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T101IntroductiontoTheologicalReflection(Spring2019)BethanyTheologicalSeminaryTuesday,8:30–11:10a.m.
ProfessorNateInglis
WHATYOUWILLLEARNINTHISCOURSE
CourseDescriptionThiscourseintroducestheologyasapracticeofcreativeandcriticalreflectiononhumanity,theworld,God,andJesusfromafaithperspective.InthisclasswewillputperennialtheologicalthemesindialoguewithinsightsfromthenaturalsciencesandcurrentsocialjusticeissuesthatchallengeChristiancommunitiestoday.Byconnectingthetheologicaltraditionwithscienceandsocialjustice,studentswillconsiderhowtoreflectonandexpressfaithinaninformeddialoguewithotherfieldsofstudythatareessentialtoaholisticunderstandingofourworldtoday.CourseObjectivesBytheendofthiscourseastudentwillbeableto:
1. Developthefoundationalskillsnecessaryforthedistinctivepracticeofdoingtheologicalreflection,includingthinking,reading,research,andwriting.
2. Buildaworkingvocabularyofimportanttheologicalandscientificterminologyasabasisforunderstandingofthecentralthemesintheologicalstudies.
3. Demonstrateacriticalawarenessofandanabilitytodistinguishbetweenthedifferenttraditions,theories,andcommunitiesofdiscoursethatinformthetheological,scientific,andsocialperspectivesweread.
4. Clearlyarticulateyourownideasandargumentsinalearningcommunitycharacterizedbyattentiverespectfordifference,awillingnesstoreconsiderone’spositioninlightofanother’sexperienceorinsight,andacommitmenttolearningtogether.
5. Writereflectivelyandanalyticallyabouttheological,scientific,andsocialissuesraisedinthecourseinordertofindyourowntheologicalvoice,connectyourownbeliefs,practices,andcommitmentsandreflectonhowtoputthesevaluesintoactionintheserviceofothers.
MDiv,MA,CATS,CTTI,andCTSProgramObjectives
§ InterpretScripture,tradition,andtheology:Applytheresultsofcarefulinterpretation,withattentiontomultiplecontexts,tocontemporarysettings,situations,andconcerns(MDiv1.3,MA1.3)
§ Communicatefaithandvalueswithcontextualawareness:Expressone’sunderstandingoffaithandvalueseffectivelyinwritingandinoralpresentations(MDiv2.2,MA2.2)
§ Integratelearningfromtheologicalandotherdisciplineswiththepracticeofministry(CATS2).§ Developtheologicalperspectivesandpreliminaryskillsnecessaryinthepracticeofministry
(CATS4)§ Engageinconstructiveunderstandingsofthenatureoftheology,withattentiontoitsfunctionin
thepublicsphereandconnectionstowiderculturalcontexts(CTTI1).
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§ Demonstrateknowledgeofthediversityofapproachesintheologicalthinkingandwriting,includingfamiliaritywithterminology,categories,andmethods(CTTI2).
§ Demonstrateknowledgeofscientificandtheologicalmethods(CTS1)§ Explainhowtheyrelatefieldsofscienceandtheology,includingareasofpotentialconflict,
complementarity,andcollaboration(CTS2).
THINGSYOUNEEDFORTHISCOURSE
Inthisclasswewillreadsignificantportionsofallthefollowingrequiredandrecommendedtexts,andtheyareallavailableforpurchaseonline.However,youarenotexpectedtopurchasetherecommendedtextsunlessyouwouldliketo,sincetheyareavailableaseBooksfromtheLillyLibrary.InstructionsforfindingallotherrequiredreadingsareavailableonourMoodlecoursesite.
RequiredTexts
§ Edwards,Denis.JesustheWisdomofGod:AnEcologicalTheology,reissue.Wipf&Stock,2005.ISBN:9781597520508
§ Grinnell,Frederick.EverydayPracticesofScience:WhereIntuitionandPassionMeetObjectivityandLogic.OxfordUniversityPress,2008.ISBN:9780199794652
§ Harding,Sandra.ScienceandSocialInequality:FeministandPostcolonialIssues.UniversityofIllinoisPress,2006.ISBN:9780252073045
§ McFague,Sallie.TheBodyofGod:AnEcologicalTheology.FortressPress,1993.ISBN:0800627350§ Sölle,Dorothee.ThinkingaboutGod:AnIntroductiontoTheology,reissue.Wipf&Stock,2016.
ISBN:9781498295765RecommendedTexts
§ Delio,Illia.MakingAllThingsNew.OrbisBooks,2015.ISBN:9781626981362LillyeBook§ Hawking,Stephen.ABriefHistoryofTime,BantamBooks,1998.ISBN:9780553380163online
eBook§ Fuentes,Augustín.TheCreativeSpark:HowImaginationMadeHumansExceptional.Dutton,2017.
