Institute for Biblical Studies Christian Worldview June 26 July 10, 2015 Instructor: Dr. Allen Yeh Course Description This course introduces the nature, importance, and evaluation of worldviews; a critique of alternative worldviews vis-à-vis Christian theism; and the nature and importance of developing a Christian worldview as an expression of loving God, following Jesus, and fulfilling the Great Commission through the Holy Spirit. Culture is seen not in opposition to Christian theology but as the vehicle through which it is expressed. Hence, an examination and understanding of different world cultures will be vitally important in determining if there is one Christian worldview and what that might look like. This also has the added benefit of creating world citizens among God s people. Course Objectives It is expected that as a result of the course you will: Gain a vision and appreciation for loving God with your mind as an integral part of your spiritual formation and personal discipleship. Understand and develop skills in thinking as part of loving God with your mind and serving him effectively. Understand the nature of worldviews and how they are evaluated. Understand and critique alternative worldviews and be able to defend a Christian worldview in relation to them. Develop a more sensitive appreciation for other cultures and deepen your desire to minister to those from cultures other than your own. Understand what a Christian worldview is and how it relates to life and ministry, and gain a vision and tools for developing a fruitful, coherent Christian worldview as a lifelong pursuit. Be more aware of your own background and some of the key historical events and interactions of major ethnic groups in the United States, so as to understand how they shape life and ministry today, for yourself and others. Required Texts and Materials Textbook: James Sire, The Universe Next Door, 5th ed. (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009). Note: only the fifth edition is suitable for this course. 1
Selected chapters from the following (posted online): Andy Crouch, Culture Making Os Guinness, The Call Paul Hiebert, Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom Skye Jethani, With H. Richard Niebuhr, Christ and Culture Soong-Chan Rah, The Next Evangelicalism Andrew Walls, The Missionary Movement in Christian History Allen Yeh, et al., Routes and Radishes and Other Things to Talk About at the Evangelical Crossroads Course Requirements Class attendance and participation (20%) Clear thinking and significant learning is developed in great measure by practice in the context of dialogue/discussion with others. Thinking Christianly theology should be done in, by, and for community. Prepare for, attend (on time), and participate in every class session. Absences or evident lack of preparation will be counted against your grade. Reading (20%) You are expected to read carefully and thoughtfully all of the assigned texts and articles. Be prepared to engage in class discussion concerning the reading. You will turn in a reading report in class on the final day (p. 5 of syllabus). Intersectionality writing assignment (25%) Identify your privileges in race, gender, class, age, education, nationality, etc. Identify your lack of privileges. Write how this interplay of power and powerlessness has affected your worldview in the past. What is the thing (or things) that are the primary part of your identity? Where have you been hurt the most? Where have you hurt others the most? How do you think Christ calls you to change? Are there ways you think you can be more Christlike in how you approach the world based on the positions God has placed you in life? Bring a hard copy to Class Discussion (Wednesday, July 1). Worldview Interview Project (35%) This assignment enables you to put your worldview study into practice and engage with some individuals from different walks of life, in order better to understand and evaluate their thinking and values from a "worldviewish" perspective. You will write a summary and analysis of the views of each interviewee, as well as a summary and analysis of the overall picture that emerges, along with applications to your life and ministry. For details, see "Worldview Interview Project" and "Interview Questions" pages (pp. 6-7 of syllabus). (12 pages, typed, double-spaced) Due on the final day of class (Friday, July 10). 2
Grading Scale: 94-100 A 91-93 A- 88-90 B+ 84-87 B 81-83 B- 78-80 C+ 74-77 C 71-73 C- 0-70 No Credit Class Schedule, Topics and Assignments Fri, June 26 What is worldview? Relativism vs. Pluralism Right vs. Wrong vs. Different Truth vs. theology Translation Integration The Gospel Exegesis & Hermeneutics, Descriptive vs. Prescriptive Read: Sire, chp. 1; Duane Litfin, Conceiving the Christian College Mon, June 29 Cultural Mandate Christ and Culture Pilgrim Principle & Indigenizing Principle Read: Sire, chps. 2-3; Andy Crouch, Culture Making; H. Richard Niebuhr, Christ and Culture Tues, June 30 Acts Church vs. Parachurch Reconciliation The Homogeneous Unit Principle Power and the Upside-down Kingdom Intersectionality & Liminality Read: Sire, chps. 4-5; Andrew Walls, The Missionary Movement in Christian History 3
