, eds. The Oxford Handbook of Philosophical Theology. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0199596539, Pub. Price $55.00.

Fudge, E.W. The Fire that Consumes: A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment. iUniverse, 2000. ISBN: 978-0595143429, Pub. Price $28.95.

Grenz, S.J. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000. ISBN: 978-0802847553, Pub. Price $40.00.

Gutenson, Charles. Christians and the Common Good. Brazos, 2011. ISBN: 978-1587432873, Pub. Price $20.00.

Hainsworth, D.K. and Scott Paeth. Public Theology in a Global Context: Essays in Honor of Max Stackhouse. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802865076, Pub. Price $45.00.

McDermott, Gerald R., ed. The Oxford Handbook of Evangelical Theology. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0199335992, Pub. Price $55.00.

Moltmann, J. The Coming of God: Christian Eschatology. SCM Press, 1994 (selections). ISBN: 978-0800636661, Pub. Price $25.00.

Pannenberg, W. Systematic Theology, Vol. 3. Eerdmans, 1997 (eschatology). ISBN: 978-0802864567, Pub. Price $60.00.

Parsons, S. F., ed. The Cambridge Companion to Feminist Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0521663274, Pub. Price $85.00.

Pope-Levison, P. & Levison, J. R. Jesus in Global Contexts. Westminster John Knox, 1992. ISBN: 978-0664251659, Pub. Price $30.00.

Quinn, Philipp and Kevin Meeker, eds. The Philosophical Challenge of Religious Diversity. Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0195121551, Pub. Price $49.95.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Most weeks, there will be a 25 to 40 minute lecture uploaded to YouTube and students are expected to watch these as available. [11 hours]

2. 1,200 pages of required reading [80 hours].

3. Two weekly posts (125-200 words) reflection on assigned reading and one weekly response to a classmate’s post (150-200 words) (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1] [20 hours].

4. Completion of midterm essay, consisting of answering two of three posted questions, 4 pages for each question. (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 2, 3] [25 hours].

5. A research essay on a topic agreed to by the student and the professor (12 pages) (45%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 3] [24 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.