ISBN:9781101983942LillyeBook§ Haught,John.ScienceandFaith:ANewIntroduction.PaulistPress,2012.ISBN:9780809148066
LillyeBook§ Johnson,Elizabeth.QuestfortheLivingGod.Continuum,2011.ISBN:1441174621LillyeBook§ Smedley,AudreyandBrianSmedley,RaceinNorthAmerica:OriginandEvolutionofaWorldview,
4thed.Routledge,2011.ISBN:0813345545LillyeBookReferenceTexts
§ Clayton,Philip.OxfordHandbookofReligionandScience.OxfordUniversityPress,2008.ISBN:0199543658LillyeBook
§ McKim.Donald.TheWestminsterDictionaryofTheologicalTerms,secondedition.WestminsterJohnKnoxPress,2014.ISBN:0664238351LillyeBook
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COURSEPOLICIES1.AttendanceThisclasswillfollowBethany’spolicyonattendance,whichplaceslimitsonallowableabsences.Thepolicystatesthatinacoursethatmeetsweekly:“Studentswhomissmorethan20%ofthescheduledface-to-facemeetingsforanyreasonwillnotreceivecredit.Instructorsmaysetamorestringentstandardforattendancewhenwarrantedinaparticularcourse,andabsencestotalinglessthan20%ofthetotalclasstimemaystillbeafactorintheinstructor’sevaluationofwhetherastudentasearnedcredit.”(BethanyStudentHandbook,2014-2015,pp.71-72.)2.AssignmentsAllassignmentsaredueonthedateandtimelistedonthecoursescheduleandontheassignmentinstructions.Ifyouknowthatyouwillnotcompleteanassignmentontime,pleasecontactmeassoonaspossiblesowecandiscussyouroptions.Therearenoexceptionsforlateworkifyoudonotapproveitwithmeaheadoftime.Donotwaituntilthelastminutetosubmit.Ifyouturninanassignmentveryclosetothedeadline,anytechnicalproblemswithyourcomputeroryourinternetconnectionmaycauseyourassignmenttobecountedaslate.Unlessotherwisenoted,allassignmentsshouldbesubmittedonlinethroughourcourseMoodlesite.3.GradingCriteriaStudentswillreceiveeitherCreditorNo-Creditforthecourse,aswellasaRubricAssessment.However,evaluationforBethanystudentswillappearasfollows:CreditwithDistinction,Credit,CreditwithConcern,orNo-Credit.ThiswillallowBethanytorecognizeexemplaryworkwhilealsoidentifyingareasofconcernasastudentprogressesthroughtheprogram.Note:ThiswillonlyappearontheRubricAssessmentforBethanystudents,whilethegradereportedandtranscriptwillcontinuetoreflectthe“Credit/No-Credit”system.4.AcademicIntellectualHonestyPolicyandPlagiarismUsingcontentfromothersourcesasyourown,orusingclassmates’responsestoanswerexaminationorassignmentquestionsunderminestheintegrityandrespectonwhichourclassdepends.ThiscoursecomplieswithBethany’spolicyandactionsonplagiarismasstatedintheStudentHandbook:“Plagiarismisusingtheworkofotherpeoplewithoutgivingthemcredit,whetherinwrittenassignmentsorformaloralpresentations....Theconsequencesforplagiarismwillvaryaccordingtotheextentoftheoffense,buteven‘minor’instancesareconsideredseriousenoughtoincurpenalties.Thesemayrangefromrewritingtheassignment,non-creditingtheassignment,ornon-creditingthecourse,uptodismissalfromtheprogram.Anyinstanceofplagiarismwillbereportedbytheinstructortothestudent,thestudent’sadvisor,theacademicdeanoftheinstructor’sinstitution,andthedeanofthestudent’sinstitution,ifappropriate.StudentswhowishtochallengethechargeofplagiarismhaverecoursetotheComplainPolicyoftheinstructor’sinstitution.”(BethanyStudentHandbook,2014-2015,p.80).5.TurabianCitationStyleTheTurabian(akaChicago)citationstyle,withfootnotesandfullbibliography,isrequiredforallwrittenassignmentsinthiscourseunlessotherwisespecified.GuidelinesforthiscitationstylecanbefoundinthemostrecenteditionofKateTurabian’sAManualforWritersofTermPapers,Theses,andDissertations:ChicagoGuidestoWriting,Editing,andPublishing(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress).ATurabianQuickReferenceGuideisavailableasadownloadablePDFontheBethanyTheologicalSeminarywebsiteat:www.bethanyseminary.edu/academics/style.
