ST501: SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY I: THEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY

 

Fall 2002/Pasadena/Mondays 3-5.50pm 

(School of Psychology Second-year Students Only)

LECTURER: Dr. William A. Dyrness with Dr. Linda Wagener

TEACHING ASSISTANT: Timothy Stanley

SYLLABUS: PDF 

DESCRIPTION: This course is specially designed to introduce Psychology students to the discipline of theology and the doctrines of revelation, the trinity, creation and the person. Reading will cover selected classical and contemporary theological expressions of these doctrines. The course is intended to challenge students to develop and appropriate their own understanding of these topics in the context of their professional preparation. (This section of ST501 is open for enrollment only to second-year School of Psychology students.)

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Since reflection on ultimate questions is a necessary expression of the person's creation in God's image, a broad understanding of the foundational issues of theology is essential to all forms of Christian ministry.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will consist of lectures and discussion short reflection papers and a take home exam. Lectures will concentrate on some of the key problems that are listed in the syllabus. Discussion time is designated to help the students with comprehension of the reading materials and lectures, and will include both large and small group discussion time.

REQUIRED READING

a. Sections of the following should be read as scheduled in the syllabus:

  • Barth, Karl. Dogmatics in Outline. Harper, 1959. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Creation and Fall. SCM, 1959.
  • Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Ed. McNeill. Westminster, 1960.
  • Gutierrez, Gustavo. A Theology of Liberation. Orbis, 1973.
  • McMinn, Mark R. and Timothy R. Phillips, eds. Care for the Soul: Exploring the Intersection of Psychology and Theology. InterVarsity Press, 2000.

b. One of the following Systematic Theologies should be read on these loci:

  • Bavinck, Herman. Our Reasonable Faith. Baker, 1956.
  • Grenz, S. J. Theology for the Community of God. Eerdmans, 2000.
  • McGrath, A. Christian Theology: An Introduction. Blackwell, 1994.

c. Sections of one of the following (or other approved) contextual theologies should be read:

  • Barr, William R. Constructive Theology in the Worldwide Church. Eerdmans, 1997.
  • Evans, J. We Have Been Believers: African American Systematic Theology. Fortress, 1992.
  • Gonzáles, J. Mañana: Christian Theology from an Hispanic Perspective. Abingdon, 1990.
  • McFague, Sally. Metaphorical Theology: Models of God. Fortress, 1997.

RECOMMENDED READING:

  • Brunner, Emil. Man in Revolt: A Christian Anthropology. Westminster, 1957.
  • Gunton, Colin. The One, The Three and the Many. Cambridge, 1994.
  • Jewett, Paul with Marguerite Shuster. Who We Are: Our Dignity as Human. Eerdmans, 1996.
  • Moltmann, J. The Trinity and the Kingdom. Harper & Row, 1981.
  • Volf, Miroslav. After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of God. Eerdmans, 1998.
  • Zizioulas, J. Being as Communion. St. Vladimir's Press, 1985.

ASSIGNMENTS: Short papers, midterm quiz, and a take-home exam. Upon petition, in lieu of short papers and the midterm, students who have previously taken overview courses in Christian doctrine may write a research paper.

PREREQUISITES: Permission of advisor -- second-year School of Psychology students.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets M.Div. core requirement for Systematic Theology "A" (STA).

FINAL EXAMINATION: Take-home.