RELIGION 300 BIBLE, CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY AND VOCATION FALL WEC 2011 Dr. Dawn Alitz Phone: 952-992-0812 e-mail: alitz@augsburg.edu Office hours: by appointment This course is designed specifically for advanced transfer students - if you are not an advanced transfer student, you should take Religion 100. COURSE OBJECTIVES: Explore the ways humans go about the tasks of meaning-making and understanding vocation. Critically reflect upon how the major narratives of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity influence meaning-making and one s sense of vocation. Learn about the Lutheran/Christian influence upon meaning-making and vocation. Come to a better understanding of one s own way of meaning-making and sense of vocation. Gain the ability to discuss basic ideas both in the Bible and Christian theology, as well as your own understanding of vocation and explain the nature of your own religious or spiritual beliefs to peers whose views may differ from yours. Note: you do not need to be a Christian or even to be sure about your religious beliefs to take this course, but you do have to be willing to learn about Christianity and to discuss your spiritual faith and practices. REQUIRED TEXTS: Mabry, John, Faith Styles: Ways People Believe Wright, N.T., Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense Erlander, Manna & Mercy Harper Collins Study Bible or Access Bible (or other study Bible with NIV, RSV, NRSV or NAB) Eck, Diana, Encountering God: From Bozeman to Benares Marsh, Charles, God s Long Summer Other articles provided on Moodle This course includes an online conversation and assignment component. Students will need easy access to Moodle accounts as well as a computer with internet capabilities to successfully participate in this session. Please note: you don t need to own the computer, you just need access to one. 1
WHAT WILL WE DO? Carefully read the required assignments. Come to class prepared to ask questions, summarize key points of particular texts, dialogue about ideas, and reflect on how all of this relates to everyday life. The class format will be a mixture of student questions, large group discussion, small group sessions, minilectures, and other in-class activities. REQUIREMENTS Attendance is expected at all classes, and more than one absence may substantially lower your grade. Complete all readings for class and participate in each class session. All homework and written assignments are due at the beginning of class and will be considered late if handed in after class and deducted approximately 5%. Assignments will be docked approximately 5% for each additional day that they are late. Moodle assignments completed after the stated deadline will not be accepted. Papers will not be accepted after seven days past the original due date. No handwritten assignments will be accepted without advance permission. Extra credit assignments must be finished by the penultimate class. Journals and Moodle Participation For each class period there are assigned readings. While you are reading, take notes or keep a reading journal where you note your reactions to the texts (what you like, what bothers you, what does not hold your interest, or what invites you to learn more). One week prior to each class time, pick one of your journal observations and write 3-4 paragraphs (minimum 200 words) sharing this observation on Moodle. Then, two days prior to class, engage at least two of your classmate s observations in online discussion. Respectful and constructive dialog is expected. As part of your final presentation, be prepared to share with me what you learned through the texts - both about the topic studied and yourself. Constructive Theology Papers Theology is thinking about religious beliefs and practices. You have probably already thought about ultimate questions related to suffering, death, and the meaning of life. You have made choices about what matters most to you, how you will live your life, what are good criteria for making decisions, what you believe, and what spiritual practices (if any) you find helpful. Therefore, you are already a theologian at some level of practice! The two constructive theology papers in this course ask you to make your thinking explicit and discuss it with a small group of your classmates. Explaining your thinking to others and responding to their thinking will help you know more 2
clearly what you believe and why. It may also open you to new ways of thinking about and practicing your spirituality. Guidelines These papers will be discussed in class, so have a copy available to share (hardcopy or electronically). The final form of the paper should be uploaded to the Moodle site by 5:00 pm on the date shown in the class grid. Each paper should be 4-6 pages, formatted as 8.5x11 inch paper, doublespaced, with 1 inch margins on all sides and 12 point font. Include your name in the page header. The title page and/or bibliography are not included in the page count. Save/Upload each paper in the appropriate location with your first, middle, last initial and paper number (ex. my Paper I would be saved as DMA1.doc). Each paper will be graded by the following criteria: o Construction: A well-constructed essay has