Syllabus Resources Learning Tools Moodle

Syllabus for Fall 2007

Goals:

• To acquire some basic tools for engaging in theological investigation and reflection
• To become acquainted with some prominent writers in contemporary theology
• To gain an appreciation for the particularity of the Lutheran theological tradition
• To develop skills in critical analysis and creative thinking

Format:

3 sessions per week, lecture and discussion

Requirements:

• Assigned readings and participation in class discussion (Readings indicated in syllabus are to be read before the class dates under which they are listed.)
• 2 book reports, on Forde and Boff (3-4 pages), that state the author’s main thesis, summarize his argument and examine critically how he relates both to the theological tradition and to present challenges for theology
• In-class presentation on one of the chapters of Tanner’s Jesus, Humanity and the Trinity
• Participation in 4 online discussion groups on topics of faith, revelation, eschatology, and humanity
• Summary (4 pages) of essential points and issues in the doctrine of God, creation and the human condition

Textbooks:

Boff, Leonardo. Holy Trinity, Perfect Community. Orbis Books, 2000.
Forde, Gerhard. On Being a Theologian of the Cross: Reflections on Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation, 1518. Eerdmans, 1997.
Jones, Serene and Paul Lakeland, eds. Constructive Theology: A Contemporary Approach to Classical Themes, with CD-ROM. Augsburg Fortress, 2005.
Stone, Howard and James Duke. How to Think Theologically. 2nd ed. Augsburg Fortress, 2006.
Tanner, Kathryn. Jesus, Humanity and the Trinity: A Brief Systematic Theology. Augsburg Fortress, 2001.
Articles on reserve in library

Recommended books:

Lull, Timothy and William Russell, eds. Martin Luther’s Basic Theological Writings. 2nd ed. (with CD). Augsburg Fortress, 2005.
Rusch, William G. ed. The Trinitarian Controversy. Fortress, 1980.

Grading:

Grades are pass/fail, but will be calculated on a point system of 100 with 70 being considered passing. All written assignments are due on the day indicated in the syllabus, and 2 points will be deducted from the grade for the assignment for every day that work is past due. No written work will be accepted after the end of the semester unless an extension form has been requested by the student, signed by the student’s advisor, and submitted to the instructor by the last class day.

Schedule:

Wed., Sept. 5: Introduction – Why study theology? – context, mission, community

Fri., Sept. 7: Theology and faith
>READ: Tillich, 1-29; Peters, “The Heart of the Reformation Faith”
>ONLINE DISCUSSION: your working definition of faith

Mon., Sept. 10: Engaging in theological reflection
>READ: Stone & Duke, pp. 1-75

Wed., Sept. 12: Resources for theology
>READ: Stone & Duke, pp. 76-119

Fri., Sept. 14: Context – human perspective and self-understanding
>NO READING ASSIGNMENT - Discussion of Stone & Duke

Mon., Sept. 17: What is Lutheran theology? – confessional principles
>READ: Luther, “The Freedom of a Christian” (MLBTW); Forde, On Being a Theologian of the Cross

Wed., Sept. 19: Law and gospel in the doing of theology
>READ: Forde, On Being a Theologian of the Cross

Fri., Sept. 21: On being a theologian of the cross – Discussion of Luther and Forde
>DUE: book report on Forde

Mon., Sept. 24: Interpretation and truth
>READ: Segovia, “Towards a Hermeneutics of the Diaspora”; Murphy, “Christianity and Theories of Truth”

Wed., Sept. 26: Philosophical frameworks
>READ: Roberts, A Philosophical Introduction to Theology, pp. 33-62; Luther, “Disputation against Scholastic Theology” (MLBTW)

Fri., Sept. 28: Elements of method and types of theology
>READ: Soelle, Thinking about God, pp. 1- 41

Mon., Oct. 1: Ethical implications in the doing of theology
>READ: Gutierrez, “Option for the Poor”

Wed., Oct. 3: Local theology – reading the context (class, race and religion in Texas)
>NO READING ASSIGNMENT - discussion of student perspectives on this year’s cultural encuentro

Fri., Oct. 5: Systematic theology – an introduction
>ASSIGNMENT: visit local synagogue

