SYLLABUS FLORIDA CENTER FOR THEOLOGICAL STUDIES SPRING 2007 TH202 - THEOLOGICAL STUDIES Dr. David Gasperson - consultation by email or phone. Email: gaspersond@ao1.com. Phone number will be shared during first week of class or may be obtained from the Center office in Miami. Class meets online for 11 weeks beginning March 5 except for Easter holidays April 2- April 14. Mail papers and other ground mail to: David Gasperson, 203 Estate Dr., Jacksonville NC 28540 Website: WVvw. fcts. edu 1. COURSE DESCRIPTION This core seminar seeks to provide an introduction to the basic tenets of the Christian faith. While systematic in coverage, attention will also be given to the history of the development of dogma. Students will receive a strong background in basic Christian theology and will be involved in an integrative forum on theological questions emerging from the modem world and applications of Christian theology to contemporary ministry. II. COURSE PLAN This course will be taught in a combination of face-lo-face and online components using email, discussion groups, web site, and multi-media. All students should have the necessary equipment and ability to use computers and the Internet. Refer to the Center's website at www.fcfts.org and specifically the page for "Distance LearninglTechnology" to learn the required equipment and abilities. All registering students must provide an email address (space is provided for it on the registration form) and will be contacted by the professor with additional instructions. Lectures will be sent to students by email. Discussion will be done through a face-to-face class in Miami. Students unable to attend these classes will participate in discussion groups through onl ine chats. III. COURSE FORMAT Theology will be presented in this course using a "systematic" framework in which the major topics of theological concern are addressed individually. Within the systematic framework discussion will also include important observations from historical and contemporary theology as well as practical and ministerial issues. This term the subjects for emphasis witllln the systematic framework will include Salvation, The Church, The Holy Spirit and Eschatology IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. Overview: Requirements for this course include regular class attendance, reading of all assigned texts, two examinations, completion of a research paper on an approved topic and brief summary of the conclusions from that research to the class.
2 2. Grading: Grade for the class will be based on the following: examinations 20 % each participation 20 % research paper 30 % presentation to class 10 % 3. Examinations: Students will be tested on class notes and readings assigned at each of two scheduled testing times. Tests are equally weighted and non-cumulative. 4. Absences: Class attendance is essential to achieve mastery of the course. More than two absences may result in the professor requesting the student withdraw from the course. Withdrawal is the responsibility of the student. Online attendance is verified by completion of assignments, attendance in chats and responses to email 5. Scores: Numerical scores and their letter equivalents for this course are: o - 59 ----- F 60-69 --- D 70-73 ----- C- 74-77 ---- C 78-81 ---- C+ 82-85 ---- B- 86-89 ----- B 90-93 ---- B+ 94-97 -----.~- 98-100 --- A 6. Research: Each student will submit a research paper of no less than ten (10) typed, 12-point type, double-spaced pages on a topic approved by the professor and preferably from within the immediate scope of the theological topics of this term. The paper should be researched and show adequate footnotes and bibliography to indicate sources. Turabian form guidelines required by the Center will be enforced on this paper. ("StyleEase" is a computer program available online or through the Florida Center library which assists with Turabian format.) Bibliography should show at least ten (10) entries of which at least three (3) should be journal articles. Papers should be submitted by surface mail or through an attachment to email using a program specified by the professor so the format can be checked. In addition, students will provide a brief, oral report to the class on the research and the conclusions of the paper. V. REQUIRED READING The following texts will be provided through the Center's bookstore at the administrative desk: Joel B. Green. Salvation: Understanding Biblical Themes. Chalice, 2004. ISBN 0827238312 George E. Ladd. The Blessed Hope. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980. ISBN 0-8028-11 I 1-6 Molly Truman Marshall. Joining the Dance: A Theology of the Spirit. Judson, 2003 ISBN 0817014136 Letty M. Russell. Church in the Round: Feminist Interpretation of the Church. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1993. ISBN 0-664-25070-X Kate L. Turabian. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations,
