Aim of the course:
- To introduce the student to the distinctive challenges facing theology in the modern period;
- To explore a range of issues from both the historical and systematic perspectives;
- To cultivate both historical and philosophical skills.
At the end of the course, the student will:
- Have an overview of the movement of theological ideas from the Reformation to the 20 th century;
- Have explored a range of issues through the lens of modernity;
- And have a good historical and philosophical sensitivity.
Content of Course.
February 2: Evangelicals and Liberals: different ways of engaging modernity
Required reading: Ian Markham, Theology of Engagement, Introduction and Chapter one.
February 9: The Catholic Church in the West
Required reading: Andrew Pettegree, Europe in the Sixteenth century, chapters one to three.
February 16: The Reformers
Required reading: Andrew Pettegree, Europe in the Sixteenth century, chapters and six.
February 23: The Enlightenment and Romantics
Required reading: Bernard M. G. Reardon, Religion in the Age of Romanticism, chapter one. (Photocopy available on reserve in the library.)
March 2: Postmodernism
Required reading: David Ford with Rachel Muir, The Modern Theologians (2005 edition), chapter 19
March 7 to March 15: ONLINE class: Approaches to modern theology
Required reading: Ian Markham, Theology of Engagement, chapters six, eleven, and twelve.
March 16: Modern Theology and the concept of God
Required reading: William C. Placher, Essentials of Christian Theology, chapter 2
March 23: Modern Theology and Creation
Required reading: David Ford with Rachel Muir, The Modern Theologians (2005 edition), chapters 20 and 21. William C. Placher, Essentials of Christian Theology, chapter 3.
March 30: Modern Theology and Evil and Suffering
Required reading: William C. Placher, Essentials of Christian Theology, chapter 4.
April 6: Modern Theology and God Incarnate and Redemption
Required reading: William C. Placher, Essentials of Christian Theology, chapter 5.
READING WEEK
April 20: Modern Theology and Other religions
Required reading: William C. Placher, Essentials of Christian Theology, chapter 8.
April 27: Modern Theology and the Church
Required reading: William C. Placher, Essentials of Christian Theology, chapter 6.
May 4: Modern Theology and Hope beyond the grave
Required reading: William C. Placher, Essentials of Christian Theology, chapter 9.
Required texts:
Andrew Pettegree, Europe in the sixteenth century, ( Oxford: Blackwell 2002)
Ian Markham, Theology of Engagement, ( Oxford: Blackwell 2003)
David Ford with Rachel Muirs, The Modern Theologians ( Oxford: Blackwell 2005)
William C. Placher (editor), Essentials of Christian Theology, ( Louisville: WJK 2003)
Assessment:
- Pick one of the following theologies and outline the history and key developments in that theology: Catholic Theology starting with Vatican 2, Methodist Theology in the United States, Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology, American Evangelical Theology, Revisionist Theology, and Black Theology. (10 pages) Due March 23.
- Write a fifteen page paper on ‘Theological methodology.’ Explain in this paper how you approach theology. It is essential to cite the literature and place yourself on the map of other approaches to theology. Due June 1.
