Spring 2003/Pasadena
ST523
Kärkkäinen
ST523: THEOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF RELIGIOUS PLURALITY. Veli-Matti
Kärkkäinen.
DESCRIPTION:
- Religious pluralism is the most significant challenge facing
Christian theology and faith in the third millennium. Technically known as
"theology of religions," this course introduces the student to various
approaches to the issue of pluralism. After tracing the biblical and historical
developments, the main focus will be placed on a critical interaction with
current pluralistic theologies. Then mainline Protestant and Evangelical
responses to pluralism will be studied with a view to constructing a
responsible theology of religion.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- No Christian theologian, let alone minister or missionary, can
afford to ignore a careful consideration of the challenges of other religions
to Christianity, whether one works in his/her own context or overseas. This
course helps the student to sort out various alternatives and begin to think
theologically about one's own convictions regarding the truth claims of
Christianity and its mission.
COURSE FORMAT:
- The class will meet once a week for three hours of lecture,
discussion, and student presentations.
REQUIRED READING:
- Hick, J. A Christian Theology of Religions: The Rainbow of
Faiths. Westminster Press, 1995.
- Kärkkäinen, V.-M. An Introduction to Theology of
Religions. InterVarsity Press, 2003 (photocopy).
- __________. Theology of Religions selected essays (photocopy).
- Netland, H. Encountering Religious Pluralism: The Challenge to Christian
Faith and Mission. InterVarsity Press, 2001.
- Pinnock, C. A Wideness in God's Mercy. Zondervan, 1992.
- Select one (the student may also suggest his/her own proposal to be
accepted by the professor):
- Cordua, W. Tapestry of Faiths: The Common Threads
Between Christianity & World Religions. InterVarsity Press, 2002.
- Heim, M. S. The Depth of the Riches: A Trinitarian Theology of Religious
Ends. Eerdmans, 2001.
- McDermott, G. R. Can Evangelicals Learn From World Religions?
InterVarsity Press, 2001.
- D'Costa, G. Trinity and Meeting of Religions. Orbis, 2000.
- Ramachandra, V. The Recovery of Mission: Beyond the Pluralist
Paradigm. Paternoster, 1996
- Stackhouse, J., ed. No Other Gods before Me? Evangelicals and the
Challenge of World Religions. Baker, 2001.
- Tennett, T. C. Christianity at the Religious Roundtable. Baker,
2002.
- Yong, A. Beyond the Impasse: Toward a Pneumatological Theology of
Religions. Baker, 2003.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Clendenin, D. B. Many Gods, Many Lords: Christianity Encounters
World Religions. Baker, 1995.
- Copeland, E. L. A New Meeting of the Religions: Interreligious
Relationships and Theological Questioning. Baylor University Press, 2001.
- Dupuis, J. Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism.
Orbis, 1997.
- Fredericks, J. L. Faith Among Faiths: Christian Theology &
Non-Christian Religions. Paulist, 1999.
- Knitter, P. Introducing Theologies of Religions. Orbis, 2002.
- Ramachandra, V. The Scandal of Jesus. InterVarsity Press, 2001.
- Shenk, W. Who Do You Say That I AM? Christians Encounter Other
Religions. Herald Press, 1997.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- (1) About 1,200 pages of required reading. (2) Reading responses:
about 15 pages. (3) A research paper, 10 pages. (4) Student presentations in
the class.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the requirement in Globalization (GLBL) for
M.A. degrees.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.