MT501: La Teolog’a en Contextos Globales [Doing Theology in Global Contexts] (4 units)
Oscar Garcia-Johnson
Winter 2012 Pasadena / FullerLive!
DESCRIPTION:
This course provides a basic introduction to theological reflection as this has developed in various places and is currently emerging in multiple contexts. The goal is to provide the background and terminology necessary for students to begin exploring theology as an expanding conversation about the meaning of Scripture and the Christian life, that extends itself through history and around the world.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY:
This course provides the student with the opportunity to reflect on fundamental issues of the Christian faith and the witness of the Church in a variety of cultural contexts. The readings and assignments are designed to facilitate this kind of reflection from the point of view of a biblical and dynamic pastoral activity in multiple cultural, ecclesial, and theological contexts.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the course students will (1) recognize the basic terminology and structure of Christian theology; (2) be acquainted with a range of cultural and contextual matters that have shaped ecumenical, global, and cultural diversity in ChristiansŐ understanding of theology; (3) have acquired a foundational ability to develop, from the studentŐs own ethnic and cultural perspective, his/her own theology in critical dialogue with various views; and (4) have developed an awareness and appreciation for various spiritual traditions embedded in ethnic ministries.
COURSE FORMAT: This course will meet 10:00am-5:50pm (Houston time) on five Saturdays: Jan. 7, 21, Feb. 4, 18, March 3.
REQUIRED READING:
Davey, Andrew. Cristianismo urbano y globalizaci—n. Sal Terrae, 2003. 183 pp. ISBN: 84-293-1497-0. $30.00.
Foster, Richard. R’os de agua viva. Editorial Peniel, 2010. ISBN-13: 416 pp. ISBN-13: 978-987-557-233-1. $10 (Amazon.com).
Gonzalez, Justo. Breve historia de las doctrinas cristianas. Abingdon, 2007. 244 pp. ISBN-13: 978-0-687-49090-5. $20.00.
Rowland, Christopher, ed. La teolog’a de la liberaci—n. Cambridge University Press, 2000. 351 pp. ISBN: 84-8323-083-6. $18.00.
Course Reader: selected from a bibliography of global theological books and journal articles, provided in the course syllabus.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Bevans, Stephen, and Roger Schroeder. Teolog’a para la misi—n de hoy. Verbo Divino, 2009. 799 pp. ISBN: 978-84-8169-939-5, $32.00.
Garcia-Johnson, Oscar. The Mestizo/a Community of the Spirit: a Latino/a postmodern ecclesiology. Wipf & Stock. 2009. ISBN: 1556357192. $16.00.
Pieterse, Jan N. Globalization and Culture: Global Melange. Rowman & Littlefield, 2004. ISBN: 0742528022. $22.95.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Two 3-page critical/analytical book reviews (20%)
2. Two 3-page reviews comparing two (2) selected readings (scholarly articles in journals or chapters in books/anthologies), focusing in particular on the interplay of Western theological traditions with non-Western issues and perspectives. The articles or chapters chosen to compare should represent different regions, preferably not from the studentŐs own continent, language, or culture (30%)
3. A Group Project: a group presentation of an ethnic ministry/church with which the group got acquainted during the life-span of the course and that represents a geographic/linguistic/ cultural context, preferably non-Western (20% graded on the basis of peer review).
4. An 8- to 10-page reflection paper involving a theological articulation on doing theology from a transnational perspective, which should include a discussion, analysis, and contextual application of one of the loci of theology as that relates to a global motif of Christian theology (30%)
PREREQUISITES: Spanish.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets Seminary Core Requirement (SCR) for MATM, MACL, MAICS, and MAFS degrees (beginning Winter 2010); meets core competency for (pre 2010) MACCS degree.
FINAL EXAM: None.