Fall 2009/Pasadena
ST501
Kärkkäinen
ST501: SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY 1: THEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY. Veli-Matti
Kärkkäinen.
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;
current issues such as ecology and relation to other faiths will also be
discussed. On the basis of biblical and historical developments, a contemporary
Evangelical theology will be constructed in dialogue with ecumenical,
intercultural, and interreligious perspectives.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: An essential part of preparation for
Christian ministry is to learn to think theologically through issues of faith
and ministry.
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.
COURSE FORMAT: Meets twice weekly for two-hour sessions for lecture, discussion
& student presentations.
REQUIRED READING:
- *Dyrness, W. & Kärkkäinen, V.-M., eds., Global
Dictionary of Theology. InterVarsity, 2008 (sel. pp.).
- *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.
- Placher, W.C., ed. Essentials of Christian Theology. Westminster
John Knox, 2003, pp. 1-181, 297-328.
- Special topic, choose one:
- 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.
- Kärkkäinen, V.-M. The Trinity. Global Perspectives. WJKP,
2007 (relevant sections).
- McKim, D.K. The Bible in Theology & Preaching. Abingdon,
1985/Wipf & Stock, 1999.
- Moltmann, J. The Trinity and the Kingdom: The Doctrine of God. SCM,
1991.
- 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:
- 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.
- Johnson, E. She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological
Discourse. Continuum, 1992.
- 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.
- Tennent, T.C. Christianity at the Religious Roundtable. Baker
Academic, 2002.
- * = These books are required reading in all three systematics
courses taught by Dr. Kärkkäinen
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: (1) 1,200 pages of required reading and 15 pages
of critical reflections (40%). (2) A 10-page research paper (40%). (3)
Final project: "My theological statement," 5 pp. (20%).
PREREQUISITES: None. Yet, at least one course in biblical studies and in
historical theology/church history as well as philosophical theology are
strongly recommended
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Systematic Theology
"A" (STA).
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (7/09)