Winter 2012/Pasadena
PH530
Murphy
PH530: ANGLO-AMERICAN POSTMODERNITY. Nancey Murphy.
DESCRIPTION: The term `postmodern' is used in a variety of ways: to refer to
developments in art and architecture, in contemporary culture generally, in
Continental philosophy, and in English-language (Anglo-American) philosophy.
This course focuses on the last of these--radical changes in philosophical
views of knowledge, language, human nature, and causation. The thesis of the
course is that the modern worldview, as reflected in modern philosophy, was
inhospitable to Christian faith and practice; thus these postmodern
developments offer exciting opportunities for new approaches in theology,
biblical studies, Christian ethics, apologetics.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: American Protestantism has long been
sharply divided between liberal and conservative, and more recently by modern
versus postmodern agendas. This course aims to help students understand the
sources of these divisions so as to be able better to minister to Christians on
other sides of these divides.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Knowledge: to increase students' knowledge of recent
Anglo-American philosophy and to see its relevance to the theological task,
broadly construed. Skills: to increase skills in critical thinking and academic
writing. Attitudes: to increase understanding of and appreciation for scholars
and church members whose views and emphases differ from one's own.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions, mostly
lecture, but with sessions for small group discussion.
REQUIRED READING:
- Kallenberg, Brad. Live to Tell: Evangelism for a Postmodern
Age. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2002 (ISBN: 1-58743-050-9; 138 pgs; $16.00).
- Knight, Kelvin, ed. The MacIntyre Reader. Notre Dame, 1998 (ISBN:
0-7456-1975-4; 300 pgs; $21.37).
- Gibbs, Eddie, and Ryan Bolger. Emerging Churches. Baker, 2005 (ISBN:
0-8010-2715-2; 345 pgs; $19.99).
- Murphy, Nancey. Anglo-American Postmodernity: Philosophical Perspectives
on Science, Religion, and Ethics. Boulder, CO: Westview, 1997 (ISBN:
0-8133-2869-1; 288 pgs; $14.99).
- _______. Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism: How Modern and Postmodern
Philosophy Set the Theological Agenda. Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press
International, 1996 (ISBN: 1-56338-176-1; 162 pgs; $34.95).
- Placher, William. Unapologetic Theology: A Christian Voice in a
Pluralistic Conversation. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1989 (ISBN:
0-664-25064-5; 178 pgs; $29.95).
- Course reader.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Regular attendance at lectures and participation
in small-group discussion. Two 10-12-page (3000-3600 word) papers. Suggested
paper topics will be provided. Include a cover page with the name and number of
the course and professor. The first paper is worth 40% of the grade; the second
45%. In large measure, the papers will assess the student's reading and
comprehension of the assigned texts. In addition, there will be short written
assignments preparatory to small-group discussions (250 words each) together
worth 15%. Students taking the course pass/fail are expected to complete all
written assignments.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in philosophy
(PHIL).
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (October 2011)