REL201 A: Jesus of Nazareth Term: Fall, 2017 Classroom: Education Hall (Barstow) 109 Meeting Period: Mon. Wed., and Fri, 10:40 AM to 12:00 Noon Instructor: Scott Celsor Office Phone: (262) 951-3150 E-Mail Address: scelsor@carrollu.edu Office: Office Hours: Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes: MacAllister B003A Wednesday, Friday 9:30 to 10:30 AM Monday, Wednesday 1:30 to 2:30 PM or by Appointment Jesus of Nazareth is one of the most important figures in Western history. Some would say that he is the most important figure in world history. Yet for all of his importance, one might overlook the fact that how he has been understood in various historical epics, various churches, and various cultures impacts the role that he plays for peoples of various times, churches, and cultures. So, in order to help you understand how his significance fluctuates for various peoples, and why, it is the purpose of this course to introduce you to: Jesus in his first-century context as a Jew, and how he is portrayed in different NT literary contexts (e.g., the Gospels, Paul); the highlights of the Christian interpretation of the person and work of Jesus Christ in various Christian eras and denominations, including his presentation in the Nicene Creed; Jesus as he is interpreted today in various global and theological contexts (e.g., Africa, Latin America, Liberation and Feminist theology, and Modernity); and how Jesus of Nazareth is understood in some other world religions. By the end of the class, you should be able to: Understand and analyze multiple philosophical, ethical and religious positions held by persons within their own and other cultures. In this course, this means that you will know how Jesus Christ/Jesus of Nazareth is understood in various Christian denominations and other world religions. This outcome will be assessed through reader s guides, exams, and your research paper or oral presentation. Know how Jesus of Nazareth has been understood in various historical eras. This outcome will be assessed through your reading quizzes and exams. Develop and defend a position that demonstrates logical reasoning in both writing and oral argumentation. In this course, this means that you will be able to describe who you think Jesus of Nazareth is, and defend your answer. This outcome will be assessed through exams, course participation, and your research paper or oral presentation. Course Requirements: There are five components to one s final grade, worth a total of 450 points. There will be a mid-term exam, worth 50 points, and final exam, worth 100 points. Both exams will be a mix of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. The multiple choice and short answer questions will examine your mastery of the basic facts of how Jesus of Nazareth is understood within 1
Scripture, the various churches, world religions, and historical images presented by Pelikan, while the essay questions will examine your understanding of the relationships between various Christological teachings and other church doctrines, similarities and differences between various Christian denominations and Christian theologies on how they understand Jesus Christ, or similarities and differences between various world religions on how they understand Jesus Christ/Jesus of Nazareth. In order to sharpen and evaluate your ability in reading and understanding texts, you will be required to complete a total of ten (10) on-line reading quizzes, which will be worth 50 points total. You will find these quizzes posted on the Canvas website under Assignments. Each late quiz will be accepted up to two (2) days past the due date, for any reason, with a one (1) point penalty. In order to help you better understand some of the tougher readings that we will cover this semester, so as to help you do a better job of participating in class, you will be required to complete a total of six (6) reader s guides, which will be worth a total of 100 points. Your lowest reader s guide score will automatically be dropped from your final point total. You will find these guides posted on the Canvas website under Modules/Reader s Guides. Each late reader s guide will be accepted up to one (1) week past the due date, for any reason, with a two (2) point penalty for each course day late. There will be one (1) research essay or one (1) oral presentation, worth 100 points. The choice is up to you whether you wish to write a paper or make a class presentation, but I need to be informed in writing of your choice by Friday, September 22. This class will examine many different images concerning how Jesus of Nazareth has been understood. If you chose to write an essay, you must tell me which image of Jesus you find compelling and why. In this essay, you must explain this