Winter 2014/Pasadena
CH555
Marsden
CH555: AMERICAN EVANGELICALISM AND FUNDAMENTALISM. George Marsden.
DESCRIPTION: This course provides an opportunity to study the development of Protestant evangelicalism in America with particular emphasis on fundamentalism and its near relations. It will first broadly survey how transatlantic evangelicalism took root in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century America, looking at how evangelical versions of Christianity influenced the culture and at how the American cultural setting helped shape the religious movement. The focus will then turn to the religious crisis of the late nineteenth century and the rise of fundamentalism, Pentecostalism, and related movements. Finally, the course will deal with the new evangelicalism (including the early Fuller Theological Seminary) after World War II, the continuance of fundamentalism, the rise of the religious right, and the varieties of evangelicalism in recent decades.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Understanding how evangelicalism has developed in its American cultural context can be of great value in gaining perspective for evangelical ministry, especially in an American setting. American developments have often set precedents for developments in other nations and so can be useful for ministries in such settings as well. We will also be discussing a number of significant practical and theoretical questions regarding theology, thought, science, culture, the church, practical ministries, ethics, politics, social issues, and the like.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of the course, students will have demonstrated (1) familiarity with the history of evangelicalism particularly in its American cultural settings; and (2) perspective in addressing the sorts of questions mentioned above.
COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet twice weekly for three-hour sessions, during the latter five weeks of the Winter term. Most of the class time will be devoted to discussion of assigned readings and other materials.
REQUIRED READING:
Dochuk, Darren. From Bible Belt to Sun Belt: Plain-folk Religion, Grassroots Politics, and the Rise of Evangelical Conservatism. Norton. 2011. ISBN: 978-0393339048, Pub. Price $12.30 [300 pp. assigned].
Jay Riley Case. An Unpredictable Gospel: American Evangelicals and World Christianity 1812-1920. Oxford University Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0199772315, Pub. Price $22.95 [200 pp. assigned].
Marsden, George. A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards. Eerdmans, 2008. ISBN: 978-0802802200, Pub. Price $17.00 [140 pp.].
_________ Reforming Fundamentalism: Fuller Seminary and the New Evangelicalism. Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN: 978-0802808707, Pub. Price $35.50 [300 pp. assigned].
Noll, Mark. The Old Religion in a New World. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802849489, Pub. Price $28.00 [180 pp. assigned].
Course reader containing articles provided as PDFs [150-200 pp.]
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: During the first five weeks of the Winter term students will be expected to have completed the reading of the assigned portions of the above books. On each class day students will be expected to report, on an honor system, how much of the assigned reading for that day they have completed conscientiously.
Students will be required to write a paper of about 10 pages (3,000 words), reflecting on the themes and interpretations of these readings, particularly in the books by Case and Dochuk. [See syllabus for details]. This paper will count for one third of the final grade.
There will be a take-home final exam. The final exam will count for two-thirds of the final grade, but the grade will take into account factors such as class attendance and participation and evidence of having completed the assignments.
Class attendance is required.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAM: Yes.