Mon., Oct. 8: Revelation – Christianity in a world of religions
>READ: Barth, “The Revelation of God as the Abolition of Religion”
>ONLINE DISCUSSION: reflecting on your experience at the synagogue, discuss your
understanding of revelation and compare that with your observations about how revelation is
perceived within present day Judaism

Wed., Oct. 10: Revelation and authority in the Christian tradition
>READ: Luther, “Concerning the Letter and the Spirit” (MLBTW)

Fri., Oct. 12: Revelation – The Bible in more recent history
>READ: Pannenberg, “The Crisis of the Scripture Principle”

Mon., Oct. 15: NO CLASS

Wed., Oct. 17: NO CLASS

Fri., Oct. 19: NO CLASS

Mon., Oct. 22: Authority of Scripture in a post-modern world
>READ: Fiorenza, “The Crisis of Scriptural Authority” and Jodock, “The Reciprocity
between Scripture and Theology

Wed., Oct. 24: Eschatology and Christian faith [biblical and historical views of eschatology]
>READ: Schwarz, “Continuing Tensions in the History of Eschatology”;
Moltmann, “Liberating and Anticipating the Future”

Fri., Oct. 26: Eschatology – the end is the beginning for Christian theology [eschatology and theological method in recent theology]
>NO READING ASSIGNMENT
>ONLINE DISCUSSION: compare what Schwarz and Moltmann say about the various views of
eschatology and comment on how their arguments are useful in thinking about the nature of
Christian hope

Mon., Oct. 29: Human experience and language about God
>READ: Towards Sharing the One Faith, Parts I & IIA [available through course web page at WCC web site]

Wed., Oct. 31: Doctrine of God and the Bible
>READ: Jones & Lakeland, 1-45

Fri., Nov. 2: Doctrine of God and tradition
>READ: Rusch, pp. 29, 30, 49, 149-179; Luther,”Preface to the Wittenberg Edition of Luther’s German Writings”

Mon., Nov. 5: Doctrine of God and contemporary challenges
>READ: Jones & Lakeland, 49-76

Wed., Nov. 7: Tradition and liberation - Discussion of readings for the week
>READ: Chavez Sauceda, “Love in the Crossroads”

Fri., Nov. 9: God the Trinity – Critique of Tradition
>READ: Tanner, Jesus, Humanity and the Trinity, pp. xi-xix

Mon., Nov. 12: God the Trinity – Reconstruction of tradition
>READ: Tanner, pp. 1-65
>Student presentation on ch. 1
>Student presentation on ch. 2

Wed., Nov. 14: God the Trinity – Practical consequences
>READ: Tanner, pp. 67-124
>Student presentation on ch. 3
>Student presentation on ch. 4

Fri., Nov. 16: God the Trinity and creation (theology and scientific perspectives)
>READ: Boff, Holy Trinity, Perfect Community

Mon., Nov. 19 through Fri., Nov. 23: THANKSGIVING BREAK – NO CLASSES

Mon., Nov. 26: Humanity in the image of God the Trinity
>READ: Boff, Jones & Lakeland, 77-97

Wed., Nov. 28: Discussion of Boff
>DUE: Book report on Boff

Fri., Nov. 30: God and humanity in a world of cultures
>READ: Espín, “Trinitarian Monotheism and the Birth of Popular Catholicism”; Jones & Lakeland, 97-116

Mon. Dec. 3: God and humanity in a world of religions
>READ: Pannenberg, “The Religions from the Perspective of Christian Theology”
>ONLINE DISCUSSION: comment on the most important insights from Espín and Pannenberg concerning cultural and religious pluralism and the doctrine of God

Wed., Dec. 5: God, humanity and the problem of sin
>READ: Luther, “ The Bondage of the Will” pp. 201-226; Peters, “Sin, Scapegoating and Justifying Faith”; De La Torre, “The Role of the Barrio in the Doctrine of Original Sin”

Fri., Dec. 7: God, Humanity and the problem of evil
>READ: Jones & Lakeland, 117-159

Mon, Dec. 10: Perspectives on the human condition – Discussion of readings for the week

DUE BY DECEMBER 12: 4 page summary statement on essential elements and pertinent issues of the Christian doctrine of God, creation and the human condition – how has what you believe been affected by what you have learned in this course?