REL 100 INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIANITY Fall 2018

Transcription

1 REL 100 INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIANITY Fall 2018 Sessional Instructor: Dr. David E. Lewycky, Ph.D. Office: 318 Duration: Tuesdays 5:30 8:30 PM, or Thursdays 1:00 3:45 PM (September 5 - December 4, 2018 Session; next Session is January 14, 2019 April 12, 2019) Delivery Mode: On Campus (second semester has an off-campus component) Credits: 6 hours (two semesters of 3 hours) Prerequisites: None Voluntary Withdrawal Deadline: 8 March 2019 Time Extension Deadline: 29 March 2019 Course Description This course introduces students to the study of Christianity. The course focuses on the biblical foundations, history, beliefs, major figures and practice of Christianity. In order to understand the world we live in it is necessary to know something about Christianity. This is particularly true for those of us who live in western societies, because our traditions and values have been shaped profoundly by the Christian faith. The nature and extent of this influence will be explored over this academic year as we turn to various facets of the world s largest religion. During this semester the focus will be on the historic origins and essential elements of Christianity. This primarily synchronic/topical perspective will locate a classic understanding of Christianity in its biblical form and its central theological categories. (This will prepare for the more diachronic approach that will dominate the next semester's study on historical, cultural and contemporary expressions.) Course Objectives By the end of the course students will be able to describe the essential biblical and theological themes/concepts of Christianity distinguish basic/essential from variable/incidental/extreme elements recognize the effect on prevailing ideas of Western civilization and its global impact interpret and critique, contemplate and comment on expressions of Christianity exercise an approach to the integration and organization of spiritual thought 1

2 Required Textbooks McGrath, Alister E. Christianity: An Introduction. 3 rd Edition. Malden: Wiley-Blackwell, ISBN Miller, Stephen M. Bible Snapshots. Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour Publishing, Inc., ISBN [About 20 copies will be available in class for purchase at cost. Another edition, Complete Bible Handbook, 2014, is identical except for its covers and smaller format, but Miller s Complete Guide to the Bible, 2007 is not the same text.] NRSV Bible. For academic study a generally preferred version is the New Revised Standard Version; it is the official version for this course but reference will be made in class to other translations based on both Formal and Functional Equivalence principles of translation. See for many online versions. While electronic editions may be used for classroom discussion, a book format is required for quizzes and exams. There will be consideration for students who prefer another version for confessional or personal reasons but access to an essentially literal translation should be accessed for all assignments unless otherwise indicated. Course Requirements For general policies and regulations regarding attendance, examinations, accessibility services, deferrals, etc., please see the Academic Calendar. Class Structure, Attendance and Procedures The class will meet once a week (generally two 75-minute sessions with a 15-minute break). The sessions will offer a combination of discussion and informal presentation dealing with background, methodology and interpretation. Class specific assignments will be explained and assessed in session, so regular attendance is crucial. The classroom format recognizes the value of your attendance and interaction and regular attendance is a mandatory component of the delivery of the program. One class (3 nominal hours) may be missed without penalty. Subsequent absences may result in a loss of 1% per nominal hour of class missed from your semester grade (see comment below regarding quizzes). Late arrival or early departures that exceed 15 minutes from a class session will be counted as 1 nominal hour. If an exit exercise (usually considered part of the Quiz or Sentence assignment) is missed you will be deemed to have left class too early and be subject to a 1% attendance grade penalty whether the exercise itself has a direct grade component or not (some exit exercises during the term are part of the quiz score, others are not). Of course, consideration will be given for extenuating circumstances, but in any case, you are responsible for material covered in classes even if you were absent. Preparation for Class As practical guideline, you should plan on approximately 6 hours of study/preparation each week for class (2 hours per hour of class time). Depending on previous familiarity with specific topics, personal skills and styles of learning, your experience may not be typical. If you find you consistently require more time to prepare for class (do assignments, etc.), we can discuss some variations to your learning strategies and/or establish personally more realistic goals for the course. Likewise, if you find yourself adequately prepared with significantly less effort, more challenging goals can be set. 2

