Summer 2016/Fuller Live!

Houston and Pasadena

MR550

Woodberry

MR550: INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM (4 Units: 160 hours). J. Dudley Woodberry.

DESCRIPTION: A foundational course covering the emergence and development of Muslim faith and practice by journeying through Islam’s defining stages of development. The course will look at Islam’s main components both thematically as well as by an exploration of its varieties of expression. Students will be exposed both to the traditional Muslim narrative as well as the more academic critical contemporary narrative about Islam. Implications for Christians living and ministering among Muslims as well as the advancement of good Christian-Muslim relations will remain the driving concerns.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have (1) acquired an authentic insider’s understanding of Islam’s nature and method, as a basis for further specialized study and ministry; (2) been able to compare critically the traditional narrative of Islamic origins with more critical contemporary approaches; (3) overcome prejudices and assumptions resulting from misinformation today between Christians and Muslims globally; and (4) developed a faithful Biblical way to think about Islam and minister among Muslims.

COURSE FORMAT: This class is a two-week intensive that meets daily for four-hour sessions for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED READING: 1,100 pp. required. If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

Brown, Daniel W. A New Introduction to Islam. 2nd ed. Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. ISBN: 978-1405158077, Pub. Price $51.95 [300 pp. assigned].

Chapman, Colin. Cross and Crescent: Responding to the Challenge of Islam. InterVarsity Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830834853, Pub. Price $20.00 [350 pp. assigned].

Reynolds, Gabriel Said. The Emergence of Islam: Classical Traditions in Contemporary Perspective. Fortress Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0800698591, Pub. Price $39.00 [210 pp. assigned].

Woodberry, J. Dudley. Introduction to Islam Syllabus, with supplementary articles to be provided on paper or electronically [240 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Guillaume, Alfred. The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq’s Sīrat Rasūl Allah. Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0196360331, Pub. Price $45.00.

Kaskas, Safi and David Hungerford. The Qur’an with References to the Bible. Bridges of Reconciliation, 2016. ISBN: 978-0996592444, Pub. $30.00.

Kateregga, Badru D., and David W. Shenk. A Muslim and a Christian in Dialogue. Herald Press, 1980. ISBN: 978-0836190526, Pub. Price $14.99.

Woodberry, J. Dudley, ed. From Seed to Fruit: Global Trends, Fruitful Practices, and Emerging Issues among Muslims. 2nd ed. William Carey Library, 2011. ISBN: 978-0878080366, Pub. Price $20.99.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 40 hours of class time [40 hours].
2. 1,100 pages of required reading. Interact with each of the four volumes, noting some new insights, bridges, and barriers. Indicate how you might deal with them in your life and ministry among Muslims (each 15%, 60% total). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 and 2]. [20 hours average per volume for reading and writing, 80 hours total].
3. Signature Assignment: Write a 2,250-word paperin which you evaluate either: (a) a major historical or theological theme comparatively and critically between Islam and Christianity, or (b) one major Islamic school or sect in historical and theological perspective. In either case, you will need to reflect missiologically and suggest how bridges can be built between Christians and Muslims based on your study of the topic. The paper will need to demonstrate your ability to begin to make use of Muslim sources (such as the Qur’an, Hadīth, Sīra) in the way that a Muslim scholar would, while demonstrating a good grasp of some of the critical issues (40%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 & 4]. [40 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the C1 and C2 requirements in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets 144 MDiv core requirement in Missions (MIN 8). Meets globalization (GLBL) requirement for SOT MA programs. Required in Islamic Studies emphasis. Serves as a course substitute for MB501.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.