an introduction, a body that addresses all aspects of the assignment, and a conclusion. (These papers are essays, not a mechanical answering of the guiding questions.) o Understanding of Subject Matter: The writing should demonstrate understanding of the subject matter, by giving clear and adequate descriptions of the concepts you are highlighting. o Utilization of course materials: Writing includes thought-provoking illustrations from the course materials and life experience to support the argument. o Basic Writing Skills: This paper should show organization and clarity in the paper s presentation. Points will be taken off for poor mechanics of writing, (i.e. grammar, spelling, punctuation, lack of proper citations, etc.) The last page of your paper should include a paragraph that answers the following questions: What did you learn by writing this paper? How well did you do the assignment? Are there things that you left out? What do you want to think about more? Constructive Theology Paper Details Paper I Sources and Methods In this paper, please reflect on the SOURCES and METHODS of your theology Why do you believe what you do? How do you practice your spirituality? Do not describe WHAT you believe - that is the topic for paper II. If you feel it is important to think about the content of your beliefs, feel free to jot a few notes for yourself. That should help you with paper II. For this paper, step back from the beliefs themselves and explain what has shaped your beliefs. The ideas and questions below may help you prepare to write your paper. These are some hints 3
and ideas to get you started writing; you do not need to do any of them specifically for your paper. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist denomination, provides a helpful way of considering sources and methods for religious understanding. It is known as the Wesley quadrilateral because there are four components: Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience. o Scripture - Most religions have sacred texts that shape the religion s beliefs and/or believer s practices. Jews have the TaNak; Christians have a Bible with Old and New Testaments; Muslims have the Qur an. Eastern religions have the teachings of Confucius, Buddha, or the Vedas. In the United States, the constitution or the claims of experts or televangelists may seem sacred. Are there texts that you turn to for sorting out situations in your life or whose stories are influential in your self-understanding? o Tradition - What has been handed on? What does your religion teach? How does it interpret its scripture? How does it practice? The traditions of our families shape us: were we loved: abused? Ignored? Popular culture- books, movies, music, television, the internet, and advertising- affect us. What people or teachings have shaped you? Who/what do you look to for spiritual guidance? o Reason - What role does rational thinking play in how you live? Do you see your life as governed by fate or chance? Do you insist on proof for what you believe? How do you explain your religious practices? Do you follow the practices of a peer group or do you act independently? o Experience - Think about what experiences in your life have shaped your religious beliefs and /or spiritual practices. You might do this by drawing a spiritual timeline, showing the ups and downs of your life. What made some times high points or low points? What did you learn from these experiences that affects the way you think about your faith or spirituality? Paper II What I Believe and Practice Douglas John Hall, a Lutheran theologian, speaks of four parts of religion. Consider these parts (shown below and covered in class) and explain what you believe and practice in each area. How does your religious perspective understand its relationship to the world? Creed refers to the beliefs, faith statements, doctrines and teachings of the religion. For Christianity this would include the Apostle s and Nicene creeds and beliefs about Scripture, God as trinity, creation, providence, human nature, sin, who Jesus was and the significance of his life, death, and resurrection. It would include beliefs that vary by denomination like catechisms, the Lutheran confessions, pronouncements by the Vatican or Papal Encyclicals for Roman Catholics, and the Westminster Confession for Reformed churches. Other world religions have their own categories 4
including the ways of Manu, or the Five Pillars of Islam. Scientists assert models and theories, presume that we can understand much about the universe, and use reason and scientific methods to explore the world. How do these ideas influence how you think theologically? Code refers to the expectations of the religion: how people live with one another and make moral decisions. How are these choices related to our beliefs? Cultus refers to how practitioners worship. What are the symbols and rituals of the religion? Are there songs, hymns, dances, sacraments? What is their significance? Who participates? Are there expectations for daily prayer or meditation? For seasonal observances (holy daysholidays), pilgrimages? Community refers to the relationship of an individual to others in the religion. Do people worship together? Do they work together