Winter 2019/Pasadena

ET863/552

Kim

ET863/ 552: THEOLOGY IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE (6 Units: 374 hours/ 4 Units: 160 hours). Dr. Sebastian Kim.

DESCRIPTION: This seminar examines the nature, rationale and methodologies of public theology by exploring appropriate public engagement of theology in contemporary society. It employs biblical, historical, theological and socio-political methodologies to examine theoretical considerations and practical engagement of Christian churches in the public sphere. It will develop a definition of public theology as critical, reflective and reasoned engagement of theology in the wider society. Topics to be covered include the following: biblical and theological concepts of the public sphere; public theology in Christian tradition; methodologies of public theology; issues of public theology including Christian peace-making, ecological crisis, economic justice, and secular politics.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of this seminar students will be able to (1) reflect biblically and theologically on the engagement of theology in the public sphere; (2) Discuss the methodology of public theology with reference to specific contexts and academic disciplines; (3) demonstrate a critical awareness of the application of Christian theology to particular issues in the socio-political, cultural, and economic spheres; and (4) apply skills of critical interpretation and analysis to various public issues relating to Christian theology.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction in the form of lectures and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours.

REQUIRED READING: 3,000 pp. / 1,650 pp. of reading is required.

Benne, Robert. The Paradoxical Vision: A Public Theology for the Twenty-first Century. Fortress Press, 1995. ISBN: 978-0800627942, Pub. Price $22.00 (available in the library) [230 pp. assigned].

Cady, Linell E. Religion, Theology, and American Public Life. SUNY, 1993. ISBN: 978-0791413043, Pub. Price $31.95 (available in the library) [170 pp. assigned].

Graham, Elaine. Between A Rock and A Hard Place: Public Theology in a Post-Secular Age. SCM Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0334045984, Pub. Price $88.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [200 pp. assigned].

Hollenbach, David. The Global Face of Public Faith: Politics, Human Rights, and Christian Ethics. Georgetown University Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0878401390, Pub. Price $34.95 (available in the library) [260 pp. assigned].

Kim, Sebastian. Theology in the Public Sphere. SCM Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0334043775, Pub. Price $64.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [230 pp. assigned].

Kim, Sebastian. “Je suis Charlie? Reflections on the Public Demonstrations against the Attacks in Paris”, International Journal of Public Theology, 10/3 (2016), 381-396 [15 pp. assigned].

Kim, Sebastian. “The Controversy over Minarets in Switzerland: Cosmopolitanism and Religious Symbols in the Public Sphere”, in Maria Rovisco & Sebastian Kim, eds. Cosmopolitanism, Religion, and the Public Sphere. Routledge, 2014, 45-59. ISBN:978-0415819381, Pub. Price $20.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [15 pp. assigned].

Kim, Sebastian. “Religious Conversion and Law in India: Controversy over the ‘Freedom of Religion’ Acts” in Christine Lienemann-Perrin and Wlfgang Lienemann, eds. Crossing Religious Borders: Studies on Conversion and Religious Belonging. Harrassowitz Verlag, 2012, 693-718. ISBN:978-3447067959, 693-718. Pub. Price. $78.00 [25 pp. assigned].

Stackhouse, Max L. Public Theology and Political Economy: Christian Stewardship in Modern Society. University Press of America, 1991. ISBN: 978-0819183019, Pub. Price $58.99 (available in the library) [200 pp. assigned].

Valentin, Benjamin. Mapping Public Theology: Beyond Culture, Identity, and Difference. Continuum, 2002. ISBN:978-1563383915, Pub. Price $63.00 (available in the library) [140 pp. assigned].

Williams, Rowan. Faith in the Public Square. Bloomsbury, 2012. ISBN: 978-1408187586, Pub. Price $29.95 (available in the library) [160 pp. assigned].

Selected articles from the International Journal of Public Theology (available as an e-journal from the Fuller Library) [350 pages Required for ET863; Recommended for ET552].

D'Costa, Gavin, Theology in the Public Square: Church, Academy and Nation. Blackwell, 2005. ISBN: 978-1405135108, Pub. Price $55.95. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [200 pp. Required for ET863; Recommended for ET552].

Kim, Sebastian & Katie Day, eds. A Companion to Public Theology. Brill, 2017. ISBN: 978-9004336056, Pub. Price $172.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library. [486 pp. Required for ET863; Recommended for ET552].

Storrar, William and Andrew Morton, eds. Public Theology for the 21st Century. T & T Clark, 2004. ISBN: 978-0567088925, Pub. Price $80.95 (available in the library) [200 pp. Required for ET863; Recommended for ET552].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bacote, Vincent E. The Spirit in Public Theology: Appropriating the Legacy of Abraham Kuyper. Wipf & Stock, 2010. ISBN: 978-1608999965, Pub. Price $22.00 (available in the library).

de Gruchy, John. Christianity and Democracy: A Theology for a Just World Order. CUP, 1995. ISBN: 978-0521458412, Pub. Price $43.99. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Forrester, Duncan. Christian Justice and Public Policy. CUP, 1997. ISBN: 978-0521556118, Pub. Price $57.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library.

Hainsworth, Deirdre K. and Scott R. Paeth, eds. Public Theology for a Global Society. Eerdmans, 2010. ISBN: 978-0802865076. Pub. Price $45.00 (available in the library).

Mathewes, Charles. A Theology of Public Life. CUP, 2007. ISBN: 978-0521539906, Pub. Price $57.99 (available in the library).

Moltmann, Jürgen. God for a Secular Society: The Public Relevance of Theology. SCM Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0800631840, Pub. Price $23.00 (available in the library).

Mouw, Richard J. Adventures in Evangelical Civility: A Lifelong Quest for Common Ground. Brazos Press, 2016. ISBN: 978-1587433917, Pub. Price $28.00 (available in the library).

Storkey, Alan. Jesus and Politics: Confronting the Powers. Baker Academic, 2005. ISBN: 978-0801027840, Pub. Price $30.00 (available in the library).

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

At the 800 level

  1. Attend all seminar sessions, prepared to analyze the readings of the day. 3,000 pages of assigned reading (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-3]. [194 hours of SLT].
  2. Prepare and present five short papers (4 pages, double spaced): (a) two short papers engaging with the readings and discussions for particular days; (b) a public statement on any public issue (immigration, “Black Lives Matter”, gun violence, conflict in the Middle East”, etc.); (c) a paper on a topic relating to public theology chosen from five case studies (introduced at the beginning of the seminar); (d) an annotated definition of public theology for the student’s own context to be presented at the last seminar (50%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4]. [24 hours + 86 hours of other DLAs].
  3. A term paper (around 6,000 words) on a selected topic either (1) discussing a public theologian or a movement; or (2) reflecting on a public issue from the perspective of public theology; or (3) developing public theology in a particular context. Further explanation will be given at the beginning of the seminar (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4] [70 hours of SLT].

At the 500 level

  1. 1,650 pages of reading required (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-3]. [86 hours + 4 hours of DLAs = 90 hours].
  1. Three short reflection papers on topics selected from 800-level requirement #2 above (4 pages, double spaced) (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4]. [16 hours, including 10 hours of DLAs].
  2. Final Paper (3,000 words): theological reflection on a public issue (60%). Further explanation will be given at the beginning of the seminar [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-4] [24 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH5 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

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.