Theology (06) Foundations of Theology

Transcription

1 Theology (06) Foundations of Theology MEETINGS: WEBSITE: PROFESSOR: MY TWITTER FEED: OFFICE HOURS: TA: CLASS ADDRESS: CLASS BLOG: FALL 2015, M.W. 2:00-3:15, 109 O SHAUGHNESSY HALL sakai GABRIEL SAID REYNOLDS (REYNOLDS@ND.EDU OR CALL M. 1-2, TUE 1-2, F IN 227 MALLOY CLAIR MESICK (CLAIR.E.MESICK.1@ND.EDU) GSRFOUNDATIONS15@SAKAILOGIN.ND.EDU GABRIELSREYNOLDS.WORDPRESS.COM Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 Description of the Course and Its Relevance in the Life of a Notre Dame Student The name Immanuel means God with us in Hebrew. Christians have traditionally referred to Jesus Christ with this name, and argued that Jesus was the fulfillment of Isaiah s prophecy proclaimed centuries earlier which is quoted above. Yet the belief that Jesus is God with us presents a challenge. How could God, the Creator, become a part of creation? Why would He do such a thing? These are the questions that faced the authors of the New Testament and the Church Fathers. In this course we will examine how they addressed these questions and, through that examination, ourselves confront these same questions. Together we will pursue a critical reading of Old Testament, New Testament and early Christian writings as we engage in theological reflection. Foundations of Theology is the first of two required theology courses. These two courses are directed towards a number of goals. First, they provide students with information about the Bible and Christian theology that in itself is important. Second, they form the basis of a Catholic community at Notre Dame where all students (whether or not they are practicing Catholics) have a common experience of texts and questions that might be discussed not only in class but also while playing intramural football. Third, theology itself is meant as a guiding light for all other classes. As with the great European universities (Paris, Bologna, Oxford, Cambridge etc.), Notre Dame was founded by the Catholic Church to be a community where students are strengthened in their faith and morals, and therefore more able to see the truth in other fields, whether science, music, history, or any other field. Course Logic and Learning Goals The study of religion is something like a kid watching an ant farm. Students of religion observe from a safe distance how religions function and what religious people do. This is not a course in religion. This is

2 2 a course in Christian theology or, as Saint Anselm put it, Faith Seeking Understanding. By faith Anselm does not mean blind faith, or some general sense of trusting in a mysterious higher being. Instead faith is acceptance of those things which, according to the Church, God has communicated to humanity, things which we would not know by our brains alone. The Church holds that the principal record of God s communication with humanity is the Bible, and that the summit of God s communication with humanity is His act of becoming man, or the Incarnation in Jesus Christ. In this course we will seek to understand the awesome ways in which God has communicated with humanity by studying the Bible and reflecting on how the Church and Christian theologians, in the first five centuries after the Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Christ came to speak of Christ (this field of study is known as Christology). The course has four parts: - Old Testament - New Testament - Thinking about Revelation - Patristic Christology Course Objectives By the end of the course students should: - Have a foundational knowledge of Christian Scripture and Tradition - Be able to explain Christian doctrine as defined by the first creeds - Have a working vocabulary of theological terms and concepts - Have a familiarity with the books of the Old and New Testaments - Articulate the basic narrative of salvation history as unfolded in Scripture - Have practiced the method of theology as faith seeking understanding - Have a foundation for further theological study (in particular, for a "development of theology" course, the second university requirement in theology) and spiritual reflection A Few Rules 1. Attendance is required. Three unexcused absences will be grudgingly tolerated. A fourth unexcused absence will reduce your class participation grade to a maximum of 70 and a fifth unexcused absence will reduce your class participation grade to a maximum of 60. A student who is absent, without excuse, more than five times during the semester will not pass the course. Absences are excused with a written form from a dean or by agreement with me or our TA beforehand (this means ing us at least 24 hours before class and receiving an with our agreement before class). It is the student s responsibility to find the sign-in sheet and sign in.

