TH 530A: Introduction to God and Theological Reflection
Allen G. Jorgenson and Marge Watters Knebel
Fall, 2013
Tuesdays: 13:00 – 15:50
ajorgenson@wlu.ca /519 884 0710 ext 3619
Office hours: Monday to Thursday 9:00 to noon or by appointment
mwattersknebel@wlu.ca
Office hours: by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
St. Anselm described the task of theology as fides quaerens intellectum (faith seeking
understanding). For him, such a description implies two distinguished, yet
inseparable conditions. First, we are wholly immersed in a relationship with God
given us in Christ. Second, our thinking about this relationship and its cosmic
consequences are always inadequate and ever need of constant evaluation and
revision. In this course we will consider and explore these as we consider the
themes of God and Theological Reflection in an ecumenical and inter-faith age.
COURSE FORMAT:
The course will meet over 12 sessions.
REQUIRED READING:
Diarmid MacCulloch. Christianity: The First 3000 years. (Penguin, 2010).
Dorothee Sölle. Thinking About God: An Introduction to Theology. (Trinity, 1990).
OR Douglas John Hall, The Cross in our Context. (Fortress, 2003)
Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite and Mary Potter Engel (eds). Lift Every Voice. Revised
ed. (Orbis, 2004).
W. Oxtoby and A. Segal. A Concise Introduction to World Religions 2nd Ed.
(Oxford, 2012).
Select readings on MyLearningSpace.
Course
Term and Year
Page 2
ASSIGNMENTS:
The following means will be used for both assessing students and determining
how the class is proceeding:
Holy Scriptures: In this 1000 word essay you will explain your understanding
of the role that sacred texts play in the life of the faithful. This essay is worth
5% of the final grade and is due session three.
The nature of God: In this 1000 word essay you will explain your
understanding of God drawing upon sources such as sacred texts, reason, and
experience (both communal and individual). This essay is worth 20% of the
final grade and is due session five.
Romero and Williams: In this 1000 word essay you will utilize a theological
method explored in class in order to comment on and critique two sermons;
one given by Oscar Romero and the other by Rowan Williams. This essay is
worth 20% of the final grade and is due session nine.
Analytic Essay: In this 1000 word essay you will analyze one theme discussed
in two of the primary sources found on MLS. This essay is worth 20% of the
final grade and is due session eleven.
Creation: In this final project you will choose one of the following in order to
address the intersection of the themes of theology, creation and creativity:
1. Write a short historical research paper of 6-8 pages.
2. Write a constructive theological paper of 6-8 pages.
3. Create a project utilizing the arts, and submit a 2-3 page theologically
informed explanation of the project. This project is worth 30 % of the final
grade and is due December 5.
Additionally, you will receive a participation grade worth 5 % of your final
mark.
FINAL EXAMINATION:
There is no final exam in this course.
Course
Term and Year
Page 3
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
This course fulfills serves as a core course for the MDiv and MA degrees.
PREREQUISITES:
There are no prerequisites for this course.
COURSE OUTCOMES
By the end of the course the student who successfully completes the course will be
able to
Articulate significant moments in the history of Christian thought and practice in
relationship to the themes of God and Theological Reflection.
Read religious texts attentive to historical, literal and theological themes in service
of ministry and/or spiritual care.
Reflect critically upon his or her own faith commitments in light of local, global,
inter-faith and ecumenical realities.
Develop critical skills for assessing how to engage his or her vocation with
community in service of justice and peace.
Identify both areas of strength and weakness in his or her research and writing
skills.
COURSE PHILOSOPHY
We understand theology to be a dialogical enterprise that presumes that each
participant brings points of expertise, interest, and possibility to each
conversation. It is an art to listen carefully, to see and to read attentively, and to
speak thoughtfully. It is anticipated that these skills will develop over the course’s
duration in support of the course outcomes.
Course
Term and Year
Page 4
READING ASSIGNMENTS
By completing the reading assigned to each session prior to that session, the
student will be prepared to participate in class discussion.
