Winter 2019/Houston

PH522

Kaemingk

PH522: PERSPECTIVES ON CHRIST AND CULTURE (4 units: 160 hours). Matthew Kaemingk.

DESCRIPTION: The church has long debated how Christians ought to relate to their cultural surroundings. This course will introduce students to a range of philosophical perspectives on how Christians ought to read, critique, transform, enjoy, and create culture.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of this course students will be able to (1) think and write confidently and critically about the philosophical nature and value of culture and cultural artifacts; (2) analyze, appreciate, and critique a variety of differing Christian philosophies of culture; (3) articulate a Christian hermeneutic of culture and cultural texts; (4) thoughtfully articulate a Christian approach to a specific sphere of culture (art, politics, economics, etc.) in the form of a final paper; and (5) articulate the relationship between theories and practices for sympathetic engagement with culture(s).

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for 3.5 hour sessions for a total of 35 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 5 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: Approximately 1050 pages required.

Fujimura, Makoto. Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for our Common Life. InterVarsity Press, 2017. ISBN: 978-0830845033, Pub Price $17.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [150 pp.].

Rah, Soong-Chan. The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity. InterVarsity Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0830833603. Pub Price $18.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library. [200 pp.].

Smith, James K. A. How (Not) to be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor. Eerdmans, 2014. ISBN: 978-0802867612. Pub Price $16.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [150 pp.].

Stevenson, Leslie. Twelve Theories of Human Nature. Sixth Edition. Oxford University Press, 2012. ISBN: 0199859035, available as a used book [200 pp.].

Vanhoozer, Kevin J., Charles A. Anderson, and Michael J. Sleasman. Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends. Baker Academic, 2007. ISBN: 978-0801031670, Pub. Price $27.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [120 pp. assigned].

Students will also choose ONE of the following parallel reading tracks (topics available include art, politics, economics, architecture and urban planning, work, and globalization):

Chaplin, Adrienne, and Hillary Brand. Art and Soul: Signposts for Christians in the Arts. InterVarsity Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0830826742, Pub. Price $34.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [200 pp. assigned].

Jacobsen, Erik O. Sidewalks in the Kingdom: New Urbanism and the Christian Faith. Brazos Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-1587430572, Pub. Price $22.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [190 pp. assigned].

Hill, Wesley. Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality Updated and Expanded Edition. Zondervan, 2016. ISBN: 978-0310534198. Pub Price $16.99. [200 pp.].

Keller, Timothy and Katherine Leary Alsdorf. Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work. Dutton, 2012. ISBN:978-0525952701, Pub. Price $26.95. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [260 pp. assigned].

Koyzis, David T. Political Visions and Illusions. InterVarsity Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0830827268, Pub. Price $27.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [220 pp. assigned].

McNeil, Brenda Salter. Roadmap to Reconciliation: Moving Communities into Unity, Wholeness, and Justice. InterVarsity Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0830899234. Pub. Price $19.95. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [220 pp. assigned].

Marsh, Charles. The Beloved Community: How Faith Shapes Social Justice from the Civil Rights Movement to Today. Basic Books, 2006. ISBN: 978-0465044160. Pub Price $17.95. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library. [216 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

Instructional hours. Class time will be 50% lecture and 50% group discussion. [35 hours].
Reading, 1,050 pages. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4,5]. [70 hours].
Four class presentations (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4,5]. [10 hours].
Reflection Papers. Students will complete two (four page) reflection papers on specific readings) (25% of total grade). [This assignment is related to all learning outcomes]. [10 hours].
Final integration paper (15%). 10 pages long. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1,3,4,5]. [This assignment is related to all learning outcomes]. [20 hours].
Final exam (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1,2,3,5]. [15 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH5 or C2 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Option to meet the C2 requirement in the 80 MATM Program (Fall 2015). Meets PHIL in the 144 MDiv and MAT (Winter 2010) Programs.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.