3 Quizzes With the exception of the first session, all readings should anticipate the next session whether precisely noted in the schedule or not. Quizzes will be used to assess comprehension of the readings. Note that each quiz is worth 3% of the semester grade and quizzes for credit cannot usually be deferred (although you should always obtain a copy for review purposes). Absences coinciding with missed quizzes will only be penalized once (via the quiz grade). By attendance in any session you are considered to be giving consent to the typical conventions for decorum in discussions and for the use of electronics (including recording and distribution) in class. If you are unsure of these conventions please inquire at the start of any session. Written assignments In general, written assignments should follow a recognized research paper writing style including 2.5 cm margins, pagination, correct grammar and spelling, Times New Roman font 12. An exception for this course is that material may be single-spaced (except between paragraphs) and the cover page may be reduced to the top of the first page (it would still include your name, title of the assignment, and date of submission). Books of Sentences Loosely based on the method of Peter Lombard (a first millennium theologian to be introduced later), you will provide summary and pivotal or interpretive statements based on assigned readings. The Miller text provides examples of such quotations as Sound Bite summaries of entire biblical books and should be used to orient yourself to the context of assigned biblical passages. This is a major component of this course and a prequel to one of the next semester's assignments as well. For this semester, sources will be from biblical readings. The list of mandatory readings will be provided in class but will generally involve one or two biblical chapters taken together. Format and organization will be discussed in class but, in general, the format will typically consist of (1) a summary of the passage read, (2) a statement expressing how it appears to relate to the context of the entire biblical book in which it is located, and (3) a selected quotation (properly documented see Box 2.3 in McGrath s text) followed by a comment on why you selected it as related to the various (basically 4) essentials of authentic, historic Christianity. There will be a progression in applying the reading to an understanding of such essentials as the topics are developed in class. Maintain your Sentences in a Book for final submission (5%) with any revisions for the final Semester exam. If you are exempted from this requirement you will be clearly notified. Late assignments, except for the final submission, require no permission but are subject to a 1% per day penalty. (Completed Sentence assignments not handed in because of an absence from class with notice may usually be submitted the following class session without penalty.) 3

4 Critical Review This assignment will not be started in earnest until after Mid-semester but a decision of your intent is due on October 16. After that date, library reserve copies will have extended return deadlines and may be held until the end of the semester. This project consists of a review and integrative critique of a book that involves a Christian narrative to be evaluated on the basis of your understanding of essential/ classic/ biblical Christianity as developed in class. The review should include: (Part 1) an appropriate summary of the narrative, (Part 2) a documented identification of characteristics of Christianity that are either presented, emphasized, defined or implied in the account, (Part 3) a critique of the correspondence of those characteristics of your understanding of essential and/or incidental Christianity, and (Part 4) your personal evaluation of the strengths, weaknesses, and recommended audience for the book. You may also be asked by the instructor to comment more specifically on a topic based on your background and classroom discussions. Your review should be selected from one of the following though other possibilities are available with prior approval. The books are narratives (true stories) that illustrate the development or impact of faith in Christ in varied contexts. For books marked with *** the library reserve has multiple copies: Bruce Olson, Bruchko (Charisma House, 2006, 2007) Christianity introduced and developed in a pre-literate tribal society.*** Arthur Holmes with George McPeek, The Grieving Indian. An Ojibwe Elder Shares His Discovery of Help and Hope (Winnipeg, MB: Indian Life Books, 1988) Christianity applied in a cross-cultural indigenous context.*** Mosab H. Yousef, Son of Hamas. A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices. (Tyndale Momentum, 2010, 2011) from the perspective of a person whose first faith is another major historic religion often directly in conflict with Christianity.*** Hannah Shah, The Imam s Daughter. My Desperate Flight to Freedom. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010) - as above, but with a female protagonist. Includes a social worker s role that will need to be critiqued.*** Frederick T. Grossmith, The Cross and the Swastika (New Edition, Paternoster Press, 1988, or any edition) the nature of Christianity witnessed in the service of a prison chaplain and the conversion of convicted Nazi war criminals. The interpretation of the Holocaust/Shoah is significant in Christian history and thought.*** An avid reader may prefer Tim Townsend, Mission at Nuremberg. An American Army Chaplain and the Trial of the Nazis (New York: HarperCollins, 2014) the extra pages include Chaplain Gerecke s childhood, the development of the chaplaincy in the U.S. military, more on the Roman Catholic connected Nzais, etc. Corrie Ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, The Hiding Place. (New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1971, or any edition) - from the same era as above, but an unofficial and dangerous ministry.*** Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured for Christ. (Bartlesville, OK: Living Sacrifice Book Company, copyright 1967, 1998, 2013 by The Voice of the Martyrs, Inc.) an account of the Underground Church under Communism.*** Also available from VOM. [Note: 4

