Winter 2015/Pasadena
CH521
Marsden
CH521: EVANGELICALS AND AMERICAN CULTURE: PROPHETIC, WELL-ADJUSTED OR COMPROMISED? (4 Units: 165 hours). George Marsden.
DESCRIPTION: A critical analysis of contemporary evangelical engagement with American culture and its values in the light of historical perspectives. Evangelicalism has been a remarkably successful and resilient modern form of Christianity. One striking paradox associated with the movement’s success is that it has typically involved strong condemnations of some forms of modernity while almost uncritically embracing others. The question is whether American evangelicals have typically picked the right combinations of what to critique or embrace. We will consider this question regarding a variety of issues.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon the successful completion of this course, students should be able to (1) be better prepared to formulate principles regarding how normative Christian moral teachings ought to relate to prevailing cultural norms regarding a variety of issues; (2) become more alert to possible blind spots and inconsistencies in the ways American evangelicals relate to the surrounding secular culture; (3) be able to demonstrate that they are well-informed on how American evangelicals have related to mainstream cultural developments in various eras; (4) be able to demonstrate a well-informed understanding of the specific contemporary issues discussed; and (5) be better prepared to deal with contested issues in practical ministries.
COURSE FORMAT:This course will meet twice weekly for five weeks for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.
REQUIRED READING: approx. 1,000 pp. required reading.
Course Reader [approx. 200 pp.].
Marsden, George M. Fundamentalism and American Culture, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0195300475, Pub. Price $19.99 [262 pp. assigned].
Noll, Mark A. The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind. Eerdmans, 1995. ISBN: 978-0802841803, Pub. Price $25.00 [253 pp. assigned].
Wellman, James K, Jr. Evangelical vs. Liberal: The Clash of Christian Cultures in the Pacific Northwest. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0195300123, Pub. Price $26.95 [290 pp. assigned].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Approx. 1,000 pages [67 hrs.] of required reading. This includes approx. 800 pp. from the required books plus app. 200 pages of designated articles or essays from online or circulated on Moodle. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5 in that they provide some substantial basis for understanding how such issues have been engaged in the past and in recent time].
Directed Learning Activities – (10%)During the first 5 weeks of the term one required activity will be to find on-line essays (or the like) that are especially good examples of contrasting views regarding some topic or sub-topic in each of the categories listed below, specifically as these relate to evangelicals. Ideally each of the on-line items should be in the range of 500 to 1,000 words. Once there are enough posted, each student should write three 500 word interpretive papers over the course of the first five weeks. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-5 in that it provides opportunities to reflect how these issues are being engaged in current evangelical contexts] [10 hours].
Students are required to write three papers of app. 1,000 words each critically responding to each of the three required books (30%). These will be due no later than class time on the dates indicated, although students are urged to try to write one or more of these papers during the first five weeks. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-5 in that students are required to demonstrate how they can engage with the sorts of issues described in the learning outcomes] [18 hours].
A research essay of approx. 3,000 words on a topic or topics related to the course. This paper should involve research into the best current literature on the topic. (40%) This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-5 in that students are required to demonstrate how they can engage with the sorts of issues described in the learning outcomes] [35 hours].
A take-home final exam. (20%) The grade on this can be affected positively by good class participation and negatively by any unexcused lack of attendance. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-5 in that it will be another opportunity for students to demonstrate that they have studied the material and can engage the issues] [5 hours].
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH4 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes, take-home.