Spring 2011/Pasadena
TH831/530
Loewen
TH831/530: KARL BARTH AND EVANGELICAL THEOLOGY: AN ECUMENICAL PERSPECTIVE.
Howard J. Loewen.
DESCRIPTION: This is a CATS doctoral seminar open to a limited number of
master's level students. It will involve a contextual study of the major
contours of Karl Barth's theology with a focus on selected themes and readings.
It will deal with the development of his theology, including an introduction to
Barth's life and thought, examination of his theological method, central themes
in his theology, critical response to Barth by representative evangelical
theologians, and the significance of his thought for evangelical and ecumenical
theology. Selected portions from Barth's Church Dogmatics and other
works will be discussed in class, dealing with revelation, the knowledge of
God, creation, reconciliation, ethics, ecclesiology, politics, and the
missio Dei.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Karl Barth was one of the most important
theologians of the 20th century. As a theologian of the church he responded to
the social and political realities of his generation. His theological works
continue to have an impact throughout the world on the lives and ministries of
thoughtful Christians who seek to understand him. This course is designed to
interpret the significance of Barth's theology for the evangelical and global
church today.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will
- gain a contextual understanding of the life and theological vision of Karl
Barth;
- be able understand and express Barth's basic theological method;
- gain an overview of Barth's dogmatic theology;
- research and develop an understanding of one aspect of Barth's theology in
depth;
- develop skills in reading Barth's theology critically and in articulating
their theological views;
- be able to interpret the significance of Barth's theology for the
evangelical and global church today.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet for lecture, student presentation/response
and critical discussion format once weekly for a three-hour session.
REQUIRED READING:
- Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics, 14 volumes. Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson, 2010. 9233 pages,
- ISBN: 9781598564426 (order for $99 from www.christianbook.com).
- Barth, Karl. Evangelical Theology: An Introduction. Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1992. 206 pages.
- ISBN: 9780802818195, Price: $20.
- Busch, Eberhard. Karl Barth: His Life from Letters and Autobiographical
Texts. Translated by John Bowden. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2005. 512
pages, ISBN: 9781597521697, Price: $60.
- Busch, Eberhard. The Great Passion: An Introduction to Karl Barth's
Theology. Translated by Geoffrey Bromiley. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.
301 pages, ISBN: 9780802848932, Price: $30.
- Chung, Paul S. Karl Barth: God's Word in Action. Eugene, OR: Cascade
Books, 2008. Selected portions. 110 pages, ISBN: 9781556355271, Price: $55.
- Chung, Sung Wook, ed. Karl Barth and Evangelical Theology: Convergences
and Divergences. Baker, 2006. 282 pages, ISBN: 9780801031274, Price: $32.
- Mangina, Joseph L. Karl Barth: Theologian of Christian Witness.
Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 2004. 200 pages, ISBN: 9780664228934, Price:
$29.95.
- McCormack, Bruce L. Karl Barth's Critically Realistic Dialectical
Theology: Its Genesis and Development 1909-1936. Oxford University Press,
1997. Selected portions, 325 pages, ISBN: 9780198269564, Price: $99.
- Webster, John, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth. Cambridge
University Press, 2000. 306 pages, ISBN: 9780521585606, Price: $33.99.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Students will be required to
- do a careful reading of the required texts prior to each class and
participate actively in class discussion;
- provide a written report and presentation on the day's reading and
facilitate the class discussion on the assigned reading.
- write a research paper (about 25-30 pages) on a topic chosen in
consultation with the professor.
- Final grades will be earned according to the following formula:
regular attendance and participation, 10%; class preparation and presentation,
30%; and the research paper, 60%. Requirements will be adjusted appropriately
for master's level students.
PREREQUISITES: This seminar is designed for PhD and ThM students. Advanced MDiv
or MA students must have permission of the professor and at least two of the
following courses: ST501/502/503 and/or CH501/503/505.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective for master's students.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (February 2011)