Summer 2018/Online

MH506

Cotherman

MH506: THE MAKING OF GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY (4 Units: 160 Hours). Charles Cotherman.

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DESCRIPTION: Christianity developed in the first century CE at the intersection of three continents and between two empires. The Church’s theology and practice has always developed in the context of local cultures. This course traces its global development focusing on theological and contextual considerations. Early theological controversies are studied in light of linguistic and cultural considerations. The conversion of tribes, nations and empires are studied with one eye toward the Great Tradition and one eye focused on indigenous cultures.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who complete MH506 will demonstrate: (1) a basic historical and theological knowledge of the Christian story as it finds it home in each continent; (2) a basic competence in interpreting and evaluating this history and theology noting the interplay of Gospel message and local contexts, specifically local cultural and religious contexts; (3) a critical and sympathetic appreciated for the breadth, unity, and diversity of the Christian church and ability to explain the development of different beliefs and practices historically; (4) a basic knowledge of diverse Christological and Trinitarian formulations from the first millennium of Christian history; and (5) an ability to analyze and interpret primary source documents.

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: 1,100 pp. required.

Coakley, John, and Andrea Sterk. Readings in World Christianity to 1453. Orbis, 2004. ISBN: 978-1570755200, Pub. Price $34.00 [165 pp.].

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 [320 pp.].

Irvin, Dale T., and Scott W. Sunquist. History of the World Christian Movement: 1453-1800. Orbis, 2012. ISBN: 978-1570759895, Pub. Price $40.00 [355 pp.].

Robert, Dana L. Christian Mission: How Christianity Became a World Religion. Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. ISBN: 978-0631236207, Pub. Price $31.95 [195 pp.].

Sunquist, Scott W. The Unexpected Christian Century. Baker Academic. 2015. ISBN: 978-0801097461, Pub. Price $22.99 [120 pp].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Sanneh, Lamin. Translating the Message: The Missionary Impact on Culture. 2nd Ed. Orbis, 2009. ISBN: 978-1570758041, Pub. Price $30.00 [80 pp.].

Walls, Andrew F. The Missionary Movement in Christian History. Orbis, 1996. ISBN: 978-1570750595, Pub. Price $26.00 [55 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Video lectures, PowerPoint presentations,etc. [15 hours].
2. Read a minimum of 1,100 pages. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3 and 4] [60 hours].
3. Participate in weekly forum posts (250-300 words) reflecting on class material and weekly responses to classmates’ posts (150-200 words) (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3] [20 hours].
4. Keep a “Diary of Cultural Encounters.” Each week make a record of Christian cultural encounters that you have read about. Describe the encounters and evaluate briefly how the Gospel was adapted, or was not adapted to the new cultural context. (200-250 words/week). Turn in the “Diary” by the end of the day on the last Friday of the course (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and 3] [10 hours].
5. Primary Source Reflection Paper: Write a 4-5 page (250 wpp) paper analyzing a primary source document discussed in this course (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 5] [10 hours].
6. Signature Assignment: Write a 12-15 page (250 wpp) research paper on a topic that relates to the cross-cultural development of Christianity in a particular time (100-250 years), in a particular geographic region, related to 2 or more specific cultures. (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and 3] [45 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets core requirement in the MAICS (2017).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.