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Canyon College

online History of Christianity II course at Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: Understanding Theology


Course Title: DV550 - Understanding Theology
Department: Divinity
Instructor: Gerald FitzGerald, BD, MDiv, DMin, Phd Theology CandidateE-Mail -- Vita
Prerequisites: Preferably a Survey of the Bible course.


PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
This course seeks to introduce students into the study of theology as an activity undertaken by those who seek to explain God’s activity in history. Students should be able to understand that theology has been historically associated with Christianity as it has attempted to explain God’s acting through Jesus Christ. Consequently, our short hand definition of theology is that quoted by a well known professor who said that theology "Is learning to say the least wrong thing about God." David H. Kelsey defines theology as, "Theology is an activity of the Christian community in which it reflects self-critically on its current forms of speech and action to see if it is being faithful to the gifts and tasks God has given to it, that is, to its own identity."

By the conclusion of our journey through the readings and discussions of this course, students should have an understanding of several approaches to theology, the content of theology, and should be able to articulate their individual beliefs using the language of theology.

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
Canyon College is a non-sectarian, non-denominational school committed to the study of God in all the richness and diversity of God's revelations to humanity and an exploration of what those revelations mean to the everyday lives of finite human beings. Canyon College does not advocate any particular belief, creed, doctrine or idea other than the reality of God and does not require that its students and faculty subscribe to any particular belief, creed, doctrine or idea other than a willingness to be challenged and a commitment to an investigation into truth and the pursuit of academic honesty and excellence.

INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE
Students should strive to use inclusive language in their writings. By inclusive language is meant language that is not gender specific and which attempts to include as many people as possible. For instance, instead of writing that "God wills that every man obeys His will," inclusive language would suggest that we write, "God wills that everyone obeys God’s will."

REQUIREMENTS

1. Readings. The required texts are: Online Bookstore
A. McGrath, Alister, A Christian Theology Reader. Blackwell, 1995, softcover ("McGrath")

B. Migliore, Daniel L., Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1991, softcover. ("Migliore")

C. Stone, Howard W. And James O. Duke, How To Think Theologically. Fortress Press, 1996, softcover. ("Stone & Duke")

2. Conferences. Students may schedule up to two Internet conferences between the student and the professor. Of course, students may ask questions of the professor at any time by sending an E-mail to the address at the link above or by posting them to the bulletin board.

3. Exams. There will be one exam which will be a mid-term examination. The exam will cover the assigned readings and will be taken at the end of the third week.

4. Papers. There will be a short paper of no less than two single- spaced pages or 1,250 words, due at the end of each week’s readings in which students will answer the discussion questions and give a reaction to their readings; and, a final paper due at the end of the seventh week of study of between 10 and 15 double-spaced pages in which the student sets forth his/her beliefs in regard to the following topics:
Sources and Methods of Theology
Scripture
God (including the being and identity of God and the Trinity)
Creation, Providence, and Evil
Jesus Christ
Salvation
Church
Sacraments/Ordinances
Last Things

Students need not discuss the topics in the order in which they are listed above but must discuss all of them. It will not be sufficient for a student to say what he or she believes, the student must go further and discuss how such belief differs from the traditional teachings of the church and the authors we have studied. More comments and instructions are provided below under Week 1. The final paper is due by the end of the sixth week. These papers are to be e-mailed to the professor. Those who do not feel comfortable with e-mailing the papers can contact the professor for a mailing address. Students should include a word count with the heading of their papers.

5. Grades. Course work will be weighted as follows:

Papers
Final Paper
Mid-term exam
30%
40%
30%

6. Grading Scale.

90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
59% or below
A - Excellent
B - Above Average
C - Average
D - Below Average
F - Failing Grade

A = Clearly stands out as excellent performance. Has unusually sharp insight into material and initiates thoughtful questions. Sees many sides of an issue. Articulates well and writes logically and clearly. Integrates ideas previously learned from this and other disciplines. Anticipates next steps in progression of ideas.

