Fuller Online
ST512: Winter 2008
ST512: THEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY AND THE
REVELATION OF GOD (4-units).
Ray S. Anderson, Senior Professor of Theology
and Ministry
DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to introduce students to the
nature of theological study, developing a structure of divine revelation as
fundamental to our knowledge of God as well as the human person. Central to the
course will be a unit on theological anthropology, showing how the true order
of humanity is determined by divine revelation, and then taking into
consideration practical matters of human existence such as male and female role
relationships, human sexuality, death and dying, and therapeutic approaches to
pastoral care.
RELEVANCE
FOR MINISTRY: The
course objectives are:
·
Application of theoretical course content to ministry situations will
take place through case-style exam questions.
·
Each question will provide an opportunity to create an appropriate
ministry response to a case situation, incorporating theological reflection.
·
This course will enable those in ministry to understand the theological
issues present in basic human questions about the reality of God, the authority
of Scripture, human sexuality, and the spiritual/psychical dynamics of the
human person.
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 with each other through journaling,
threaded discussions, live Internet “chats,” and web-based research. Lectures
for each lesson will be available online.
REQUIRED
·
Becker, Ernest. The Denial of Death.
Macmillan, Free Press, 1973, 285pp.
·
Anderson, Ray S. On Being Human:
Essays in Theological Anthropology. Eerdmans, 1982. Fuller Seminary
Reprint, 226pp.
·
Pinnock, et al. The Openness of God:
A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God. InterVarsity,
1994, 176pp.
·
Jinkins, Michael, Invitation to Theology, InterVarsity 2001, 260pp.
·
Bloesch, Donald, Holy Scripture: Revelation,
Inspiration and Interpretation, InterVarsity, 1994
·
Expanded Lecture Syllabus, available online
·
Essays by the Professor available online through
document sharing including: “Evangelical Theology,” “Natural Theology,” Narrative Hermeneutics,”
“Does God Allow Evil?” “Sexuality and Sin,” “Sin: The Third Dimension of Human
Spirituality.”
RECOMMENDED
·
Anderson, Ray S. The Shape of
Practical Theology. Fuller Seminary Press, 1999
·
Dorrien, Gary. The Remaking of
Evangelical Theology,
·
Jewett, Paul K. Who We Are: Our
Dignity as Human. Eerdmans, 1996
·
Jewett, Paul K. God, Creation and
Revelation. Eerdmans, 1991
·
Weber, Otto. Foundations of Dogmatics.
Vol. I
ASSIGNMENTS:
1.
Weekly threaded discussions (20%) and
journaling (10%).
2.
A reading list of books and pages read
for the course must be turned in with the final exam question.
3.
There will be no quizzes and no term papers.
A set of case-type exam questions will be available from the beginning
of the course, which will require essay-type answers. Students will select four
case questions on which to write, spread out over the ten-week course. These
essays should incorporate material from the assigned reading as well as from
the course lectures (70%).
PREREQUISITES:
None
RELATIONSHIP TO
CURRICULUM: This course fulfills the M.Div. core area STA;
MAT core ST/CH; MACL core ST; Ministry Focus Elective in MA in Global Leadership
program
FINAL
EXAMINATION: Take-home style exam.
Updated October 2007