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Canyon College

online Systematic Theology I course at Canyon College

COURSE SYLLABUS: Systematic Theology I

Course Title: TH570 - Systematic Theology I
Department: Master of Theology / Divinity
Instructor: Gerald FitzGerald, BD, MDiv, DMin, Phd Theology CandidateE-Mail -- Vita
Prerequisites: None

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
The purpose of Systematic Theology I is to look at the core belief structure within Christianity. Specifically, this will involve reviewing doctrines on the Bible, God, Creation, and Humanity. Students are expected to interject their own thoughts in creating what should be an outline of their own personal theology. Further, students, by the end of the course, should be able to distinguish Systematic Theology from other ways of doing theology and be able to give serious thought to their own way of saying the least wrong thing about God, as one theologian has referred to the enterprise 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 require us to write, "God wills that everyone obeys God's will."

REQUIREMENTS

1. Readings. The required texts are:   Online Bookstore
1.    Systematic Theology Volume I, James Leo Garrett, 1996
[May be same as: "Systematic Theology: Biblical, Historical, and Evangelical" by James Leo Garrett, 1995. Eerdmans Publishing, ISBN: 0802824269 ]

2.    New Bible Dictionary, 3rd Edition, by I. Howard Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, and Donald J. Wiseman; InterVarsity Press, 1996, ISBN: 0830814396

3.    Any Modern Translation Bible
Textbooks should be ordered from the Canyon College Online Bookstore to insure that the correct volume and edition is obtained.

2. Conferences. Students may schedule no more than two Internet conferences between the student and the professor. These should be scheduled as necessary by the student. 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 message board.

3. Exams. There are no exams for this course.

4. Papers. There will be a short paper of at least two single-spaced pages or 1,250 words (not counting end-notes and bibliography), due at the end of each week's readings in which students will answer the discussion questions and give a reaction to their readings. These papers are to be e-mailed to the professor. Papers should conform to the form and style outlined in Kate L. Turabian's "A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations," 6th ed. Students should use end notes instead of footnotes. Finally, the papers are intended to be reflection papers and not research or the "author said" papers. Students should indicate their understanding of the texts and this cannot be done merely by quoting the authors.

5. Grades. Course work will be weighted as follows:
Papers 100%
6. Grading Scale.
90-100% A - Excellent
80-89% B - Above Average
70-79% C - Average
60-69% D - Below Average
59% or below 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 (The Bible, part 1)


Readings: Garrett 1-107.
NBD look up "Bible" and "Israel."

Discussion Questions:
  1. What is the difference between General and Specific Revelation?
  2. How was God revealed to Israel (give details)?
  3. Is revelation just seen within Christianity or is it in other world religions as well (Cite Garrett, but use your own thoughts as well)?
  4. What is the definition of the Bible?

WEEK 2 (The Bible, part 2)


Readings: Garrett 108-182
NBD look up "Old Testament" and "New Testament."
The Book of John Chapter 1

Discussion Questions:
  1. Why is Hermeneutics important?
  2. Is there a unity between the Old and New Testaments?
  3. Is the Bible fallible or infallible and why (Cite Garrett, but use your own thoughts as well)?

WEEK 3 (The Attributes of God, part 1)


Readings: Garrett 183-234
NBD look up "God"
The Book of Genesis Chapter 1

Discussion Questions:
  1. Is there a God and why (50% of this should be from the assigned reading and the other 50% should be your own ideas)?

WEEK 4 (The Attributes of God, part 2)


Readings: Garrett 235-288
NBD look up "Trinity"
The Book of Psalms Chapters 1-10 and 22

Discussion Questions:
  1. How often is the term Trinity mentioned in the Bible, if it is not mentioned is it at least alluded to?
  2. What are the traits of God and why (the answer can not just be: "Because it says so in the Bible")?
  3. If God is all loving, how can there be pain, death, and suffering?

WEEK 5 (Creation)


Readings: Garrett 289-388
NBD look up "Creation" and "Genesis"
Hebrews 11:3, Acts 17:25, Romans 9:5, Revelation 4:11

Discussion Questions:
  1. What are the assigned Bible verses saying about creation?
  2. If the world was not created in seven days and the creation account in Genesis is a myth, then how does this effect Christianity (use the assigned writings and your own ideas)?

WEEK 6 (The Nature of Humanity)


Readings: Garrett 389-477
NBD look up "Adam," "Eve," and "Sin"

Discussion Questions:
  1. How were humans originally created?  That is, what were they like?
  2. What was the impact of sin on humanity?
  3. Are all humans created equally?