3 6th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago, 1996. VI. SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY Though not a part of the required readings the following volumes are recommended for additional reading and research. Numbers following some entries indicate location of the volume within the FCTS library. Not all library holdings have been noted here and additions are made to the library all the time. Don't assume that the book is unavailable just because a reference number is not listed. Check the catalog. SALVATION Bartlett. Anthony W. Cross Purposes: The Violent Grammar of Christian Atonement. Harrisburg: Trinity Press International, 2001. BT 265.2. B37 2001 THE CHURCH Beasley-Murray, G. R. Baptism in the New Testament Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962. BV806.B4 1962 Berrigan, DanieL The Bride: Images of the Church. Maryknoll: Orbis, 2000. BX 466 I.B4 7 2000 Gehring, Roger W. House Church and Mission: The Importance of Household Structures in Early Christianity. Peabody: Hendrickson, 2004. BS 2545.C5.G45 2004 Giles, Kevin. What On Earth is the Church? Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 1995. BS2545.C5.G55 1995 Hinson, E. Glenn. The Church Triumphant. Macon: Mercer, 1995. BRI62.2.H56 1995 -=:-:-:-:-.' The Integrity of the Church. Nashville: Broadman, 1978. BV600.2.H521978 Kung, Hans. The Church. New York: Sheed & Ward, 1967. BXI746.K813 1976. Structures of the Church. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame, 1964. Lathrop, Gordon W. and Timothy 1. Wengert. Christian Assemblv: Marks of the Church In a Pluralistic Age. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2004 BV 600.3.L27 2004 Moltmann, Jurgen. The Church in the Power of the Spirit Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1993. BV600.2.M6413 1993 Regele, Mike. Death of the Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995. BR526.R44 1995
4 Russell, Letty M. Church in the Round. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1993. BV600.2.R687 1993 Stagaman, David J. Authority in the Church. Collegeville: Liturgical, 1999. BX 1746.S7 1999 Watson, David C. I Believe in the Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979. BV600.2.W361979 THE HOLY SPIRIT Bloesch, Donald G. The Holy Soirit: Works and Gifts. Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 2000 BT 12U.B57 2000 Green, Michael. I Believe in the Holy Spirit. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1975. BTl21.2.G72 1975 Holl, Adolf. the Left Hand of God: A Biography of the Holy Spirit. New York: Doubleday, 1998. BT 123.H6513 1998 Karkkainen, Veli-Matti. Pneumatology: The Holy Spirit in Ecumenical, International, and Contextual Perspective. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002 BT 121.3.K37 2002 Montague, George T. The Holy Spirit: Growth of a Biblical Tradition. New York: Paulist, 1976. BS680.H56.M661976 Moody, Dale. Spirit of the Living God. Nashville: Broadman, 1976. Prichard Rebecca Button. Sensing the Spirit: The Holy Spirit In Feminist Perspective. St. Lows: Chalice, 1999. Snook, Lee E. What in the World Is God Doing? Minneapolis: Fortress, 1999. BT124.S985 1999 Stagg, Frank. The Holy Spirit Today: Biblical Teaching Applied to Present Needs. Macon: Smyth Helwys, 1994. Turner, Ma..'I:. The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts: In the New Testament Church and Todav. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1998 BS2545.G47 T87 1998 ESCHATOLOGY
5 Abanes, Richard. End-time Visions: The Doomsdav Obsession. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1999. BT 876.A22 1999 Bauckham, Richard. The Fate of the Dead: Studies on the Jewish and Christian Apocalypses. Boston: Brill, 1998. BL 501.B38 1998 Bauckham, Richard and Trevor Hart Hope Against Hope: Christian Eschatology in Contemporary Context. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999. BV 4638.B38 1999 Bracken, Joseph A., Ed. Christian Eschatology From a Process Perspective. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005. BJ 1406.W68 2005 Bremmer, Jan N. The Rise and Fall of the Afterlife. New York: Routledge, 2001 BL 535. B75 2001 Farley, Margaret A. and Serene Jones. Liberating Eschatology. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1999. BT 823.L53 1999 Johns, Loren 1. Apocalypticism and Millennialism: Shaping a Believer's Church Eschatology for the 21st Century. Kitchener, Ontario: Pandora, 1999 BT 823.A76 1999 Johnson, Philip. Shades of Sheol: Death and Afterlife in the Old Testament. Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 2002 BS 1199.D34.J64 2002 Koester, Craig R Revelation and the End of All Things. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001. BS 2825.53 K64 2001 Kyle, Richard. The Last Days Are Here Again: A History of the End Times. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998. BT 876.K95 1998 Ladd, George Eldon. The Blessed Hope. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988 BT885.L23 1956 -=---,-" Presence of the Future: The Eschatology of Biblical Realism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1973. BT94.L23 1973 MacPherson, Dave. The Incredible Cover-Up: The True Story of the Pre-Trib Rapture. Plainfield: Logos, 1975. Moltmann, Jurgen. The Coming of God. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996. BT821.1.M658 1996 -=-:::-:-::. Theology of Hope. New York: Harper & Row, 1967. BT821.2.M6313 1967