image in some detail beyond Pelikan; explain your criteria for making this judgment and defend it; and then show me how your chosen image of Jesus fits this criteria. To prove this will require some research on your part. We will cover how to go about doing research in Scripture and theology topics in a special library session on Friday, September 15. Your paper must cite at least two primary texts and three secondary texts, but only two of these texts may come from the internet. Your paper must be 5-6 pages in length. A detailed outline is due by Friday, November 17; the final draft is due on Monday, December 4. You are to use proper grammar and spelling, standard margins, and an academically acceptable font of 10 or 12 points. The grading rubric for this assignment is on our course website, under Modules/Rubrics. [Note that I am open to other topics related to Jesus of Nazareth for this paper. However, you must make a detailed proposal of this paper to me by Friday, October 13, and the proposal must be approved by me.] The requirements for the oral presentation are somewhat different. The oral presentation will be part of our segment on modern issues related to the study of Jesus of Nazareth. Your presentation will be made the week of November 27. Plan for an individual presentation, but I will create group presentations if possible. If you choose to make a course presentation, you must explain in some detail beyond Pelikan which image of Jesus you find compelling and why; explain your criteria for making this judgment and defend it; show me how your chosen image of Jesus fits this criteria. and then be ready to stand for questions from the class. Your presentation must cite at least two primary texts and three secondary texts, but only two of these texts may come from the internet. Your 2
presentation must be a minimum of 4 minutes in length. A Prezi or Power Point presentation will be required. A detailed outline is due by Friday, November 17. The grading rubric is on our course website, under Modules/Rubrics. Class participation will be worth 50 points. Half the points will be awarded at mid-term, half at the end of the course. Class participation involves asking questions in class, making comments, getting involved in debate (all of which demonstrate that you have done the day s reading), participating in our RTTP Nicaea exercise, and dialoguing with students who have differing theologies. Both the quantity and quality of the participation will be assessed. Points are awarded on a competitive basis. I will accept questions submitted at the end of class as evidence of participation. Any indulgence you receive in class for participation can be converted into bonus points and added to your final point total. Course Grading and Attendance Policies: Since this course is based upon student interaction, course attendance is expected. After the equivalent of one week of absences, excused or unexcused, a student s grade will be reduced by 5 points for each additional absence. The equivalent of two weeks of absences may result in failure of the course or being asked to withdraw. Four tardies equal one absence. If you are chronically ill or have extensive school sponsored activities that cause you to miss more than three classes, talk to me and we will work out an agreement. Documentation for excused absences is required. An excused absence is relevant, only if you miss an exam, presentation, or paper due date, due to a school approved reason. If you are absent for an approved reason, then I will allow you to make-up the work with no penalty, provided it is completed within a reasonable amount of time. Otherwise, it is at my discretion as to whether you will be allowed to make it up. If I allow it to be made-up, I may impose a halfletter grade reduction for each course day late. This course will use the following grading scale: A is 92-100%; AB is 89-91.99; B is 82-88.99; BC is 79-81.99; C is 70-78.99; D is 60-69.99; F is 59.99 and lower. Miscellaneous: Appropriate sanctions may be applied to those students in violation of Carroll s Academic Integrity Policy, including lowering a grade for an assignment, failure of an assignment or course, and even suspension or expulsion from the university. Please see the university catalog and the Student Handbook, section III, pp. 49-57, for college policies and procedures on student academic integrity. Ignorance of the policies is not an excuse. Students with documented disabilities who may need accommodations, or any student considering obtaining documentation, should make an appointment with Ms. Martha Bledsoe, Director of Services for Students with Disabilities, no later than the first week of class. She may be reached by calling (262) 524-7335 or by e-mailing her at mbledsoe@carrollu.edu. The Instructor and the College reserve the right to modify, amend, or change the syllabus (course requirements, grading policy, etc.) as the curriculum and/or program require. Required Texts: Henderson, David E. and Frank Kirkpatrick. Constantine and the Council of Nicaea. Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina Press, Reacting Consortium Press, 2016. ISBN: 978-1-4696-3316-9 3
