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Instructor: Chris Wells The United Centre for Theological Studies Office: 2MS08 University of Winnipeg Phone: (204) 988-7685 Email: [email protected] Introduction to Theology GTHEO 7200 001/002 Winter 2015 (Jan 7 – Mar 31, 2016) The instructor may make minor corrections or changes before the first class. After the beginning of the class, the instructor and participants may mutually negotiate changes to the syllabus in order to better meet learning goals of the participants and their program. Location: TBD Meeting Times: Thursdays, 1-4pm. (except Feb 18 – Reading Week) Course Communication Platforms: This course will utilize Nexus and Cisco WebEx.1 Course Description: An introduction to the task and methods of theological thought in Christian churches. The major teachings of Christian theologians and churches will be examined. Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate familiarity with several key theological ideas, texts, and theologians from the 2nd century CE to the present. 2. Identify the purpose and tasks of the discipline of theology. 3. Show awareness of various methods of theology. 4. Demonstrate understanding of the contextual nature of theology. 1 Distance students will take part in the course using Cisco WebEx. If you have taken part in a webinar using WebEx, GoToMeeting, or similar products, you will have some familiarity with what this will be like. During class sessions, a high quality webcam will allow you to see and hear the instructor and other students meeting face to face in Winnipeg. Before you register, we ask that you contact the instructor or Sandy Peterson to make sure Cisco WebEx works with your computer and you are comfortable with using it to take a class. You will need to have a computer with a webcam so that other students can see and hear you. And you will need a high speed internet connection, which includes microwave connections in rural areas. If you have a PC, it should have an Intel Core2 Duo CPU 2.XX GHz or AMD processor, with 2 GB of RAM, and be running Windows XP, Vista, 7, or 8, or the latest version of Chrome or Firefox. Your computer will also need to have JavaScript and Cookies enabled and Active X enabled and unblocked for Microsoft Internet Explorer (recommended). If you have a Mac, it should have an Intel processor with 512 MB of RAM running Safari 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, or the latest version of Firefox or Chrome. It will also need to have JavaScript and Cookies enabled and Plug-ins enabled in Safari. If the last two paragraphs are Greek to you, either the instructor or Sandy Peterson will be glad to help you, or put you in contact with our Cisco WebEx experts at the University of Winnipeg, who would also be glad to help you. But the required test of the system before you register should identify and resolve any issues. 2 5. Show understanding of several types of critiques of theologies in various periods with special attention to the contemporary period, recognizing the influence of a theologian’s social location on their theology and discuss the ways their interpretation might legitimate or subvert structures of oppression. 6. Give expression to the journey of constructing and communicating (written and oral) a theology in both academic and creative forms. Student’s Learning Outcomes (add your own) 1. 2. Course Materials Beyond Textbooks: This course will utilize a UofW web-based course platform called Nexus. You are automatically put on the course site when you register for the course. Use the same user id and password that you use for WebAdvisor to log on to the course site. Readings not found in the textbooks are available here, and, if necessary, recordings of the class. Required Textbooks (should be available at University Bookstore) Anderson, William P. Introduced and Edited by. A Journey Through Christian Theology: With Texts from the First to the Twenty-First Century. Second Edition. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010. (JTCT) Budden, Chris. Following Jesus in Invaded Space: Doing Theology on Aboriginal Land. Princeton Theological Monograph Series. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2009. Sölle, Dorothee. Thinking About God: An Introduction to Theology. Trans. John Bowden. London: SCM Press, 1990. NB Other required readings will be available in electronic form on Nexus. (ON). Reading is required for the first class (see Schedule of Topics and Readings below) Recommended books: Hall, Douglas John. Thinking the Faith: Christian Theology in a North American Context. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1989. Migliore, Daniel L. Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004. Schweitzer, Don & Derek Simon. Ed. Intersecting Voices: Critical Theologies in a Land of Diversity. Ottawa: Novalis, 2004. Taylor, Mark Kline. Remembering Esperanza: A Cultural-Political Hermeneutic for North American Praxis. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1990. Assignments and Due Dates 1. Critical Book Review (Jan 28) 20% 3 2. Research Paper on a theological theme (1st Draft, Feb 23, Final Copy, Mar 31) 40% 3. Class Presentation on a theologian (various dates) 15% 4. Creative Reflective Piece (April 14- or in class) 10% 5. Informed Class Participation 15% 1. Critical Book Review of Dorothee Sölle’s Thinking About God: An Introduction to Theology. The review should be 5-7 pages in length and include the following: 1. A complete bibliographical citation of the book in Turabian/Chicago Style 2. Introductory statement; 3. Information about the author; 4. Statement of the purpose of the book; 5. Summary of content—this is an overview highlighting the main ideas and arguments employed by the author (page numbers in brackets may be used for quotes from the text rather than footnotes); 6. Critique--an assessment of the work in terms of its content and style, and an evaluation of its relevancy or usefulness in relation to the course topic. You should point out both positive and negative aspects of the book. The review should also set the book in the context of other writings on the subject; 7. Concluding statement. Numbers 1-5 should take up approximately ½ of the Review, with 6 and 7 making up the remainder. 2. Research Essay – 15 pgs. (double-spaced, New Times Roman 12pt font, including cover page, footnotes, and bibliography in Turabian/Chicago Style). Choose a theological theme and explore five diverse approaches to the theme. Diversity would include methodological and doctrinal approaches along with the gender and cultural identities of the authors. Diversity should also include both contemporary and historical expressions. How would you evaluate the various positions? Which do you find the most helpful in the constructive (or de- constructive) development of your own theology? Why? The Research Essay should include: 1. Evidence of thorough research (8-10 books and several articles, normally including the courses’ Required Textbooks and Recommended Readings). 2. Evidence of understanding, critical thought and originality. 3. Development of a thesis. 4. Must be related to the focus of the course. 5. Good organization, i.e., Intro, Body (with sections), and Conclusion. 6. Correct form: Title page, footnotes, bibliography (Chicago Style). 7. Proof read for grammatical and spelling errors. 4 DO NOT PLAGIARIZE: Plagiarism is a serious academic offence that consists of presenting either someone else’s actual words or someone else’s ideas as your own. REFERENCE YOUR SOURCES CONSISTENLY THROUGHOUT. 3. Class Presentation – ½ hour. Choose a theologian and present to the class an introduction to their life and work. Also, explain your response to their theology and how it informs and/or challenges your own theological deconstruction/construction. 4. Creative Reflective Piece – “Theology is…” and, “it is (or, is not) important today because…” – 5-10 pages. This may be a creative piece that after consultation with the instructor may be other than textual. 5. Informed Class Participation – students are expected to do the reading for each class and prepare at least one informed comment or question per class. Grade Scale Letter Numeric Letter Numeric Letter Numeric Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade A+ 95–100 B+ 78–80 C+ 68–70 A 84–94 B 71–77 C 60–67 A- 81–83 D 50–59 F below 50 Schedule of Topics and Readings Week 1: Theological Methods Guthrie, Jr., Shirley C. “Preface to Revised Edition” and “Who Is a Theologian?” Christian Doctrine. Louisville, KT: John Knox Press, Rev. ed., 1994, ix-xiv, 3-10. (Available on Google Books: http://books.google.ca/books?id=02phNXxfCkEC&printsec=frontcover&source= gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false ) Migliore, Daniel L. “Methods of Asking Theological Questions,” Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004, 16-19. Available on Nexus = ON. Selected readings from JTCT - Justin Martyr (100-165) 12-21; Tertullian (160-220) 28-33; Thomas of Aquinas (1225-1274) 166-173, 174; Karl Barth (1886-1968) 336- 340, 342-43; Paul Tillich (1886-1965) 343-348. (55 – approx. pages numbers) Week 2: Theology (God, The Trinity) – JTCT – Augustine of Hippo (354-430) 117-119, 126-128; Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) 150-155; Dorothee Sölle (1929-2003) Thinking About God, 171-195; Arius (250-330) Athanasius (295-373) & Creed of Nicea (325) 41-58; Gregory of Nyssa (330-395) 59-60, 73-78; Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1142) 182-185; ON Carter Heyward (1945-) 6pgs (64) Week 3: Christology (Person and Work of Jesus as the Messiah) – JTCT – Irenaeus of Lyon 5 (140-200) 21-28; Gregory of Nazianzus (329-389) 66-72; Leo the Great (d. 461) and Definition of Chalcedon (451) 105-113; Anselm of Canterbury, (1033-1109) 153, 54; Peter Abelard (1079-1142) 156-159; Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768-1834) 280-290; David Strauss (1808-1874) 295-300; Karl Rahner (1904-1984) 358-60; Rosemary Radford Ruether (1936-) 397-99.