The Faith of the Church: Introduction to Theology
ST 502 DA-O-D
United Theological Seminary
Spring 2014
Faculty Name: Andrew S. Park
Office: 3714
Phone: 937 529 2269
Email: aspark@united.edu
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Introduction to Theology is a survey of the major ideas, beliefs, and doctrines of
the Church as they have shaped Christian thought in the world. This survey course
introduces the student to the basic categories of systematic theology, such as revelation,
God, image of God, sin, Christology, salvation, church, sacraments and eschatology. The
course focuses on the interpretation of these concepts within the tradition and among
contemporary theologians.
II. TEXTBOOKS:
Required Reading (RQ):
.
• James Cone, Black Theology of Liberation (BTL) ISBN-13: 978-1570758959
William Hordern, A Layman’s Guide to Protestant Theology (LGPT) ISBN-13:
978-1579109257
• Tyron Inbody, The Faith of the Christian Church (FCC) ISBN-13: 9780802841513
• Owen Thomas & Ellen Wondra, Introduction to Theology (IT) ISBN-13: 9780819218971
Recommended Reading (RC):
Caroline Bohler, God the What (GTW)
Bernard Lohse, A Short History of Christian Doctrine (SHCD)
Alister E. McGrath, The Christian Theology Reader: The 3rd or 4th edition
, Christian Theology: An Introduction
Andrew S. Park, The Wounded Heart of God (WHG)
Rosemary Ruether Sexism and God-Talk (SGT)
III. GOALS
This course is a UTS introductory course. Thus, it is designed to introduce you to a
general understanding of theology. This course speaks directly to two UTS core student
learning competencies.
1. This Course is designed to provide a foundation for understanding and
appreciating biblical, historical, and theological developments in the history of
Christianity so that students might demonstrate an appropriation of the Christian
heritage through an understanding of major theological topics (The SLO).
2. This course is further designed to help students critically reflect on and define
major Christian doctrines and movements in light of contemporary intellectual,
socio-political, and ethical issues.
IV. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
In order to demonstrate an appropriation of the Christian heritage through an
understanding of major theological loci, students will be expected to express and explain
the following:
1. A good grasp of the major theological traditions.
2. An in-depth understanding of the issues and controversies in their historical and
theological contexts.
3. Theological meanings of church doctrines for the contemporary world.
V. TEACHING STRATEGIES:
The delivery methods of instruction will be lectures, discussions, web resources,
lecture note projections, and email messages.
VI. CALENDAR OF TOPICS AND READINGS:
Feb. 3
Introduction
The Growth and Threat of Orthodoxy
RQ: Hordern LGPT Chs. 1 & 2
The Defense and Remaking of Orthodoxy
RQ: Hordern LGPT Chs. 3 & 4
10
Neo-Orthodoxy & Karl Barth
RQ: Hordern LGPT Chs. 5 & 6
Reinhold Neibuhr and Paul Tillich
RQ: Hordern LGPT Chs. 7 & 8
Bultmann, Bonhoeffer, & Theology Today
RQ: Hordern LGPT Chs. 9, 10, &11
17
The Content of Theology
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch1; Cone, BLT Ch. 1
RC: Thomas & Wondra, IT Ch. 1
The Sources and Norm of Theology
RQ: Cone, BLT Ch. 2
Revelation
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 3
RC: Thomas & Wondra, IT Ch. 2; Cone, BLT Ch. 3
Feb. 24- 28
Reading Week
Mar. 3
Authority
RQ: Thomas & Wondra, IT Ch; Inbody FCC Ch 2
RC: Lohse, SHCD Ch. 1;
Trinity
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 4 (V); Thomas & Wondra, IT Ch. 4
RC: Lohse, SHCD Ch. 2
10
God
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 4 (I-II); Cone, BLT Ch. 4
Thomas & Wondra, IT Ch. 5
God
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 4 (III & IV)
RC: Ruether, SGT Ch. 2, Bohler: GTW Ch 1.