September 10, 2013 Session One: Introductions, Definitions and “God”
No Assigned Reading
September 17, 2013 Session Two: Methods and Models, the Bible, and Trinity I
Oxtoby/Segal: 2-14
Dorothee Sölle: 1-21 OR Hall: 1-10
Thistlethwaite/Potter Engel: 1-18
MacCulloch: 1-15
MLS: Kinaste, O’Connor/Meek, Ignatius of Antioch
September 24, 2013 Session Three: Religious Pluralism and Trinity II
Oxtoby/Segal: 14-25
Dorothee Sölle: 22-41 OR Hall: 13-24
Thistlethwaite/Potter Engel: 267-288, 115-126
MacCulloch: 19-46
MLS: Didache
October 1, 2013 Session Four: Methods in the Social Sciences, Experience, and the
Religions and Atheisms
Oxtoby/Segal: 81-114
Dorothee Sölle: 171-182 OR Hall: 24-52
MacCulloch: 47-73
MLS: Justin Martyr, Gregory of Nyssa
October 8, 2013 Session Five: Methods for Communities, Reason, and the Question
of Being
Oxtoby/Segal: 115-135
Dorothee Sölle: 68-76 (Also on MLS)
Thistlethwaite/Potter Engel: 40-52
MacCulloch: 99-135
MLS: Whitehead and Whitehead, Augustine
Course
Term and Year
Page 5
October 15, 2013 Session Six: Inculturation and Feminist Methods, Hermeneutics,
and James Cone
Oxtoby/Segal: 29-49 (Also on MLS)
Dorothee Sölle: 95-101
Thistlethwaite/Potter Engel: 40-52, 101-114
MacCulloch: 112-154
MLS: Clare of Assisi and Julian of Norwich
October 22, 2013 Session Seven: Day of Dialogue
Oxtoby/Segal: 50-79
Thistlethwaite/Potter Engel: 53-81
MacCulloch: 155-188
MLS: Francis of Assisi
October 29, 2013 Session Eight: Life, Mission, Vocation, and the Great
Commission
Oxtoby/Segal: 141-167
MacCulloch: 189-228
MLS: Thomas Aquinas
November 5, 2013 Session Nine: Oscar Romero, the Public, and Transcendence
Oxtoby/Segal: 167-200
Thistlethwaite/Potter Engel: 24-29
MacCulloch: 231-254
MLS: Romero and Williams
November 12, 2013 Session Ten: Wisdom Method, Becoming Human, and Creation
Oxtoby/Segal: 209-227
MacCulloch: 255-285
MLS: Jean Vanier
November 19, 2013 Session Eleven: Praxis, Creatio ex Nihilo and Continuing Creation
Oxtoby/Segal: 227-250
Dorothee Sölle: 42-57 OR Hall: 53-72
Thistlethwaite/Potter Engel: 146-158
MacCulloch: 289-318
MLS: Martin Luther, Dillard
Course
Term and Year
Page 6
November 26, 2013 Session Twelve: Experience, Creativity and Wrap-up
Oxtoby/Segal: 250-269
Dorothee Sölle: 183-195 OR Hall: 181-207
Thistlethwaite/Potter Engel: 159-172
MacCulloch: 319-362
MLS: Joy Philip
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
1. Each assignment will receive a mark of 0-12, with 12 (A+) indicating perfection
and 1 (D-) indicating unacceptable work. Instructor’s comments will indicate
where improvement is needed. There will be no extensions in this course except
for dire emergencies. Extension must be received in writing and require approval
from the instructor at least one week before the due date of the assignment. Late
papers will be docked 10% per day for 5 days after which the assignment will
receive a 0. In order to receive a grade of B- or better, an essay must be typed and
employ correct spelling, grammar, syntax, and punctuation of the English
language. Students are expected to utilize inclusive language. It is essential that
the student proofread and revise the essay until it meets minimum requirements.
Beyond these minimum expectations, the essay will be evaluated on the ability of
the student to demonstrate mastery of the content of the given topic and to
integrate the topic with previous material, material from other courses, and life
experience. The instructor will also look for the student's ability to generate his or
her own insights and develop his or her work in a coherent and cogent manner.
In order to pass the course, students must maintain an average of B- or better.
2. In cases where the student wishes to discuss or dispute the grade given, an
appointment should be made with the instructor without delay (normally within
one week of receipt of the grade). After conversation the instructor will re-read
the paper. In cases where the instructor discovers an error or believes that the
student was graded unjustly, a new grade will be assigned. The new grade may
be higher or lower than the original. If the student is not satisfied, the grade for
the course may be petitioned in accordance with Seminary policy.
3. Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class. Essays are to be produced by the
student who will receive the mark. Failure to abide by these strictures will result in course
failure. The instructor reserves the right to request an electronic copy of the
assignment in order to check for plagiarism.
Course
Term and Year
Page 7
5. Basic rules of civility are expected of students of theology. These are means by
which we show respect for one another and the subject matter. Among them, the most obvious
deserve mention: show up on time, be prepared for class discussion, show regard
for others both within the classroom and without, and recall that one speaker at a
time facilitates meaningful conversation.
6. Students are encouraged to consult the WLS style and research guide available
at http://www.wlu.ca/documents/44987/Style_and_Research.pdf.
7. WLU and WLS policies on academic and research ethics govern research
conducted in fulfillment of assignments in this class and sanctions will be applied
to those who do not adhere to them.
8. Students are expected to use inclusive language in this course. Guidelines for
language use have been prepared by Wilfrid Laurier University and can be found
at (http://www.wlu.ca/docsnpubs_detail.php?grp_id=28&doc_id=4).
9. Students are expected to participate in all class activities. Part of our class will
involve an exercise of reflection on what has been learned. This will serve as the
basis for the participation mark.
10. Students who need help in developing research and writing skills should
consult the instructor and the WLU Writing Centre.
11. As stated in the Ontario Human Rights Code, “Every person has a right to
equal treatment with respect to services, goods, and facilities, without
discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin,
citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, same-sex partnership status, family
status or disability” (2004 Annotated Ontario Human Rights Code, p. 14).
Waterloo Lutheran Seminary is committed to upholding these principles as they
apply to the provision of academic services. Students requesting
accommodations due to a special need or disability have the responsibility to
contact Laurier’s Accessible Learning Centre before the start of term to create an
Accommodation Plan that will be forwarded to the instructor. Students are
encouraged to review the Seminary website for information regarding all services
available on campus.
12. If you have questions about the course or its content, please contact me by
phone or e-mail.
Course
Term and Year
Page 8