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6.StudentswithDisabilitiesPolicyThiscoursecomplieswithBethany’spolicyonstudentswithdisabilities,asstatedintheStudentHandbook,andiscommittedtoprovidingappropriateaccommodationsforstudentswithdocumenteddisabilities.Ifyoubelievethatyouneedaccommodations,pleasebeincontactwiththeDirectorofStudentDevelopmentaboutthedevelopmentofsuchaplan.Itistheresponsibilityofthestudenttocommunicatethisplantotheinstructorassoonaspossible.
ASSIGNMENTS1.Reading,Attendance,andLeadingClassDiscussions,andActiveParticipation:[40%]Yourregularattendanceinclasssessions,closereadingofassignedtexts,andthoughtfulparticipationindiscussionsisessentialnotonlytoyourownlearning,buttothelearningofyourfellowstudentsaswell.Exceptforextremecircumstances,youareexpectedtobepresentandpreparedtoactivelyparticipateinallclasssessions.Asapartofyourparticipationyouwillbeaskedtoleadseveralclassdiscussionsduringthesemester.Asdiscussionleader,youshouldcometoclasspreparedtopresentabriefsummaryoftheissuesyouthinkaremostimportantfromtheweek’srequiredreading,andtoposeatleastthreethoughtfulquestionstoguideourconversation.2.OpeningReflection:[5%]Wewillopeneachclasswithashortreflection.Youwillbeaskedtoleadoneormoreofthese.Itisanopportunitytoconnecttheideaswearediscussinginclasswithourlives,ourfaith,andourvalues.Becreativeandusewhateverresourcesinspireyou.3.Reflectiveessay[Credit/NoCredit]Atthebeginningofthesemesteryouwillbeaskedtowriteatwo-pagereflectiveessay.4.VocabularyQuiz[15%]Neartheendofthecoursetherewillbeashorttheologicalvocabularyquiz.Detailswillbeexplainedinclass.5.WritingAssignments(2total)[40%]Duringthecourseofthesemestertherewillbetwo8-10pageessays.Inthefirstassignmentyouwillbeaskedtoreflecttheologicallyinconversationwithacurrentissueinscience,andinthesecondassignmentyouwillbeaskedtoreflecttheologicallyinconversationwithasocialjusticeissue.
Optional:Asanalternativetowritingthesecondessay,youmaychoosetoattendtheBethanyTheologyandScienceConferenceonApril25-27andthenwritea4-5pageessayononethemeortopicthatcaughtyourinterest.Detailswillbeexplainedinclass.
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COURSESCHEDULE
I.INTRODUCTIONJanuary29:PracticingTheology
Reading:• JenniferShepherd,“ThinkingMindfully,”inThinkingTheologically,ch1.• ElizabethJohnson,QuestfortheLivingGod,ch.1.• DorotheeSölle,ThinkingaboutGod:AnIntroductiontoTheology,1-41.• IliaDelio,MakingAllThingsNew,ch.1.
February5:PracticingScience
Reading:• FrederickGrinnell,EverydayPracticesofScience:WhereIntuitionandPassionMeetObjectivityandLogic,
selections.February12:ModelsofTheologyandScienceDialogue
Reading:• JohnHaught,ScienceandFaith,9-49(chs.1-3).• ElizabethJohnson,AsktheBeasts,1-18(ch.1).• IliaDelio,MakingAllThingsNew,ch.2.
WatchAAASVideo• “OriginsoftheConflictThesis”
II.THEWORLDANDHUMANITYACCORDINGTOTHESCIENCESFebruary19:Scientificperspectivesontheoriginsoftheuniverse
Reading:• StephenHawking,ABriefHistoryofTime,1-82(chs.1-5).
WatchAAASVideo:• “SpaceandExploration”
February26:Scientificperspectivesontheoriginoflife
Reading:• CharlesDarwin,selectionfromOntheOriginofSpecies,inTheHistoryandPhilosophyofScience,853-920.
WatchFilm:• Creation(2009)
March5:Scientificperspectivesontheoriginofhumans
Reading:• AugustínFuentes,TheCreativeSpark:HowImaginationMadeHumans.
ClassPresentation:• Gotohttps://www.sapiens.org.• Chooseanarticlethatshedslightonthescientificunderstandingofourspecies.• Youwillhavefiveminutestosharewhatyoulearnedduringclass.
WatchAAASVideo:• “ToBeHuman”
March11:LASTDAYTODROP–NO“NC”ONTRANSCRIPTMarch12:NOCLASS–SpringBreak
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III.THEOLOGYINAWORLDINFORMEDBYSCIENCEMarch19:TheologicalperspectivesonGodandcreation
Reading:• ElizabethJohnson,QuestfortheLivingGod,ch.9.• IliaDelio,MakingAllThingsNew,ch.3.• SallieMcFague,TheBodyofGod,131-196(chs.5-6).
