Winter 2018/Houston

HT502

Johnson

HT502: THE CHURCH’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHURCH, HUMANITY, AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN ITS HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT (4 Units: 160 hours). Richard O. Johnson

DESCRIPTION: HT502 is a survey largely of medieval and Reformation history and theology that focuses especially on the doctrines that received their crucial shape for Protestant Christians during this period. Among these are the doctrine of the church (including the authority and office of the ministry, sacraments, the place of councils, and the role of the laity), the doctrine of scripture (including the place of tradition), theological anthropology (including human nature as created and fallen, and original sin), and the doctrine of the Christian life (including the entire order of salvation—election, calling, faith, justification, sanctification, and final glory). Key figures to be studied include Aquinas, Luther, and Calvin.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who complete HT502 will demonstrate: (1) a basic historical and theological knowledge of the doctrines of the church, humanity, and the Christian life as those and other selected doctrines emerged especially in the medieval and Reformation church and developed to this day, (2) a basic competence in interpreting this history and theology and an ability to evaluate these theological issues and their historical development; and (3) a critical and sympathetic appreciation for the breadth, unity, and diversity of the Christian church.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet for four weekends (Friday evenings and Saturday mornings) 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: 1250 total number of pages assigned

Bettenson, Henry and Chris Maunder, eds. Documents of the Christian Church, 4th ed. Oxford, 2011. ISBN: 978-0199568987, Pub. Price $30.95 [70 pages assigned]]

González, Justo. The Story of Christianity: Vol. 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation. 2nd edition. HarperOne, 2010. ISBN: 978-0061855887, Pub. Price $27.99 [250 pp. assigned]

González, Justo L. The Story of Christianity Volume 2: The Reformation to the Present Day. 2nd ed. HarperOne, 2010. ISBN: 978-0061855894, Pub. Price $27.99 [140 pp. assigned]

Janz, Denis R. A Reformation Reader. 2nd edition. Fortress, 2008. ISBN: 978-0800663100, Pub. Price $49.00 [190 pages assigned]

McGrath, Alister E. Reformation Thought: An Introduction. 4th edition. Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. ISBN: 978-0470672815, Pub. Price $49.95 [180 pages assigned]

Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, and Matthew D. Lundberg. An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge, 2010. ISBN: 978-0521690379, Pub. Price $34.99 [280 pp. assigned]

Additional primary and secondary sources on e-reserve or online [140 pp.]

RECOMMENDED READING:

Capitani, Diane, and Melanie Baffes. Research and Writing in the Seminary: Practical Strategies and Tools. McFarland, 2014. ISBN: 978-0786478644, Pub. Price $36.00.

Hillerbrand, Hans J. The Division of Christendom: Christianity in the Sixteenth Century. Westminster John Knox Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0664224028, Pub. Price $50.00.

Payton, James R., Jr. Getting the Reformation Wrong: Correcting Some Misunderstandings. IVP Academic, 2010. ISBN: 978-0830838806, Pub. Price $23.00 [200 pages assigned]

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Classroom instruction (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 2] [30 hours].

2. Directed learning activities, consisting of online responses to prompts during the weeks the class does not meet (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and 3] [10 hours].

3. 1,250 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2 and 3] [80 hours].

4. Completion of three 2-page reflection essays (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [6 hours].

5. Two five-page analytical papers (40% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 2]. [29 hours]. [Please note: the second paper will be the signature assignment for this course; this will be explained in class.]

6. Final exam covering readings and lecture (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [5 hours, including preparation].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH2 or TH4 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MAT Programs (Fall 2015). Option to meet the TH2 requirement in the 80 MATM and 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015). Meets the CHB requirement in the 144 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.