for common goals? Do they support one another? How is the community structured? How is the community related to the world-separate, engaged? Does the religion structure the culture and the community? Final Presentation: The final presentation will be an integration of the course readings, your papers, and class reflections. You can write/present a final paper that summarizes what you ve discovered this term, make a video, or share some music or art. The presentation itself should be around 7 minutes, with time afterward for your colleagues to ask questions. POINTS AND GRADING: Participation (7 classes, 15 points/class) 105 Moodle Participation (5x 7 pts ea.) 35 Constructive Theology Papers (2x 20 pts ea.) 40 Final Presentation 25 Final Exam (online) 65 270 Extra Credit options are available: Theological reviews of movies, television shows, books can earn up to 6 extra credit points. Be sure to cite all such media clearly and talk with Dr. Alitz before starting review. Each class time will have a make-up/extra credit option worth up to 6 points. These descriptions can be found on the Moodle site under each week. Grades will be based on the quality and completeness of your work. The rubric below describes what I m looking for. 5
Grade Percentage Point Range Description 4.0 A 93% - 100% 219-235 Student shows a consistent and thorough understanding of the required texts and conversations. There is evidence of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. The student demonstrates originality and insight and always produces work of high quality. The student works beyond the expectations of the lesson, and uses original ideas and concepts. 3.5 B+ 88% - 92.9% 206-218 3.0 B 83% - 87.9% 195-205 Student demonstrates a consistent and thorough understanding of the required texts and conversations. There is evidence of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation where appropriate. The student generally demonstrates insight, produces work of quality, meets the expectations of the lesson at a high level, and shows some evidence of originality. 2.5 C+ 78% - 82.9% 183-194 2.0 C 73% - 77.9 171-182 Student shows limited achievement in most of the learning objectives, or clear difficulty in some areas. The student demonstrates a limited understanding of the required knowledge and skills and is only able to apply them fully in normal situations with support. 1.5 D+ 68% - 72.9% 160-170 1.0 D 63% - 67.9% 148-159 Below basic course standards. 0.5 60% - 62.9% 141-147 0.0 F 0% - 60.9% 0-140 Unacceptable performance (no credit for the course) 6
COURSE SCHEDULE TOPICS DUE THIS SESSION Friday, September 9, 6:00 9:00 pm 1 Orientation to class Bring an object that represents the most Introduction to important aspect of who you are. meaning-making Read: Faith Styles: Ways People Believe Discuss ways of believing (chapters 1-6 and 8) Friday, September 23 Theology Read N.T. Wright chapters 1-4 Moodle Conversation Paper I due Old Testament: A story of three faiths Friday, September 30 Read: o Manna & Mercy, Ch 1-8 (as assigned) o Simply Christian, 5-6, 13-14 o Gen 1-11 o Exodus 1-22 o Amos, Is 1,6,10, 40, 45, 52-53,61 o Jonah o Ps 8,13, 22, 30, 51, 137 o Job 1-4, 29-31, 38-42 Moodle Conversation Things to thing about as you read: Who is this God that we are reading about? What are God s qualities, how does God act? Friday, October 14 New Testament Read o Simply Christian ch 7-10 o Manna & Mercy, ch 9-16 (as assigned) o Gospel of Mark o Matthew 1-3, 5-7 o Luke 1-4, 10, 15, 16, 24 o Acts 1-3, 7-11, 15, 17 o John 1, 8-9, 11, 13-17, 20 o Romans 1-3, 5, 8-16 o I Corinthians 1, 5-7, 11-14 1 This is a blended course that requires online participation between class times. In order to recognize the student s commitment to this participation, the face-to-face time is reduced slightly. 7
o Galatians, o I Timothy o I Peter Moodle Conversation Things to think about as you read: According to the readings, who is Jesus? What does he teach, why is he important? Pluralism Hinduism Spiritual Practices Friday, November 4 Read Encountering God as assigned Simply Christian ch 11, 12 Vocation Who am I? Do I matter? What is my purpose? Do communities have purpose? Vocation as lived reality in individual and communal lives Communal Vocation Presentations Things to think about as you read: How does Eck s descriptions of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit compare with N.T. Wright, the Bible, or Erlander? How do her descriptions of prayer or other spiritual practices relate to those in Christianity (or your own faith)? Friday, November 18 Read: Simply Christian chapters 15-16. Read: other articles as posted on Moodle. Paper II due Things to think about as you read: How does what we believe influence what we do - both positively and negatively? How do you negotiate the interaction between beliefs and actions? What does this look like in your own life? Friday, December 2 Read Charles Marsh as assigned Final Exam Due Things to think about as you read: How does what we believe influence what we do both positively and negatively? Use examples from the text. As you think about the people you read about, who/what shapes their vocation and action? Friday, December 9 Final Presentations All extra credit due 8