Pelikan, Jaroslav. Jesus through the Centuries. His Place in the History of Culture. New York: Harper and Row, 1985. ISBN: 0-06-097080-4 Rausch, Thomas. Who is Jesus? An Introduction to Christology. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2003. ISBN 13: 978-0-8146-5078-3 Recommended Text: The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version. (NRSV) 4th Edition. Ed. by Michael D. Coogan. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN: 0195289609. You may use your own translation if you wish, but if you do not own a Bible and would like to own one, I would suggest purchasing the above Bible, which should be available in the bookstore, or The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: Revised Standard Version (RSV). Reading Schedule Scripture readings are denoted by the book of the Bible and chapters to be read. Introductory readings in our course text, Jesus through the Centuries, are denoted by Pelikan and chapter numbers. Readings in our second course text, Who is Jesus? An Introduction to Christology, are denoted by Rausch and chapter numbers. Readings in our final course text, Constantine and the Council of Nicaea, 325 C.E., are denoted by Henderson. Other readings can be found on the class reserve page of the library webpage. Quizzes, reader s guides, presentations, and papers are noted in bold text on the date that they are due. Week/Dates Day/Topic Readings/Assignments/Project 1. Sept. 4-8 M: Labor Day (No Class) W: No Class F: Personal/Course Introductions 2. Sept. 11-15 M: Modern Images of Jesus Christ PART I: JESUS OF NAZARETH IN THE BIBLE W: Jesus, The Jewish Background Rausch, ch. 3 F: Library Session Luke 1-4, 8-10, 21-24 Online Quiz 1 3. Sept. 18-22 F: Jesus, according to Luke Matt. 1-5, 16-17, 26-28 Online Quiz 2 W: Jesus, according to Matthew Narrative Reading Project F: The Life of Jesus of Nazareth Rausch, ch. 4, 5 Project Choice Due 4. Sept. 25-29 M: Jesus Christ, according to John John 1-3, 7-8, 12, 18-21 Online Quiz 3 W: The Death and Resurrection of Rausch, ch. 6, 7 Jesus Christ F: Jesus Christ, according to Paul Rom 1-8, 1 Cor. 15, Galatians Online Quiz 4 5. Oct. 2-6 M: New Testament Christologies Rausch, ch. 8 Exam Preparation 4
PART II: THE CATHOLIC/EVANGELICAL DOCTRINE OF JESUS CHRIST W: Catholic Christology and the Rausch, ch. 9, The Creed Trinity Online Quiz 5 F: Orthodox Christology Ware, ch. 11 / RG 1 Doctrine Review / Exam Prep 6. Oct. 9-13 M: RTTP Preparation Henderson W: Mid-Term Exam F: RTTP: Council of Nicaea, Day 1 Henderson 7. Oct. 16-20 M: Fall Break (No Class) W: RTTP: Council of Nicaea, Day 2 Henderson F. No Class ( Teacher In-service) 8. Oct. 23-27 M: RTTP: Council of Nicaea, Day 3 Henderson W: RTTP: Council of Nicaea, Day 4 Henderson F: Exercise Debrief Exam Review PART III: THE WESTERN IMAGES OF JESUS CHRIST 9. Oct. 30-Nov. 3 M: Jesus, The King of Kings / Pelikan, ch. 4, 6 Son of Man Online Quiz 6 (Late Antiquity) W: A Deeper Look: Sin, Jesus, and Augustine / RG 2 Augustine F: Jesus, Christ Crucified / Pelikan, ch. 8, 9 Monk Who Rules the World Online Quiz 7 (Middle Ages) 10. Nov. 6-10 M: A Deeper Look: The Christ of the Anselm /RG 3 Middle Ages W: Jesus, The Prince of Peace/ Pelikan ch. 13, 14 Mirror of the Eternal Online Quiz 8 (The Reformation) F: A Deeper Look: The Christ of the Luther, Calvin / RG 4 Reformation 11. Nov. 13-17 M: Jesus, Teacher of Common Pelikan, ch. 15, 16 Sense/Poet of the Spirit Online Quiz 9 (Enlightenment/Romanticism) W: A Deeper Look: The Jesus of the Jefferson, Schleiermacher / RG 5 Enlightenment and Romanticism F: Jesus, The Liberator Pelikan, ch. 17, 18 (Liberation Theology) Online Quiz 10 Paper/Presentation Outline Due 5
12. Nov. 20-24 M: A Deeper Look: The Jesus of Liberation Theology: Feminist, Latin American, and African Images of Jesus W: Jesus, My Personal Friend (Evangelicalism) F: Thanksgiving Break (Class Dismissed) Part IV: MODERN ISSUES IN THE STUDY OF JESUS OF NAZARETH 13. Nov. 27 Dec. 1 M: Who is Jesus of Nazareth? Presentation 1 W: Who is Jesus of Nazareth? Presentation 2 F: Who is Jesus of Nazareth? Presentation 3 14. Dec. 4-8 M: Video: From Jesus to Christ, I/II Paper Due W: Video: From Jesus to Christ, III F: A Modern Take on Christology Funk 15. Dec. 11-15 M: An Evangelical Response Braaten, RG 6 W: Conclusion: Jesus, Revelation and Culture Dec 18 M: Final Exam (Here @ 11 AM) 6