Wed, July 1 The Principle of Redemptive Analogy Exclusivism vs. Inclusivism vs. Universalism Other religions Premodernism vs. Modernism vs. Postmodernism The Flaw of the Excluded Middle Class discussion about Intersectionality assignment Read: Sire, chps. 6-7; Acts 2, 10-11, 17-18 Thurs, July 2 Missions Contextualization vs. Syncretism Politics Immigration Read: Sire, chps. 8-9; Skye Jethani, With Mon, July 6 Creeds Evangelicalism Denominations Ecumenism Read: Sire, chps. 10-11; Allen Yeh, et al., Routes and Radishes and Other Things to Talk About at the Evangelical Crossroads Tues, July 7 World Christianity Three Selves Art The Facilitator Era Goal Orientation vs. People Orientation Read: Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom; Soong-Chan Rah, The Next Evangelicalism; Paul Hiebert, Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues Wed, July 8 Education & Universities Discernment Vocation/Calling Read: Os Guinness, The Call Thurs, July 9 Trending issues: Creation Care, LGBTQ, Pentecostalism, Urbanization Read: none extra time to focus on completing your Worldview assignment! Fri, July 10 Class discussion about Worldview assignment Conclusion 4
Reading Report Christian Worldview Date Due Assignment June 26 Sire, chp. 1 Duane Litfin, Conceiving the Christian College June 29 Sire, chps. 2-3 Andy Crouch, Culture Making; H. Richard Niebuhr, Christ and Culture June 30 Sire, chps. 4-5 Andrew Walls, The Missionary Movement in Christian History July 1 Sire, chps. 6-7 Acts 2, 10-11, 17-18 July 2 Sire, chps. 8-9 Skye Jethani, With July 6 Sire, chps. 10-11 Allen Yeh, et al., Routes and Radishes and Other Things to Talk About at the Evangelical Crossroads July 7 July 8 July 9 July 10 Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom Soong-Chan Rah, The Next Evangelicalism Paul Hiebert, Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues Os Guinness, The Call none none 5
Worldview Interview Project Due: Friday, July 10, 2015 Purpose: To engage on a thoughtful level with several people, some or all of whom live outside our immediate worldview context (evangelical Christianity), in order to better to understand and evaluate their worldview thinking and values. Between now and the due date, you (and, advisedly, another person possibly another class member) will interview three people, ideally representing different walks of life, using the ten questions listed below. You might approach the interviews by explaining that you are students, taking a class that is concerned with understanding the thinking of people in our culture. As a class assignment you are looking for a few people who would be willing to answer ten questions on a questionnaire. Would you be willing to do that? (Avoid swamping the Starbucks coffeeshops near campus...) Requirements for the interviews: 1. You may not interview Cru staff or students attending IBS. 2. Attempt to interview a range of people, as much as possible representing different walks of life different ages, gender, race, socio-economic status, vocation (e.g. shoot for: one 25 years old and under, one 25 to 50, one over 50, etc.). Instructions for the interviews: e age, gender, and marital status of each interviewee. 1. How would you define happiness? 2. What qualities make a person successful in life? 3. What qualities make a person a good person? 4. Are there any absolute or objective standards of right and wrong? If so, what are they? 5. At this point, what is the highest priority of your life? 6. If someone asked you to explain to them your philosophy of life (what you live by), what would you say? What reasons would you give to justify your answer? 7. What is your view concerning the existence of God or the nature of ultimate reality? What reasons would you give to justify your answer? 8. In your view, what is the most basic or fundamental human problem? 9. Is there a solution to the most basic human problem? If so, what is it? 10. What question do you most wish you could answer in your life? 6
The paper: (1) Type (double-spaced) a summary and analysis of the views of each person interviewed (two to three pages for each person). Do not list the details of each answer; include only as needed for illustration. Instead, distill their answers into a coherent summary. Describe which worldview or worldviews you think they best exemplify and why. If they are not Christians, what areas of common ground or points of contact would be good starting points to engage them in order to build bridges to the gospel? What faultlines or points of tension are in their worldview that would be good starting points for helping them to evaluate their view? (2) Write a general summary and analysis of the big picture that emerges from the total (a final three pages). This will include general observations about the views of the interviewees, including emerging common themes as well as differences. Some questions to help you reflect: responses (reflecting thinking and/or values) that were common to all or most interviewees? In what areas? How would you explain this? Does this suggest any significant patterns? significant differences in responses according to age, gender, or marital status? Race? Socio-economic status? Does this suggest any significant patterns? -Christians? Summarize your observations about faultlines and points of common ground in the worldviews of those you interviewed. Describe at least one specific point of application for your life and ministry (e.g. how this will affect your interaction/sharing with non- Christians?), and formulate at least one strategic suggestion as to how we as evangelical Christians more generally may be more effective in reaching folks like these. 7