DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to provide a theological understanding of Christian beliefs about revelation and Scripture, the triune God, creation and providence, human beings as the image of God, and the fall, evil, and sin. Corollary current issues, such as human beings as male and female, ecology, and the relationship of Christian faith to other religions will be discussed. On the basis of biblical and historical developments, a contemporary Evangelical theology will be constructed in dialogue with ecumenical, contextual/intercultural, and interreligious perspectives.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have demonstrated (1) a basic understanding of issues in their traditional and contemporary expressions; (2) an ability to reflect theologically upon the course topics; (3) skills towards developing one's own theology in critical dialogue with various views; (4) an acquaintance with a range of cultural and contextual matters that shape our understanding of theological issues; (5) an appreciation of ecumenical and cultural diversity.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: An essential part of preparation for Christian ministry is to learn to think theologically through issues of faith and ministry.

COURSE FORMAT: Class meets weekly for 3-1/2 hours of lecture, discussion & student presentations.

REQUIRED READING:

Grenz, S.J. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000, pp. 1-242

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. The Doctrine of God. A Global Introduction. Baker, 2004.

_______. An Introduction to the Theology of Religions. InterVarsity Press, 2003 (relevant sections).

Placher, W.C. ed. Essentials of Christian Theology. Westminster John Knox, 2003, pp. 1-181, 297-328.

Special topic, choose one:

Bacote, L.C., et al., ed. Evangelicals & Scripture: Tradition, Authority & Hermeneutics. IVP, 2004.

Beilby, J.K. & P.R. Eddy. Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views. InterVarsity Press, 2001.

Bouma-Prediger, S. For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care. IVP, 2001.

Fiddes, P. Participating in God: A Pastoral Doctrine of the Trinity. Westminster John Knox, 2001.

Jewett, P.K. & Shuster, M. Who We Are: Our Dignity as Human. Eerdmans, 1996.

McKim, D.K. The Bible in Theology & Preaching. Abingdon, 1985/Wipf & Stock, 1999.

Murphy, N. Bodies and Souls, or Spirited Bodies? Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Pinnock, C. Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God's Openness. Baker, 2001.

Plantinga, A. Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin. Eerdmans, 1996.

Schwarz, H. Creation. Eerdmans, 2002.

Shuster, M. The Fall and Sin: What We Have Become as Sinners. Eerdmans, 2003.

Volf, M. Exclusion and Embrace. Abingdon, 1996.

A contextual/intercultural/interreligious study (relevant sections) choose one:

Barr, W.R. Constructive Christian Theology in the Worldwide Church. Eerdmans, 1997.

Boff, L. Trinity and Society. Orbis, 1988.

Cone, J.H. God of the Oppressed. Orbis, 1997.

Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: An African American Systematic Theology. Fortress, 1992.

Gonzáles, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990.

Kapolyo, J. M. The Human Condition: Christian Perspectives through African Eyes. IVP, 2005.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Trinity and Religious Pluralism. Ashgate, 2004.

McDermott, G. R. Can Evangelicals Learn from World Religions? InterVarsity Press, 2001.

Parratt, J. Reinventing Christianity: African Theology Today. Eerdmans, 1995.

Parsons, S.F., ed. The Cambridge Companion to Feminist Theology. Cambridge Univ. Press, 2002.

Tennent, T.C. Christianity at the Religious Roundtable. Baker Academic, 2002.