B = Grasps subject matter at a level considered to be good to very good. Is an active listener and participant in chats, message boards, e-mails and conferences. Speaks and writes well. Accomplishes more than the minimum requirements. Work is of high quality.

C = Demonstrates a satisfactory comprehension of the subject matter. Accomplishes only the minimum requirements, and displays little or no initiative. Communicates at an acceptable level for a college student. Has a generally acceptable understanding of all basic concepts.

D = Quality and quantity of work is below average and barely acceptable.

F = Quality and quantity of work is unacceptable.


WEEK 1

Read Stone and Duke in its entirety. Write a belief statement (This is in lieu of the 1,250 word paper due for this week.).

This assignment asks you to formulate your position on one or more doctrines of Christian teaching. The first sentence of the paper, introducing your thesis, should begin with the words "I believe." (One may write a non-belief statement as well: "I do not believe.") But the belief statement is not simply "my personal belief"; it is rather your statement about what you believe the Christian community should teach on the issue.

A statement of belief is not theologically correct simply because one asserts that it is correct. You should give reasons to support your statements (such as what the Bible says or what the doctrines of your denomination teaches) and discuss objections to your position and respond to the objections (or show why your position is better).1

The paper should be no more than 5 pages, double spaced, and no less than 1,500 words and no more than 3,200 words.

WEEK 2

The Task of Theology and its Sources. Read Migliore pages 1-55 and McGrath pages 4-89.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What are the traditional sources of theology?
  2. What are the two traditional sources of Protestant theology. What is meant by Sola Scriptura? [By now students should be able to recognize the divide between Catholic and Protestant theology.]
  3. What arguments emerged in this week’s readings which might support the belief held by some that the Catholic Church is the only "true" church?
  4. Are there sources of theology which are not discussed in this week’s readings? If so, what are they?

WEEK 3

Creator and Creation. Read Migliore pages 56-119 and McGrath pages 90-138.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What do the writers in McGrath say about the Trinity? Give at least a one sentence summary of each writer’s argument.
  2. Does God suffer?
  3. What are some of the doctrines advanced to explain the Trinity? Which of these, if any, do you agree with?
  4. Christianity has been accused of developing the concept of the Trinity to escape the charge that Christianity is not monotheistic because it has three gods instead of one. How do you respond to that allegation?

PLEASE TAKE THE MID-TERM EXAMINATION BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.

WEEK 4

Savior and Salvation. Read Migliore pages 139-164 and McGrath pages 134-230.

Discussion Questions:

"In the beginning was the Word, ... and the Word was God ..." This quotation from the opening verses of the Gospel of John, has been used to support the argument that Jesus Christ was God incarnate. Reflecting upon your readings thus far,
  1. Do you agree that the passage means that God was in fact Jesus Christ come to earth in the flesh?
  2. If you conclude that Jesus Christ is in fact God incarnate, then of whom was David speaking in Psalms 110:1, "The LORD said to my Lord ..."? Who did John, in Revelation, then see sitting at the right hand of God?
  3. Who do you say Jesus Christ is?

WEEK 5

Church and Community. Read Migliore pages 165-230 and McGrath pages 258-317.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What are the "marks" of the church?
  2. How many sacraments are there in the Roman Catholic Church? In most Protestant congregations?
  3. Is there anything which is essentially Christian? That is, is there anything which one has to believe to be a Christian which if one did not believe one would be disqualified from claiming to be a Christian?
  4. Is there salvation outside the church? In other words, is membership in or attendance at a church critical to one’s salvation? Why or why not?

WEEK 6

Final Things. Read Migliore pages 231-251 and McGrath pages 352-74.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOUR FINAL PAPER IS DUE BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.

Endnotes

1. Taken in part from the course materials of Professor David J. Gouwens at Brite Divinity School, Fall 1996.