5 Tortured for Christ The Complete Story, 384 pages, combines 3 previous books including The Pastor s Wife, In God s Underground, and Tortured for Christ.] Leslie Montgomery, The Faith of Condoleeza Rice. (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2007) a faith-based biography of a prominent African-American woman in context of the American Civil Rights Movement. Mike Yorkey, Linspired. The Remarkable Rise of Jeremy Lin. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012) the son of Taiwanese immigrants becomes the first Asian- American in the NBA; part of the Christian story in the world of sports with global connections. Michael Vick, Brett Honeycutt and Stephen Copeland, Michael Vick: Finally Free. An Autobiography. (Brentwood, Tennessee: Worthy Publishing, 2012) with a Foreword by Tony Dungy, a well-recognized Christian in the world of sports, who says It s not all pretty ; from poverty, a devout Christian grandmother, hard-working parents, football, poor choices, dogfighting and prison, and redemption. Late assignments are subject to a 5% per day penalty. Examinations Exam format will include: multiple choice, true or false, matching, brief statements, biblical analysis, mapping. Specific examination protocols will be noted in class. As with regular classes, please remember that your attendance at exams is mandatory. Deferred mid-semester exams are not routinely provided, are subject to a grade penalty and the instructor s approval. If you cannot show up for any quiz or exam, contact the instructor as soon as possible. Exams scheduled during the final week of each semester are governed by the specific policies in the Academic Calendar (p.24): A student may file a petition for a deferred examination with the Academic Dean for reasons of illness or other disability, or for compassionate reasons, setting out the reasons for the deferral. The petition must be accompanied by a medical certificate or other appropriate documentation certifying the reason for the deferral, the inability of the student to write the examination at the scheduled time and, where possible, indicating the period of disability. On the basis of the evidence, the Academic Dean shall decide whether the petition is granted. The decision of the Academic Dean is final. (Note that travel plans per se will not constitute sufficient grounds for rescheduling exams.) Summary of Grading Quizzes 15% (5 X 3%) Mid-semester Exam 20% Book of Sentences 20% (5 X 3% + 1 X 5%) Semester final Exam 25% Review & Integrative Critique 20% 100% 5

6 Booth University College does not use the same percentage scale to correspond to the letter grade and grade points for all courses. This course will utilize a percentage scale which will then be translated into a letter grade consistent with the BUC grading system (see the descriptive section below). The following percentage scale will be used in grading numerically assessed assignments: * = A = A (interval 10) = B+ (interval 5) = B (interval 5) = C+ (interval 5) = C (interval 10) = D (interval 15) 0-49 = F (interval 50) Some multiple choice, true/false types of questions taken individually may create anomalies of high or low letter scores but the cumulative scores are widely recognized as typical of the descriptions below. Note also that evidence of excellence in original and critical thinking will be significantly affected by presentation of written assignments. Letter Grades & Grade Points A+ (4.5) Exceptional performance with evidence of outstanding original thinking, superior organization, exceptional capacity to analyze and synthesize; a superior grasp of the subject matter with sound critical evaluations; evidence of an extensive knowledge base. *A final grade of A+ may be awarded only with the approval of the Academic Dean. A (4.0) Excellent performance with evidence of excellent original thinking, excellent organization, excellent ability to analyze and synthesize; an excellent grasp of the subject matter with sound critical evaluations; evidence of an extensive knowledge base. B+ (3.5) Very good performance with evidence of original thinking, very good organization, demonstrated ability to analyze and synthesize; a very good grasp of the subject matter; evidence of good critical judgment, a very good understanding of the relevant issues under examination; very good familiarity with the relevant literature. B (3.0) Good performance with evidence of a good grasp of the subject matter; evidence of critical capacity, good analytical ability, a good understanding of the relevant issues under examination; evidence of good familiarity with the relevant literature. C+ (2.5) Satisfactory performance with evidence of a satisfactory grasp of the subject matter; evidence of critical capacity, demonstrated analytical ability, an understanding of the relevant issues under examination; evidence of familiarity with the relevant literature. C (2.0) Adequate performance with evidence of an adequate grasp of the subject matter; some evidence of critical capacity, an ability to develop solutions to simple problems found in the material; evidence of familiarity with some of the relevant literature. D (1.0) Marginal performance with evidence of marginal familiarity with the subject matter and some evidence that critical and analytical skills have been used. F (0) Inadequate performance with little evidence of even a superficial understanding of the subject matter; serious weaknesses in critical and analytical skills; limited or irrelevant use of the literature; failure to satisfy course requirements. 6