3 3 2. Punctuality with your person and your work is required. Tardiness will be treated as an absence. Late papers will lose a full letter grade for each day late. Computer malfunctions and memory malfunctions are not valid excuses. No extensions for papers except for natural disasters. 3. Absence on the day of a quiz or a test without an excuse approved beforehand means an F on that quiz or test (i.e. do not use an unexcused absence on one of those days). 4. Print out assigned on-line readings and bring them to class. 5. Absolutely no use of computers, iphones, or any gadgets whatsoever in class (unless you have special permission through the university). Let s all avoid that awkward moment where I have to point out that I can see you texting under the desk. 6. No eating in class. 7. Remember your responsibility under the Notre Dame honor code, which may be found at If you have any question of what constitutes plagiarism, see Readings Three books are required; bring the relevant book(s) to class. They are in the ND Bookstore: + The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Doubleday Press) + The Christological Controversy, ed. Norris (Fortress Press) + The HarperCollins Study Bible A few additional required readings will be posted on sakai and must be printed out and brought to class. Sakai In addition to class readings (found under resources ) a number of important elements of our class are found on sakai. You will hand in most of your assignments through sakai. Assignments and Their Contribution to Your Grade + Class participation 10% (5% attendance/punctuality, 5% active participation in class) + Blog 10% (see below) + Midterm exam 20% + 2 Papers (limit 2000 words) 30% + Final exam 25% + Visit my office hours at least once during the semester required

4 4 (hint: Spending time at the writing center will help you get a better grade.) Blog posts will be done through our class wordpress site (you will be setting up your own site) for each class which has a reading assigned. Posts will usually be words and online by 8pm the night before class. In addition you will need to post one comment on a post by a blogger in your group by 8am the day of class. Blog posts will be graded (100, 80, 0); you may skip one blog post per semester. Posts must reflect your own engagement with the text, and in no way be based upon outside sources. In these responses you should do one or more of the following: - Identify a quote or passage that caught your attention and explain why you found it interesting and important in the context of the reading, - Identify a point of confusion that stands in need of further clarification, - Pose one or two important questions raised by the text that are worthy of further explanation or reflection. On certain occasions during the semester I will submit a questionnaire which you will fill out along with the reading. On those occasions the questionnaire will take the place of a blog post. Definition of Final Grades B: Regular and punctual attendance. Active participation in class and on forum. Papers with correct writing, a well-structured argument, and sophisticated use of sources. Improvement shown through the semester. C: Regular and punctual attendance. Some participation in class and on forum. Papers with good writing, a logical argument, and reference to sources. Improvement shown through the semester. D: Occasional attendance and punctuality. Limited participation. Papers submitted on time. A: In addition to B, extraordinary work in and out of class. Outstanding work ethic and devotion to the class. Grade Scale A A B B B C C C D

5 5 F Recommended Electronic Resources for the Bible Interactive Bible Websites + Oremus Bible Browser: lookup passages by reference address; search for words or phrases; read texts without verse numbers, headings, or footnotes + Biblia: read texts in full screen mode; view content of cross-references and footnotes by holding cursor over them + Bible.is: listen to texts in audio-book format (NT also available for download as podcast in itunes) + Bible Study Tools: highlight and annotate texts (with a free user account); compare multiple translations side-by-side Bible Apps + YouVersion: Free app with text and audio versions of the Bible in numerous translations. + Olive Tree: Ditto, with more study resources and a different style (see Class Plan 1. (August 26) Introduction The meaning of the Bible The Documentary Hypothesis: J.E.P.D. A. Old Testament 2. (August 31) The Myth of Beginnings: Creation Introduction to the HarperCollins Study Bible (xvii-xxiv) Genesis: Introduction, 1:1-4:1 (all biblical verses are inclusive) The Enuma Elish (Sakai) The Epic of Gilgamesh, "The Coming of Enkidu" (Sakai) Adam's Helpmeet (Sakai) Ehrman, Bible, 2-30 (i.e. chapter 1) Main ideas: sources within the V; plurality of meanings; differences and similarities with other Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) literature 3. (September 2) Noah and Abraham Genesis 6:1-9:17, 11:10-25:18 (esp. 15:1-18:15, 21:1-22:19)

