DESCRIPTION:

The doctrines of ecclesiology and eschatology will be treated with reference to their biblical, classical, and contemporary theological expressions. The course is intended to challenge students to develop their own understanding of the nature and life of the church, ministry, sacraments, death, resurrection, judgment, heaven and hell.

This course is designed to provide the student with an overview of principal doctrines of the Christian faith. Such knowledge is deemed essential to the ministry of preaching and teaching in the church of Christ and helpful in the daily living of the Christian life.

The course will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions and will consist of lectures (approximately three hours a week) and discussion (approximately one hour a week). Lectures will not cover the whole material that belongs to Systematic Theology III (and is listed in the above course description) but will rather concentrate on key eschatological problems. Discussion time is designated to help the students with comprehension of the reading materials, and will deal primarily with ecclesiological themes.

Bauckham, Richard. The Theology of the Book of Revelation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993 (160 pp.).

Grenz, S. J. Theology for the Community of God. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1994 (pp. 603-859).

Hauerwas, S. and W. Willimon. Resident Aliens. Nashville: Abingdon, 1989.

Moltmann, J. The Coming of God. San Francisco: Harper, 1996 (portions, approx. 250 pp.).

Volf, M. Trinity and Community. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997 (300 pp.).

_______. Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991, (pp. 88-122).

Balthasar, H. U. von. Dare We Hope "That All Men Be Saved"? San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1986.

Evans, James. We Have Been Believers. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992.

Hick, J. Death and Eternal Life. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1980.

Keller, Catherine. Apocalypse Now and Then. A Feminist Guide to the End of the World. Boston: Beacon Press, 1996.

Küng, H. The Church. Garden City: Doubleday, 1976.

Moltmann, J. Church in the Power of the Spirit. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1977.

Ratzinger, J. Principles of Catholic Theology: Building Stones for a Fundamental Theology. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1987.

Zizioulas, J. Being as Communion. Crestwood: St. Vladimir's Press, 1985.

Wallis, J. The Soul of Politics. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1994.

Short papers, midterm quiz, and a take-home final exam. In lieu of short papers and the midterm, students who have previously taken overview courses in Christian doctrine may write a research paper.

None.