March26:TheologicalperspectivesonJesusChrist
Reading:• IliaDelio,MakingAllThingsNew,ch.5.• DenisEdwards,JesustheWisdomofGod,33-88.• J.DennyWeaver,“NarrativeChristusvictor:theanswertoAnselmianatonementviolence,”inAtonement
andViolence:atheologicalconversation,1-29.April2:Theologicalperspectivesonhumanbeingsandchurch
Reading:• IliaDelio,MakingAllThingsNew,chs.4,7-9.• ElisabethSchüsslerFiorenza,“ThePatriarchalHouseholdofGodandtheEkklēsiaofWomen,”InMemoryof
Her,285-342.• OscarRomero,“TheChurch,theBodyofChristinHistory,”inVoiceoftheVoiceless,63-84.FIRSTWRITINGASSIGNMENTDUE
IV.THEOLOGYANDSCIENCEFROMPERSPECTIVESONTHESOCIALMARGINSApril9:Theology,Science,andColonialism
Reading:• LisaStenmark,“ThinkingThroughThreeRevolutions:Religion,Science,andColonialism,”inUnsettling
ScienceandReligion,69-87(ch.3).• SandraHarding,ScienceandSocialInequality,31-49(ch.2)• JonSobrino,“TheologyfromAmidsttheVictims,”inTheFutureofTheology,164-175.• IgnacioEllacuría,“SantaClaraUniversityCommencementAddress.”
April16:Theology,Science,andWomen’sexperiences
Reading:• CarolynMerchant,“DominionoverNature,”inTheGenderandScienceReader,68-81(ch.8).• SandraHarding,ScienceandSocialInequality,66-79,98-109(chs.4,6).• ElizabethJohnson,QuestfortheLivingGod,90-112(ch.5).
April23:ScientificRacism
Reading:• AudreySmedleyandBrianSmedley,RaceinNorthAmerica:OriginandEvolutionofaWorldview,4thed.,11-
33,213-248,269-305(chs.1,9-10,12-13).VOCABULARYQUIZ
April25–27:BethanyTheologyandScienceConferenceApril30:Science,Race,andTheologicalEthics
Reading:• AudreySmedleyandBrianSmedley,RaceinNorthAmerica:OriginandEvolutionofaWorldview,4thed.,307-
350(chs.14-15).• EmilieTownes,“TheDoctorAin’tTakingNoSticks,”inBreakingtheFineRainofDeath,81-106(ch.4).• SandraHarding,ScienceandSocialInequality,17-30(ch.1).
May7:SECONDWRITINGASSIGNMENTDUE
Thursday, April 253:00-4:00 PM Check-In
4:00 Welcome: Seminary President and Conference Directors Invocation: Song and Prayer
4:30 “The Big Bang, Fine Tuning, and the Existence of God” Isaac Wilhelm, Rutgers University
5:20 Break
5:30 “Looking for Life on Other Planets” Dr. Wes Tobin, Indiana University East
6:20 Dinner
7:40 Small Group Meetings
8:45 Reception
“Look at Life”A Conference Where Faith Meets Science
S C H E D U L E
Friday, April 268:00 AM Continental Breakfast
8:45 Morning Song and Prayer
9:00 “Putting Faith and Science Back Together Again” Dr. Russell Haitch, Bethany Theological Seminary
10:00 Break
10:15 “The Tree of Life, Biologically Speaking: A Brief History with Updates” Dr. Craig Story, Gordon College
11:15 Break
11:30 From Tree Rings to Microwaves: How Scientists Date Stuff Dr. Katherine Miller-Wolf, Indiana University East
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 Small Group Meetings
2:30 Nature Walk or Museum Visit
4:15 “The Perfect Human? The Promises and Perils of Human Genome Editing” Dr. Craig Story, Gordon College
5:15 Dinner
6:30 “The Lost World of Genesis 1” Dr. John Walton, Wheaton College
7:45 Break
8:00 Dialogue with Dr. John Walton
8:45 Reception
Saturday, April 278:00 AM Continental Breakfast
8:45 Morning Song and Prayer
9:00 “The Lost World of Adam and Eve” Dr. John Walton, Wheaton College
10:15 Break
10:30 Professors Discuss Genesis Dr. Nancy Bowen, Earlham School of Religion Dr. Martin Hanna, Andrews University Dr. Russell Haitch, Bethany Theological Seminary Dr. Steve Schweitzer, Bethany Theological Seminary Dr. John Walton, Wheaton College
11:30 Small Group Meetings
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Panel Discussion: Pulling Strands Together
2:30 Closing Prayer
Craig Story Gordon College
John Walton Wheaton College
Wes Tobin Indiana University East
Isaac Wilhelm Rutgers University
Nancy Bowen Earlham School of Religion
Russell Haitch Bethany Theological Seminary
Martin Hanna Andrews University
Katherine Miller-Wolf Indian University East
Conference Presenters and Panelists