6 6 The Epic of Gilgamesh, "The Story of the Flood" (Sakai) Ehrman, Bible, (i.e. chapter 2). Main ideas: the importance of comparative literature in biblical study; legends of the patriarchs 4. (September 7) Moses and the Covenant at Sinai Exodus: Introduction, 19:1-20:26, (skim 21:1-31:18), 24:3-18, 32:1-34:35 Delbert Hillers, Covenant: The History of a Biblical Idea, (Sakai) Main ideas: the definition and form of a covenant; the centrality of the Sinai covenant 5. (September 9) A Holy Life: Be Separate Leviticus: Introduction, 11, 15, 19, 22:8 Deuteronomy 14:3-21 Genesis 9:1-6 Mary Douglas, "The Abominations of Leviticus," in her Purity and Danger, (Sakai) Ehrman, Bible, (i.e. the middle section of chapter 3 on the law). Main ideas: regulations added to the Decalogue; the ideal of purity; the centrality of religious practice 6. (September 14) Exodus and Desert Wandering Exodus 1:8-17:7. Numbers: Introduction, 11, 13:1-14:10a, 20:1-13, 21:4-9. Deuteronomy 34:1-8. Hosea 1:1-2:23, 11:1-12, 14:1-9. Ehrman, Bible, 58-65, (i.e. the beginning of chapter 3 on the Exodus and the middle section on Numbers) Main ideas: the person and life of Moses, the ideal leader; the formative story of the Exodus; different assessments of the time in the desert 7. (September 16) The Conquest of the Sworn Land: 2 versions Joshua: Introduction, 1:10-7:26, (skim 10:1-12:24), 24:1-33 Judges: Introduction, 1:1-2:23, 3:7-11, 4:1-23, 11:1-40, 13:1-16:31, 19:1-30, 21:25 Main ideas: the centrality of the land; leadership before the time of kings; the historicity of the conquest; the purpose of stories of abominations 8. (September 21) Paper 1 due: the portrait of society in the book of Ruth

7 7 9. (September 23) The Rise and Fall of the Israelite Kingdom I Samuel 1-18, II Samuel 11-12, I Kings 17-19; II Kings 1-2, 17, Main ideas: ambivalence towards kingship; infidelity to God and its consequences 10. (September 28) Israel in Exile Esther, Tobit Main ideas: Faithfulness to the God of Israel even under duress; human cunning 11. (September 30) God of All Nations Jonah Map and date quiz Main ideas: God s love for all people 12. (October 5) The Problem of Evil Job 1-14, Main ideas: When bad things happen to good people 13. (October 7) Midterm examination October 9, Instructional Mass B. New Testament 14. (October 12) Introduction to the Gospels Paper Topics Assigned Introduction to Extra Credit Assignment Brown, Introduction to the New Testament, (sakai) 15. (October 14) Gospel of Luke (1) Luke 1-14 FALL BREAK 16. (October 26) Gospel of Luke (2) Luke 15-24, reading questionnaire

8 8 17. (October 28) Gospel of John (1) John (November 2) Gospel of John (2) CLASS MEETS IN CEDAR GROVE CEMETERY John (November 4) Acts of the Apostles Acts 1-17, reading questionnaire 20. (November 9) Paul and His Letters Romans 1-8, Philippians, 1 Corinthians (November 11) Apocalypse! Revelation (November 16) Reflection on the Bible Group Project: Biblical Images in the Basilica 23. (November 18) Paper 2 Due Meet in Snite Museum, Study of the Crucifixion C. Thinking about Revelation 24. (November 23) What is Revelation Catechism of the Catholic Church, [segments not page numbers!] THANKSGIVING BREAK 25. (November 30) Sacred Scripture Catechism of the Catholic Church, [segments not page numbers!] Extra Credit Assignments Due D. Patristic Christology 26. (December 2) Introduction to Christology Norris, Introduction

9 9 Catechism of the Catholic Church, (December 7) Irenaeus and Origen Norris, chapters 3, (December 9) Council of Chalcedon Norris, chapter 9, reading questionnaire Review Session, TBA Final Exam Wednesday, December 16, 4:15-6:15 pm.