Spring 2018/Houston

HT504

Taylor

HT504: MODERN THEOLOGY IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT (4 Units: 160 hours). W. David O. Taylor.

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: 1200 total number of pages required

Grenz, Stanley and Roger E. Olson. 20th Century Theology: God & the World in a Transitional Age. Intervarsity Press, 1993. ISBN: 978-0830815258, Pub. Price. $28.00 [200 pgs.]

Plantinga, Richard J., Thomas R. Thompson, Matthew D. Lundberg. An Introduction to Christian Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0521690379, Pub. Price $36.99 [125 pp. assigned].

Wright, N. T. Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. HarperOne, 2008. ISBN: 978-0061551826, Pub. Price $24.99 [285 pgs.]

Essays and primary texts by historical and contemporary theologians on key topics of the course, such as the relation between Christian theology and modernity, the global church, contextual theologies, science and the arts, postmodernism, and ecumenism: including, for example, Chrysostom, Augustine, Tillich, Bonhoeffer, Barth, Rahner, von Balthasar, Pannenberg, Moltmann, John Paul II, Bultmann, Hick, de Lubac, Polkinghorne, Zizoulas, McFague, Fiorenza, Cone, Boff, Gutierrez, Ware, Bebbington, Viladesau, Saneh, Escobar, Adeyemo, Rin Ro. [590 pages.]

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Class attendance and participation. [This requirement is related to learning outcomes #1 and 3]. [30 hours].
  2. 1,200 pages of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & 3]. [78 hours].
  3. Two in-class presentations on course readings (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1]. [6 hours].
  4. A 1000-word paper bringing a topic of the course into conversation with an aspect of contemporary culture (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & #2]. [10 DLA hours].
  5. Four 500-word online responses to readings (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-3]. [12 hours].
  6. A research paper on a topic of the student’s choice within the course description parameters (2,000-2,500 words, 8-10 pp.) (45%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3]. [24 hours].

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.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.