Spring 2016/Sacramento
HT504
Beck
HT504: MODERN THEOLOGY IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT (4 Units: 166 hours). T. David Beck
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 class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.
REQUIRED READING: 1,100 total number of pages required
Texts to be procured by students:
Olson, Roger. The Journey of Modern Theology: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction. InterVarsity Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-8308-4021-2, Pub. Price $40.00 [161 pp. assigned].
Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, Matthew D. Lundberg. An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge, 2010. ISBN: 978-0521690379, Pub. Price $32.99 [181 pp. assigned].
Schwarz, Hans, Eschatology. Eerdmans, 2000. ISBN: 978-0-8028-4733-1, Pub. Price $35.00 [217 pp. assigned].
Available online:
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) [approx. 17 pp. assigned].
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). [17 pp. assigned].
Available on eReserves:
Charry, Ellen. By the Renewing of Your Minds. Oxford, 1997. ISBN: 9780195134865, Pub. Price $33.95 [32 pp. assigned].
W. Dyrness and V.-M. Kärkkäinen, eds. Global Dictionary of Theology. InterVarsity Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-8308-2454-0, Pub. Price $55.00 [8 pp. assigned].
V.-M. Kärkkäinen. Christ and Reconciliation: A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World, vol. 1. Eerdmans, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-8028-6853-4, Pub. Price $40.00 [32 pp. assigned].
Kelly, J.N.D. Early Christian Doctrines, rev. ed. Harper One, 1978. ISBN: 978-0060643348, Pub. Price $17.99 [40 pp. assigned].
Moltmann, Jürgen. The Coming of God: Christian Eschatology. Augsburg Books, 2004. ISBN: 978-0800636661, Pub. Price $25.00 [26 pp. assigned].
Schwarz, Hans, Theology in a Global Context: The Last Two Hundred Years. Eerdmans, 2005. ISBN: 978-0-8028-2986-3, Pub. Price $42.00 [32 pp. assigned].
The remainder of the required reading will come from interacting with one text in each category below:
Focus on Contemporary Theological Movements. Students will choose ONE of the following texts:
Barr, W.R. Constructive Christian Theology in the Worldwide Church. Eerdmans, 1997. ISBN: 978-0802841438. Pub. Price: $39.00 [553 pp.].
Coakley, Sarah. God, Sexuality, and the Self: An Essay ‘On the Trinity’. Cambridge, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-521-55826-6, Pub. Price $29.99 [384 pp.].
Cone, J.H. A Black Theology of Liberation. 2nd ed. Orbis, 1986. ISBN: 9780883446850. Pub. Price $22.00 [200 pp.].
González, Justo. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990. ISBN: 978-0687230679, Pub. Price $20.00 [184 pp.].
Lee, Sang Hyun. From a Liminal Place: An Asian American Theology. Fortress, 2010. ISBN-10: 0800696689, Pub. Price $19.89 [200 pp.].
Smith, James K. A. Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation. Baker, 2009. ISBN: 9780801035777, Pub. Price $22.99 [240 pp.].
Volf, Miroslav. A Public Faith. Baker, 2013. ISBN: 9781587433436, Pub. Price $18.99 [192 pp.]
Yong, A. Beyond the Impasse: Toward a Pneumatological Theology of Religions. Baker, 2003. ISBN: 978-0801026126. Pub. Price $39.98 [208 pp.].
Focus on Eschatology. Students will choose ONE of the following texts:
Coward, Harold, ed. Life After Death in World Religions. OrbisBooks, 1997. ISBN-10: 1570751196. Pub. Price $16.11. [131 pp.].
Fudge, E.W. & Peterson, R.A. Two Views of Hell. InterVarsity Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0830822553, Pub. Price $17.00 [228 pp.].
Moltmann, Jürgen. The Coming of God: Christian Eschatology. Augsburg Books, 2004. ISBN: 978-0800636661, Pub. Price $25.00 [412 pp.].
Pannenberg, Wolfhart. Systematic Theology, Vol. 3. Eerdmans, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802864567, Pub. Price $55.00 [729 pp.].
Parry, Robin, and Chris Partridge, eds. Universal Salvation: The Current Debate. Eerdmans, 2004. ISBN: 978-0802827640. Pub. Price: $28.00 [319 pp.].
Walls, Jerry L. Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. Brazos, 2015. ISBN: 978-1-58743-356-6, Pub. Price $19.99 [240 pp.].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
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.