17
Creation & Providence
RQ: Thomas & Wondra IT Chs. 6 & 7
RC: Inbody FCC Ch 5 & 6
Humanity
RQ: Thomas & Wondra IT Ch. 8; Cone BTL Ch. 5
Mar. 2-28
Gathering/Reading Week
Mar. 21 (Fri) *First paper due & the first open book exam
31
Sin
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 7; Park WHG Intro and Ch. 4 (handouts)
RC: Lohse SHCD Ch. 4; Thomas & Wondra IT Ch. 9
Christ
RQ: McGrath, Christian Theology: Introduction Ch 11 (handout)
RC: Ruether SGT Ch. 5
Apr. 7
Christ
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 8; Cone BLT Ch. 6
RC: Thomas & Wondra IT Ch. 10
Salvation
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 9: 216-234; Park WHG Ch. 6 (handout)
RC: Thomas & Wondra IT Ch. 11
Apr. 14-25
28
Holy Week & Reading Week
Justification
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 9; Thomas & Wondra IT Ch. 12
RC: Park WHG Ch. 5; Lohse SHCD Ch. 6
Holy Spirit & Sanctification
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 9 and 10 (I)
Thomas & Wondra IT Ch. 14
May
5
Election & Predestination
RQ: Thomas & Wondra IT Ch. 13
History & Eschatology
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 12 (I-IV)
Thomas & Wondra IT Chs. 15 & 16
12 (Mon)
12
*Second Paper Due
Church
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 10 (II-V); Cone BTL Ch. 7
Thomas & Wondra IT Ch. 17
Sacraments
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 11 (II-V); Thomas & Wondra IT Ch. 18
RC: Lohse SHCD Ch.5
19
Worship & Ministry
RQ: Inbody FCC Ch 11 (I); Thomas & Wondra IT Chs. 19 & 20
RC: Ruether SGT Ch. 8
Integration *the second open book exam
VII: SEMINARY STANDARDS
A. Inclusive language
United Theological Seminary has an official policy regarding the use of
Inclusive Language. The policy may be found in the Seminary Catalog
and further explained in the Student Handbook. If you have specific
questions, please see me.
B. Academic Integrity
Student integrity regarding all work assigned in this class is a basic
expectation of the Seminary community. A detailed policy regarding what
constitutes a violation of academic integrity can be found in the Student
Handbook.
VIII: USING ONLINE RESOURCES
For information about how to access VirtualUnited and where to find help if you
need it may be found on the seminary website at
http://virtualunited.utsweb.net/login/index.php. Help guides are also available in
the student computer lab and in the Student Handbook.
IX. METHOD OF DETERMINING FINAL GRADE:
A. COURSE EVALUATIONS:
1. Class attendance, preparation of required reading, and substantive participation in
class discussion are expected. The substantive participation means that you
analyze, digest and question a subject matter presented through reading
assignments and handouts and others’ postings. You are encouraged to
constructively reflect on reading assignments and your classmates' perspectives.
2. Please post three points you like most from each of your weekly reading
assignments by Thursday and respond to your dialogue partners’ postings by
Sunday.
3. Each student should turn in two research term papers (7-11 pages) or one big
paper (14-22 pgs). Their due dates are March 22 (the first paper: an email copy
only) and May 13rd (the second paper ore the big paper: an email copy only). If
you like, you may request a pass/fail category for the first paper. You can select a
specific or ramified topic from any major doctrines. Present two or three other
major theologians’ views with critical reflection (positive or negative criticisms)
and then articulate your own idea. The criteria of grading are the depth of
research, originality, insight, accuracy, coherence, lucidity, and analytic and
synthetic ability. Late papers will be downgraded. They must be typewritten and
double-spaced. Adhere to the guidelines of the Turabian style in the 7th or 8th
edition
(http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide.html and
http://www.eturabian.com/turabian/index.html).
4. On reading assignments and lecture contents, two open book exams will be given.
I will distribute exam sheets. You will turn in your answers within a week. These
exams are only for pass or fail.
