Fall 2017/Pasadena

PH522

Gutenson

PH522: PERSPECTIVES ON CHRIST AND CULTURE (4 Units: 160 Hours). Charles Gutenson.

DESCRIPTION: The church has long debated how Christians ought to relate to their cultural surroundings. This course will introduce students to a range of philosophical perspectives on how Christians ought to read, critique, transform, enjoy, and create culture.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of this course students will be able to (1) think and write confidently and critically about the philosophical nature and value of culture and cultural artifacts; (2) analyze, appreciate, and critique a variety of differing Christian philosophies of culture; (3) articulate a Christian hermeneutic of culture and cultural texts; (4) thoughtfully articulate a Christian approach to a specific sphere of culture (art, politics, economics, etc.) in the form of a final paper; and (5) articulate the relationship between theories and practices for sympathetic engagement with culture(s).

COURSE FORMAT: This is a hybrid+ course, meaning that it is a ten-week course with nine weeks of online instruction and one week of classroom instruction during week six of the quarter. The week of classroom instruction will include four hours daily of lecture and discussion, as well as additional lunch meetings and evening sessions (required in hybrid+ courses). Classroom and online instruction will include lecture and discussion for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: c. 1,250 total number of pages required.

Garber, Steven. The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief and Behavior. New expanded ed. InterVarsity Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0830833191, Pub. Price $18.00 [200 pp. assigned].

Hunter, James Davison. To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World. Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0199730803, Pub. Price $29.95 [170 pp. assigned].

Smith, James K. A. Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation. Baker Academic, 2009. ISBN: 978-0801035777, Pub. Price $22.99 [150 pp. assigned].

Vanhoozer, Kevin J., Charles A. Anderson, and Michael J. Sleasman. Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends. Baker Academic, 2007. ISBN: 978-0801031670, Pub. Price $26.99 [120 pp. assigned].

Yoder, John Howard. Body Politics. Herald Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0836191608, Pub. Price $14.99 [88 pp. assigned].

Online Course Reader of Selected Articles [300 pp. assigned].

Students will also choose ONE of the following parallel reading tracks (topics available include art, politics, economics, architecture and urban planning, work, and globalization):

Chaplin, Adrienne, and Hillary Brand. Art and Soul: Signposts for Christians in the Arts. InterVarsity Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0830826742, Pub. Price $34.00 [200 pp. assigned].

Goheen, Michael W and Erin Glanville, eds. The Gospel and Globalization. Regent College Publishing, 2009. ISBN: 978-1573834407, Pub. Price $29.95 [220 pp. assigned].

Goudzwaard, Bob. Capitalism and Progress: A Diagnosis of Western Society. Authentic Media, 1997. ISBN: 978-0853647706, Out of Print [280 pp. assigned].

Jacobsen, Erik O. Sidewalks in the Kingdom: New Urbanism and the Christian Faith. Brazos Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-1587430572, Pub. Price $22.00 [190 pp. assigned].

Keller, Timothy and Katherine Leary Alsdorf. Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work. Dutton, 2012. ISBN: 978-0525952701, Pub. Price $26.95 [260 pp. assigned].

Koyzis, David T. Political Visions and Illusions. InterVarsity Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0830827268, Pub. Price $25.00 [220 pp. assigned].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Instruction hours include video lectures, PowerPoint presentations, etc. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1,2,3,5] [40 hours, 20 hours online and 20 hours on campus].

  2. Five 250-word forum posts (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1,2,3,5] [5 hours].

  3. Five 250-word weekly forum responses (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1,2,3,5] [5 hours].

  4. Reading, 1,250 pages. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, and 3]. [80 hours].

  5. Final integration paper, 10 pages (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 3, 4, and 5] [25 hours].

  6. Final exam (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, and 5]. [5 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: Yes.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.