Spring 2012/Pasadena
ST501
Shuster
ST501: SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY 1: THEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY. Marguerite
Shuster.
DESCRIPTION: This is an introductory course on theology and anthropology,
including revelation and Scripture, the triune God, creation, providence, the
nature of humankind, the fall, and sin.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Understanding of the principal doctrines
of the Christian faith is vital to the church's preaching and teaching
ministry, as well as informing Christian living. Knowledge of traditional
central affirmations and contemporary options is especially important today
when scientific models bring challenges regarding God's relationship to the
created order and our identity as human beings.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will become familiar with the basic doctrinal loci
relating to revelation, the doctrine of God, and theological anthropology, that
they might know the classic components of these loci, see how they are related
to other aspects of Christian doctrine, and better understand what they believe
and why. Students will have explored a variety of theological options through
diverse reading choices, and they will be exposed to theologians from differing
cultural backgrounds, in order that they might appreciate how their own and
others' cultural location and theological orientation affect theological
formulations. Students will also be able to apply what they have learned to
common problems one encounters in ministry settings and in Christian living.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet for two hours twice a week for ten weeks for
lecture and discussion. The required reading is designed specifically to
address issues that receive lesser attention in lectures.
REQUIRED READING: Choose at least one:
- Bouma-Prediger, Steven. For the Beauty of the Earth. 2nd ed.
Baker, 2010. ISBN: 9780801036958. Pub.price: $25.00.
- Brown, C. That You May Believe. Wipf & Stock, 1996. ISBN:
9780965351744. Pub.price: $20.00.
- Keener, Craig. Miracles. Baker Academic, 2011. ISBN: 9780801039522.
Pub.price: $59.99 (selected portions).
- Van Till, Howard J., et al. Portraits of Creation: Biblical and
Scientific Perspectives on the World's Formation. Eerdmans, 1990. ISBN:
9780802804853. Pub.price: $29.00.
- Wink, Walter. The Powers that Be: Theology for a New Millennium.
Doubleday, 1999. ISBN: 9780385487528. Pub.price: $14.95; Or
Naming the Powers. Augsburg Fortress, 1984. ISBN: 9780800617868.
Pub.price: $22.00; Or Unmasking the Powers. Augsburg Fortress,
1993. ISBN: 9780800619022. Pub.price: $22.00.
- AND AT LEAST ONE:
- Gutiérrez, G. The God of Life. Orbis,
1991. ISBN: 9780883447604. Pub.price: $28.00.
- Or Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: An African-American
Systematic Theology. Fortress, 1992. ISBN: 9780800626723. Pub.price:
$20.00.
- Or Kitamori, K. Theology of the Pain of God. Wipf &
Stock, 2005. ISBN: 9781597522564 Pub.price: $17.60.
- Or Kapolyo, J. The Human Condition. InterVarsity Press, 2005.
OP, on reserve.
RECOMMENDED READING: (Many additional titles will be suggested.)
- Jewett, P. K. God, Creation, and Revelation. Wipf &
Stock, 2000. ISBN: 9781579105143. Pub.price: $36.00.
- __________. Who We Are: Our Dignity as Human. Eerdmans, 1996. ISBN:
9780802840752. Pub.price: $45.00.
- Shuster, Marguerite. The Fall and Sin: What We Have Become as
Sinners. Eerdmans, 2004. ISBN: 9780802809940. Pub.price: $30.00.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Option A: 1,500 pages of reading, selected from
required reading and recommended/reserve lists (30% including exam component).
Midterm exam (35%) and final exam (35% not including reading component). Option
B: 1,200 pages of reading (23%); midterm and final exams (35% total, not
including reading component) two papers, totaling 18-25 pp. (42% total).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv Systematic Theology "a" (STA); meets
MAT, MATM (2010 revision) requirement.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (January 2012)