Spring 2016/Pasadena

PH522

Mouw

PH522: PERSPECTIVES ON CHRIST AND CULTURE. (4 Units: 160 Hours). Richard Mouw.

DESCRIPTION: The Christian community has long debated the appropriate ways for Christians to relate to their cultural surroundings. This course will focus on some key perspectives, beginning with a critical examination of the motif made popular by H. Richard Niebuhr in his classic study, Christ and Culture. Special attention will be given to “cultural mandate” theories, as well as to the contemporary relevance of traditional notions of common grace, natural law, and general revelation as they have been used to discern created commonalities that undergird a plurality of cultures. The present-day interest in multiculturalism will also be explored.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of this course students will be able to (1) demonstrate a deeper understanding of the nature of “culture”; (2) analyze and critique contemporary culture from a theological and philosophical perspective; (3) demonstrate a deeper understanding of the relationship between a biblical worldview and interaction with the wider culture; (4) identify theological resources for an “epistemology of commonness” and bring them to bear on ministry contexts and Christian approaches to vocational work in culture; (5) demonstrate a deeper understanding of the complexities and tensions facing the Christian church in diverse and rapidly changing cultures and subcultures; (6) engage in theological reflection regarding possible theological responses to the wider culture; (7) graciously articulate the good news of the gospel of Christ in a multicultural, pluralistic society.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week 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. There will be weekly reading assignments.

REQUIRED READING: Approximately 1100 pages of required reading.

Brunner, Emil, and Karl Barth. Natural Theology: Comprising “Nature and Grace,” by Professor Dr. Emil Brunner, and the reply, “No,” by Dr. Karl Barth. Translated by P. Fraenkel. Wipf & Stock, 2002. ISBN: 978-1592441129, Pub. Price $17.00 [128 pp.].

Crouch, Andy. Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling. InterVarsity Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830833948, Pub. Price $16.30 [284 pp.].

Hauerwas, Stanley and William Willimon. Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony. Abingdon, 1989. ISBN: 978-0687361595, Pub. Price $18.00 [175 pp.].

Kuyper, Abraham. Lectures on Calvinism. Eerdmans, 1943. ISBN: 978-1602068407, Pub. Price $9.99 [200 pp.].

Mouw, Richard. When The Kings Come Marching In: Isaiah and the New Jerusalem. Eerdmans, 2002. ISBN: 978-0802839961, Pub. Price $15.00 [142 pp.].

Taylor, Charles. Multiculturalism: Examining the Politics of Recognition. Edited by Amy Gutmann. Princeton University Press, 1994. ISBN: 978-0691037790, Pub. Price $19.85 [175 pp.].

Course Reader [45 pp].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Carson, D. A. Christ and Culture Revisited. Eerdmans, 2008. ISBN: 978-0802831743, Pub. Price $16.50 [240 pp.].

Kraft, Charles. Christianity in Culture: A Study in Dynamic Biblical Theologizing in Cross-Cultural Perspective. Orbis, 1979. ISBN: 1570755880, Pub. Price $24.00 [344 pp.].

Mouw, Richard. He Shines in All That’s Fair: Culture and Common Grace. Eerdmans, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802821119, Pub. Price $15.50 [112 pp.].

Niebuhr, H. Richard. Christ and Culture. HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. ISBN: 978-0061300035, Pub. Price $15.99 [320 pp.].

Stassen, Glen, D. M. Yeager, and John Howard Yoder. Authentic Transformation: A New Vision of Christ and Culture. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687022731, Pub. Price $28.00 [300 pp.].

Vanhoozer, Kevin, Charles Anderson, and Michael Sleasman. Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends. Baker Academic, 2007. ISBN: 978-0801031670, Pub. Price $24.99 [288 pp.].

Van Til, Henry. The Calvinistic Concept of Culture. Baker Academic, 2001. ISBN: 978-0801022739, Pub. Price $26.00 [256 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 30 hours of in-class lecture and discussion [30 hours].

2. 1,149 pp. of required reading. [This assignment relates to all learning outcomes]. [75 hours].

3. Three Shorter Papers (approximately 1,000 words each) (45% total; 15% for each paper). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #3, #5, and #6]. [6 hours for each paper; 18 hours total].

4. A midterm test (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #2, and #3]. [10 hours].

5. Final Paper (2,000 words) (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #4, #5, #6, and #7]. [16 hours].

6. Group Presentation (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, #3, and #6] [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH5 or C2 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Option to meet the C2 requirement in the 80 MATM Programs (Fall 2015). Meets requirement in Philosophical Theology (PHIL) in the 144 MDiv and MAT (Winter 2010) Programs.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.