Winter 2017/Online

HT503

Oden

HT503: THE CHURCH’S UNDERSTANDING OF CHURCH, HUMANITY, AND CHRISTIAN LIFE IN ITS THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION (4 Units: 162 hours). Patrick Oden.

DESCRIPTION: HT503 is a survey of systematic and philosophical theology that focuses especially on revelation and scripture; creation and providence; theological anthropology (human identity and nature, the image of God, the fall, sin, and evil), soteriology (the election, calling, justification, regeneration, and sanctification of the Christian), and ecclesiology (the ministry and mission of the church). The course reflects the historic Christian church's development of these doctrines in dialogue with its opponents and with its cultural context. Related topics and themes to be addressed may include the development and articulation of the inspiration and authority of scripture, God's work in creation, human persons in relation to God, and the place of the church in the purposes of God.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who complete HT503 will demonstrate: (1) a basic critical theological knowledge of the conceptual and normative dimensions of the doctrines of revelation, creation and providence, anthropology, soteriology, and ecclesiology as those and other selected doctrines emerged in the early church and developed to this day; (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: Approximately 1295 pages of required reading.

Course Reader (available on Moodle and online) including essays and excerpts from historical and contemporary theology, including but not limited to: Augustine, Pelagius, Luther, Calvin, Vatican II, Wesley, Zizioulas, Pannenberg, Moltmann, Pinnock, Congar, Bediako, González, Coakley, Chan, Volf, Elizabeth Johnson, et. al. [approximately 270 pages].

Buck, Jennifer M. Reframing the House: Constructive Feminist Global Ecclesiology for the Western Evangelical Church. Pickwick, 2016. ISBN: 978-1498278829, Pub Price $25.00. [178 pages]

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Creation and Humanity. A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World, vol. 3. Eerdmans, 2015. ISBN: 978-0802868558, Pub. Price $40.00. [315 pages 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. [330 pages assigned].

Pick One:

Endo, Shusako. Silence. Tapplinger, 1980. ISBN: 978-1250082244, Pub. Price $16.00. [200 pages]

Studdert Kennedy, G.A. After War, is Faith Possible? Wipf & Stock, 2008. ISBN: 978-1556353796, Pub Price $28.00. [200 pages]

RECOMMENDED READING: Please see course syllabus for list of recommended reading.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1295 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3]. [83 hours]. 1095 pages at 15 pgs/hr; 200 pages at 20 pgs/hr.

2. Weekly lecture and resource materials [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3]. [18 hours].

3. Weekly Moodle forum discussions on readings which will include a 250+ word post related to the readings, a question derived from the content of the week, and a 100+ word response to another student’s question. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3] (30% of final grade). [15 hours].

4. Integrative critical reflection on the topic of “Theology and Silence” or “Theology and After War” (5 pages) (15% of grade). Student will engage key themes of course in light of chosen text. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 2-3] [8 hours].

5. Integrative critical reflection on the role of the church in light of contemporary challenges. (5 pages) (15% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 2-3]
   [8 hours].

6. A research paper (10 pages) on a topic of the student’s choice within the course description parameters. (40% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3] [30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH2 or TH4 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MAT Programs (Fall 2015). Option to meet the TH2 requirement in the 80 MATM and 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015). Meets the STB requirement in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.