B. Method of Determining Grade:
The grade will be calculated in the following way:
Class Attendance, Preparation, answering questions, and interaction with
group partners, & class contributions
30%
Mid-term Paper
35%
Semester Paper
35%
Final Exam
Pass/Fail
Total
100%
X. REFERENCES:
Introduction To Theology
Anderson, William. A journey through Christian theology : with texts from the first to the
twenty-first century. Minneapolis, MN : Fortress Press, c2000.
Badham, Roger A., ed. Introduction to Christian Theology : Contemporary North
American Perspectives. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998.
Barth, Karl. Evangelical Theology: An Introduction. New York: Holt Rinehart and
Winston, 1963.
———. Dogmatics in Outline. London: SCM Press, 1949.
Brock, Rita, Journeys by Heart : a Christology of erotic power. New York : Crossroad,
1988.
Cobb, John, The Process Perspective. Jeanyne Slettom, ed. St. Louis: Chalice, 2003.
Evans, James H. We Have Been Believers : An African-American Systematic Theology.
Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992.
Ford, David. Theology : A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: New York, 2000.
Giannaras, Chrestos. Elements of Faith : An Introduction to Orthodox Theology.
Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1991.
González, Justo L. Christian Thought Revisited : Three Types of Theology. Maryknoll,
N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1999.
———. Mañana : Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Nashville: Abingdon
Press, 1990.
González, Justo L., and Zaida Maldonado Pérez. An Introduction to Christian Theology.
Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002.
Grenz, Stanley J., and John R. Franke. Beyond Foundationalism : Shaping Theology in a
Postmodern Context. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001.
Grenz, Stanley, and Roger E. Olson. Who Needs Theology? : An Invitation to the Study of
God. Downers Grove, Ill., USA: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
Hanson, Bradley. Introduction to Christian Theology. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press,
1997.
Hart, Trevor A. Faith Thinking : The Dynamics of Christian Theology. Downers Grove,
Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
Hodgson, Peter Crafts, and Robert Harlen King, eds. Christian Theology : An
Introduction to Its Traditions and Tasks. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1994.
Jinkins, Michael. Invitation to Theology. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2001.
Keller, Catherine From a broken web : separation, sexism, and self. Boston : Beacon
Press, c1986.
Kinast, Robert L. What Are They Saying About Theological Reflection? New York:
Paulist Press, 2000.
McGrath, Alister E. Christian Theology: An Introduction. 3rd ed. Oxford: Malden MA,
2001.
Migliore, Daniel L. Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology.
2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.
Murphy, Nancy C. Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism : How Modern and
Postmodern Philosophy Set the Theological Agenda. Valley Forge, Pa.: Trinity Press
International, 1996.
Nichols, Aidan. The Shape of Catholic Theology : An Introduction to Its Sources,
Principles, and History. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1991.
Pannenberg, Wolfhart. An Introduction to Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, Mich.:
W.B. Eerdmans, 1991.
Peters, Ted. God: The World's Future. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Publishers; 2nd
edition (September 2000)
Roberts, J. Deotis. A Philosophical Introduction to Theology. London SCM Press:
Philadelphia, 1991.
Sölle, Dorothee. Thinking About God : An Introduction to Theology. London SCM Press:
Philadelphia, 1990.
Stone, Howard W., and James O. Duke. How to Think Theologically. Minneapolis:
Fortress Press, 1996.
Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki. God, Christ, Church : a practical guide to process theology.
New York : Crossroad, 1982.
Tanner, Kathryn. Jesus, Humanity and the Trinity: A Brief Systematic Theology. Minne
apolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2001.
McGrath, Alister E. Christian Theology: An Introduction. Chichester, West Sussex:
Wiley-Blackwell, 2001.
Tillich, Paul, Systematic Theology 3 vols. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Ware, Frederick L. Methodologies of Black Theology. Cleveland, Ohio: Pilgrim Press,
2002.
Williamson, Clark M. Way of Blessing, Way of Life: A Christian Theology. St. Louis:
Chalice Press, 1999.
Zahl, Paul F. M. A Short Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.