7 Academic Integrity Academic Policies It is a serious offence to present a piece of work for course credit as one s own if the work or a portion thereof was done by some other person (plagiarism). Actions of plagiarism harm both the student and the reputation of the University College. Plagiarism or any form of cheating in examinations or term tests (e.g. crib notes) is subject to serious academic penalty that may include loss of part or all of the marks for an assignment/test, failure in the course, dismissal from the University College, or other serious consequences. Plagiarism or cheating in a course in which a student is cross-registered with the University of Manitoba may lead to disciplinary action by the University according to its policies. To plagiarize is to take ideas or words of another person and pass them off as one s own. In short, it is stealing something intangible rather than an object. Obviously it is not necessary to state the source of well-known or easily verifiable facts, but students are expected to acknowledge the sources of ideas and expressions they use in their written work, whether quoted directly or paraphrased. This applies to diagrams, statistical tables and the like, as well as to written material and materials or information from Internet sources. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism. It will also be considered plagiarism and/or cheating if a student submits an assignment in whole or in part by someone other than him/herself, or copies the answer or answers of another student in any test, examination, or take-home assignment. At the beginning of their program of study, all students are required to complete the prescribed plagiarism tutorial. Instructors are required to report all allegations of plagiarism or cheating to the Academic Dean before a grade is assigned. The original assignment is submitted to the Academic Dean. The Academic Dean will chair a joint meeting of student and instructor to hear both the allegations and the student s response to the allegations. The Academic Dean will then make a determination whether or not plagiarism or cheating has in fact occurred and decide on appropriate disciplinary measures. The student and instructor will be notified of the Academic Dean s decision in writing. A copy of the decision will be sent to the Registrar and University College President. The student has the right to appeal the decision of the Academic Dean (see Academic Appeals). Policy on the Use of Personal Computers, Electronic Devices and Cell Phones The Booth classroom environment is to be a special place of focused engagement between professors and students. As such, electronic devices are allowed in the classroom for the purposes of course instruction. Computers, the internet, downloaded material, or other electronic devices such as cell phones should be used with the consent of the instructor. Social networking sites are not usually appropriate in classroom settings. Policy on Unclaimed Term Work It is the student s responsibility to claim all term work, assignments or tests. Any term work that has not been claimed by students will be held for a period of four months from the end of final exam period for the term in which the work was assigned. At the conclusion of this time, all unclaimed term work will be destroyed in accordance with FIPPA guidelines. Withdrawal Any student who is considering withdrawing from the course is requested to speak with the instructor and contact the Booth University College Registrar at or the program advisor. 7

8 Date Thursday Tuesday Sep 6 & Sep 11 Sep 13 & Sep 18 Sep 20 & Sep 25 Sep 27 & Oct 2 Oct 4 (Thursday) Oct 8-12 Oct 16 (Tuesday) Oct 18 & Oct 23 Oct 25 & Oct 30 CST NOV 4. Nov 1 & Nov 6 Nov 8 & Nov 13 Nov 15 & Nov 20 Nov 22 & Nov 27 Nov 29 & Dec 4 Dec 7-13 Fall Semester Schedule Topic Introduction to the Course Presuppositions, pretest Reading Quiz 1 Jesus of Nazareth & Christian Origins Sentence 1 Jesus cont d; Introduction to the Christian Bible Reading Quiz 2 The Christian Bible: Old Testament Sentence 2 The Christian Bible: New Testament Creeds and Beliefs (Theology) Critical Review selection due Thanksgiving (Oct 8) Fall Reading Week Sentence 2 The Christian Bible: New Testament Creeds and Beliefs (Theology) Critical Review selection due Mid-semester Exam Reading Quiz 3 God (Theology Proper) Spirit (Pneumatology) Sentence 3 God, cont d. ( as Creator) Humanity (Anthropology) Reading Quiz 4 Jesus of Nazareth (Christology) Sentence 4 Salvation (Soteriology) Grace Reading Quiz 5 Church (Ecclesiology) Sacraments Sentence 5 The Christian Hope (Eschatology) Christianity & Other Faiths (Missiology) Book of Sentences and Critical Review Due Semester Exam [ Dec ] Assigned Reading McGrath, Christianity, pp.1-27 McGrath, Christianity, pp.28 and sidebar pp.39-40a Miller, Snapshots, pp.8-15a McGrath, Christianity, sidebar p.29 and Text of pp McGrath, Christianity, pp.40b-47, 47-53; sidebar 41 (add Philippians abbrev. Php to Box 2.4 after Ephesians);pp Miller, Snapshots, pp.15b-25 McGrath, Christianity, pp.40b-47, 47-53; sidebar 41 (add Philippians abbrev. Php to Box 2.4 after Ephesians);pp Miller, Snapshots, pp.15b-25 McGrath, Christianity, pp Miller, Snapshots, pp.34-37, , 141, Miller, Snapshots, pp McGrath, Christianity, pp McGrath, Christianity, pp McGrath, Christianity, pp Miller, Snapshots, pp McGrath, Christianity, pp McGrath, Christianity, pp Miller, Snapshots, pp.132, 205 McGrath, Christianity, pp McGrath, Christianity, pp Miller, Snapshots, pp.94-96, McGrath, Christianity, pp Miller, Snapshots, pp Miller, Snapshots, pp (optional) McGrath 2 nd ed. pp (optional) 8