6 Papadopoulos, Gerasimos. At the End of Time: The Eschatological Expectations of the Church. Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1997. BT 821.2 P33 1997 Sauter, Gerhard. What Dare We Hope? Reconsidering Eschatology. Harrisburg: Trinity International, 1999. BT 921.2.S258 1999 Saward, John. Sweet and Blessed Country: The Christian Hope for Heaven. New York: Oxford, 2005. BT 846.3.S39 2005 Schwaraz, Hans. Eschatology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000. BT 821.2. 5353 2000 Wright, J. Edward. The Early Historv of Heaven. New York: Oxford, 2000. BM645 H43 W75 2000 In addition to these books on the specific subjects covered in this term, the following books may be of interest in general and special fields: HISTORY OF DOCTRINE Gonzalez, Justo. A History of Christian Thought. (3 vols) Nashville: Abingdon, 1971-1975. BT21.2.G613 1971-75 Placher, William C. A History of Christian Theology. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1983. BT21.2.B57 1983 VII. POLICIES I. Incompletes: An incomplete grade may be given only to a student who has been attending classes on a regular basis and submitting assigrunents and tests promptly but who is unable to complete the course due to an emergency. The request to complete course work must be made by the student and agreed to by the professor. It is the student's responsibility to arrange for completion ofthe course and to submit to the professor all course work by the date published in the academic year calendar. All requests for incompletes must be submitted in writing using the "Request for Incomplete" form available from the Registrar. For incompletes, the professor is required to submit two grades for the course - an "I" for incomplete, followed by a slash and the letter grade that the student will receive if no additional work is completed (for example: "IJD"). If incomplete work is not finished by the deadline assigned by the Center, the second grade automatically becomes the grade for the course - frequently that means failure for the course. 2. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as the use, without proper acknowledgment, of the ideas, phrases, sentences, or larger units of discourse from another writer or speaker. FCTS is committed to the highest standards of scholarly integrity and the
7 Dean's office will deal appropriately with any incident of plagiarism. Depending on the seriousness of the offense, plagiarism can result in failure of the course or even expulsion. A void plagiarism by being sure proper foomotes and bibliography are included on all your papers. 3. Respect: We are a multi-cultural and diverse educational community. In this course we will strive for inclusive language. We will not accept intolerance and abuse of others in any form and we will seek to broaden our own experience by incorporating the broad experience of others. While words and ideas are our individuality and our freedom, they may also hurt others. Let us be cautious. FOR COMPLETE CATALOG LISTINGS INCLUDING CENTER POLICIES, VISIT THE CENTER'S WEBSITE AT WWW.FCTS.EDU. '1111. COCRSE OBJECTIVES At the close of this term students are intended to have achieved the following objectives: I. To demonstrate an understanding of the historical development of the Christian doctrinefs) of salvation. 2. To grasp the development and modem manifestations of the sacraments and ordinances of the church, the leadership institutions of the church and the role of the church within society. 3. To comprehend the growth of the understanding of the Holy Spirit in the Judeo-Christian tradition and the role of the Holy Spirit in today's worship and ministry. 4. To develop an appreciation for the expectation of the Church as it finds manifestation in the various eschatological theories and beliefs current throughout history and today. IX. COURSE OUTLINE (Calendar lists the weeks by the date of the Monday of that week - not the actual date of class meeting.) Week 1- March 5 Topics: Roles of Christ and Models of Salvation Other Matters: Overview of syllabus and texts; introductions Week 2 - March 12 Topics: The Nature and Development of the Church Required Reading: Green (112) - reading assignments are due for completion by the date on which they are listed Week 3 - March 19 Topics: Offices and Authority of the Church Required Reading: Green (finish) Other Matters: Last day for drop/add - March 19 Week 4 - March 26 Topics: Ordinances, Sacraments and Rites of the Church Required Reading: Russell (one-third) Other Matters: Term Paper Topics Finalized Last day to withdraw without penalty - March 26
8 Week 5 - April 16 Topics: One Church and Many Churches (Ecwnenism) Required Reading: Russell (one-third) Other Matters: Start of Summer registration - April 21 Week 6 - April 23 Topics: Biblical Insights on the Person and Role of the Holy Spirit Required Reading: Russell (finish) Other Matters: Please have a bibliography ready for your papers. MID TERM EXAM Week 7 - April 30 Topics: The Holy Spirit at Work Then and Now Required Reading: (none) Week 8 - May 7 Topics: Death and the Christian Required Reading: Marshall (1/2) Other Matters: Please have an outline ready for your papers. Week 9 - May 14 Topics: Biblical Expectations of the End Required Reading: Marshall (finish) Week JO - May 21 Topics: Millennial Theories and the Modem World Required Reading: Ladd (one-half) Other Matters: STUDENT PRESENTATIONS Incomplete grades for winter term changed to letter grade May 27 Week 11-May 28 Topics: Theologies of Hope and Expectation (Moltmann & Pannenberg) Required Reading: Ladd (finish) Other Matters: FINAL EXAM TERM PAPERS DUE (end of syllabus)