DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide a theological understanding of Christian beliefs about revelation and Scripture, the triune God, creation and providence, human beings as the image of God, and the fall, evil, and sin. Corollary current issues, such as human beings as male and female, ecology, and the relationship of Christian faith to other religions will be discussed. On the basis of biblical and historical developments, a contemporary Evangelical theology will be constructed in dialogue with ecumenical, contextual/intercultural, and interreligious perspectives.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: An essential part of preparation for Christian ministry is to learn to think theologically through issues of faith and ministry.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a basic understanding of issues in their traditional and contemporary expressions; (2) an ability to reflect theologically upon the course topics; (3) skills towards developing one's own theology in critical dialogue with various views; (4) an acquaintance with a range of cultural and contextual matters that shape our understanding of theological issues; (5) an appreciation of ecumenical and cultural diversity.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will be conducted on the Internet using a 10-week lesson program aligned with Fuller's academic calendar. Each week, students and the instructor will interact with the material and each other through journaling, threaded discussions, and web-based research. Lectures for each lesson will be available online.

REQUIRED READING: 1,200 pages of reading required from the following texts:

Grenz, S.J. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000, pp. 1-242. ISBN: 9780802847553. Pub.price: $40.00.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. The Doctrine of God. Baker Academic, 2002. 301 pp. ISBN: 0801027527. Pub.price: $30.00.

Placher, W.C., ed. Essentials of Christian Theology. Westminster John Knox, 2003 (selected pages). ISBN: 9780664223953. Pub.price: $39.95.

Special topic, choose one:

Bacote, L.C., et al., ed. Evangelicals & Scripture: Tradition, Authority & Hermeneutics. InterVarsity Press, 2004. ISBN: 9780830827756. Pub.price $23.00.

Beilby, J.K. & P.R. Eddy. Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views. InterVarsity Press, 2001. 221 pp. ISBN: 9780830826520. Pub.price $20.00.

Bouma-Prediger, S. For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care. Baker Academic, 2001. 288 pp. ISBN: 9780801036958. Pub.price $24.99.

Fiddes, P. Participating in God: A Pastoral Doctrine of the Trinity. Westminster John Knox, 2001. 212 pp. ISBN: 9780664223359. Pub.price $29.95.

Jewett, P.K. & Shuster, M. Who We Are: Our Dignity as Human. Eerdmans, 1996. 501 pp. ISBN: 9780802840752. Pub.price $45.00.

McKim, D.K. The Bible in Theology & Preaching. Abingdon, 1985/Wipf & Stock, 1999. 245 pp. ISBN: 9781579102449. Pub.price $26.00.

Moltmann, J. The Trinity and the Kingdom: The Doctrine of God. SCM, 1991. 276 pp. ISBN: 9780800628253. Pub.price $23.00.

Murphy, N. Bodies and Souls or Spirited Bodies?, Cambridge, 2006. 164 pp. ISBN: 9780521676762. Pub.price $25.99.

Pinnock, C. Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God's Openness. Baker, 2001. 218 pp. ISBN: 9780801022906. Pub.price $ 22.00.

Sanders, J. The God Who Risks: A Theology of Providence. 2nd. ed. InterVarsity Press, 2007. 384 pp. ISBN: 9780830828371. Pub.price: $24.00.

Schwarz, H. Creation. Eerdmans, 2002. ISBN: 9780802860668. 266 pp. Pub.price $29.00.

Shuster, M. The Fall and Sin: What We Have Become as Sinners. Eerdmans, 2003. 292 pp. ISBN: 9780802809940. Pub.price $30.00.

Volf, M. Exclusion and Embrace, Abingdon, 1996. 336 pp. ISBN:9780687002825. Pub.price $28.00.

A contextual/intercultural/interreligious study (relevant sections) choose one:

Boff, L. Trinity and Society. Orbis, 1988. 288 pp. ISBN: 9781597521383. Pub.price $30.00.

Cone, J.H. God of the Oppressed. Orbis, 1997. 257 pp. ISBN: 9781570751585. Pub.price $20.00.

Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: An African American Systematic Theology. Fortress, 1992. 192 pp. ISBN: 9780800626723. Pub.price $20.00.

Gonzáles, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990. 186 pp. ISBN: 9780687230679. Pub.price $20.00.

Johnson, E. She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse. Continuum, 1992. 344 pp. ISBN: 9780824519254. Pub.price $29.95

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Trinity and Religious Pluralism. Ashgate, 2004. 197 pp. ISBN: 978754636465. Pub.price $29.95.

Kapolyo, J. M. The Human Condition: Christian Perspectives through African Eyes. InterVarsity Press, 2005. 170 pp. ISBN: 9780830833023. Pub.price $16.00.

McDermott, G. R. Can Evangelicals Learn from World Religions? InterVarsity Press, 2001.233 pp. ISBN: 9780830822744. Pub.price $18.00.

Parratt, J. Reinventing Christianity: African Theology Today. Eerdmans, 1995.228 pp. ISBN: 9780802841131. Pub.price $21.00.

Parsons, S.F., ed. The Cambridge Companion to Feminist Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2002. 288 pp. ISBN: 9780521663274. Pub.price $85.00.

Tennent, T.C. Christianity at the Religious Roundtable. Baker Academic, 2002. 270 pp. ISBN: 9780801026027. Pub.price $26.00.

1. Weekly threaded discussions (25%) and journaling, (10%)

2. 1,200 pages of required reading and reading responses, 10 pages (25%)

3. A research paper of 10 pages (40%)