COURSE SYLLABUS. Course Description

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1 COURSE SYLLABUS TH 808 Contemporary Analytic Christian Theology Patrick T. Smith, Course Instructor Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Spring Semester 2013 Mondays, 2:00 PM-5:00 PM Phone: (978) Course Description This course explores some of the recent issues in analytic theology by surveying select categories in systematic theology. Attention is given to philosophical and conceptual issues that emerge when reflection is given to the central doctrines of historic orthodox Christianity and their implications for Christian thought and ministry. (Prerequisites: TH 504 Systematic Theology I, TH 605 Systematic Theology II, TH 607 Systematic Theology III) Required Textbooks: Course Readings Boyer, Steven D. and Christopher A. Hall, The Mystery of God: Theology for Knowing the Unknowable (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012). ISBN: Crisp, Oliver and Michael Rea. Analytic Theology: New Essays in the Philosophy of Theology (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009). ISBN: McCall, Thomas H. Which Trinity? Whose Monotheism? Philosophical and Systematic Theologians on the Metaphysics of Trinitarian Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans 2010). ISBN: Required Essays: Alston, William P. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Divine Nature and Human Language: Essays in Philosophical Theology (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1989). Blount, Douglas K. On the Incarnation of a Timeless God, in Gregory E. Ganssle and David M. Woodruff (eds.), God and Time: Essays on the Divine Nature (New York: Oxford University Press, 2002).

2 Clark, David K. Beyond Inerrancy: Speech Acts and an Evangelical View of Scripture, in James K. Beilby (ed.), For Faith and Clarity: Philosophical Contributions to Christian Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006). Davis, Stephen T. The Resurrection of the Dead Christian Philosophical Theology (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006).. The Wrath of God and the Blood of Christ, Christian Philosophical Theology (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006). MacDonald, Gregory. A Hell of a Problem The Evangelical Universalist (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2006). Merricks, Trenton. The Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting, in Michael Rea (ed.), Oxford Readings in Philosophical Theology, Volume II: Providence, Scripture, and Resurrection (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009). Murray, Michael J. Heaven and Hell, in Michael J. Murray (ed.), Reason for the Hope Within (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999). Swinburne, Richard. The Christian Scheme of Salvation, A Reader in Contemporary Philosophical Theology, edited by Oliver Crisp (New York: T & T Clark, 2009). Highly Recommended Textbooks: Rea, Michael. Oxford Readings in Philosophical Theology, Volume I: Trinity, Incarnation, Atonement. New York: Oxford University Press, Oxford Readings in Philosophical Theology, Volume II: Providence, Scripture, and Resurrection. New York: Oxford University Press, Course Objectives The student who successfully completes this course should develop and demonstrate the following skills: 1. A basic understanding of the role, importance, and unique contribution of analytic philosophy in the discipline of Christian theology. 2. Familiarity of the vocabulary and key concepts relevant to the study of analytic Christian theology. 3. An aptitude for examining arguments for and against various conceptual models of Christian historic orthodox doctrine. 4. Competency in reading, studying and analyzing philosophical writings. 5. An ability to ask relevant questions to gain an understanding of the material discussed in class. 2

3 6. A deeper appreciation for analytic theology as it relates to preparation for various areas of ministry in the context both of the local church and in the broader contemporary culture. Course Requirements 1. Attendance students should plan on attending all class sessions and be prepared to discuss and engage the topic for the week. 2. Assigned Readings some of the reading material is covered in class. However, there are elements that will not be brought out in class but are still essential to gaining an understanding of the material and successfully completing the course. Therefore, the reading provides a rich and necessary component of the learning experience. a. Textbook Reading- The students will be responsible for reading the assigned sections of the course textbooks by the assigned dates stated below. b. Reading Handouts- Students are also responsible for reading all handouts, essays, and articles reserved by the instructor. These essays serve as a necessary supplement to the material discussed in class Students are to indicate in writing how much of the assigned reading was completed. This is to be submitted with the final paper on the last day of class. 2. Analytic Theology Interaction Papers students will be responsible for writing three analytic theology interaction papers over the course of the semester. The papers are to be essays on portions of a text or select articles assigned for the course. The course instructor will provide the questions from which students are to generate the paper assignments. The details concerning the length and format of the paper is provided on the question sheet. Given that this is an 800 level course, students are to use these written assignments as the basis for class interaction for the participation aspect of the course. No late papers will be accepted in the absence of mitigating circumstances deemed so by the instructor. 3. Ministry Appreciation Paper students are to submit a two-page paper that describes the relevance of an analytic approach to theology and how it can contribute to the work of parish and academic ministry. The papers are to be typed, double-spaced, neatly formatted, stapled, and free of any spelling and grammatical errors. The papers will be graded on their clarity and faithfulness to the assigned topic. 3

4 Course Grading The student s grade will be determined as follows: Reading/Attendance 10% Analytic Theology Interaction Papers (3) 60% Class Participation 15% Ministry Appreciation Paper 15% Grade Achievement Quality Points A Work of exceptional quality 4.00 A B B Work of commendable quality 3.00 B C C Work of acceptable but minimal quality 2.00 C D D Substandard and barely passing work 1.00 D F 62-below Failure 0.00 Grading Rubric: After all the requirements of the course have been completed, the instructor will use the following rubric for the assignment of grades, based on the overall performance of the class. The grades assigned will represent the instructor s interpretation of the following standard: A = Outstanding mastery of the subject: excellence is evident in preparation for and attendance in class sessions; unusual ability to retain, analyze and synthesize the material; with a positive attitude making productive contributions to the learning community in the classroom. B = Superior mastery of the subject: sincere effort in preparation for and attendance in class sessions; ability to master the essential aspects of the material; with a mostly consistent attitude in making contributions to the learning community in the classroom. C = Basic mastery of the subject: inconsistent effort in preparation for and attendance in class sessions; engagement with the material but difficulty in grasping some of its aspects; with occasional contributions to the learning community in the classroom. D = Inadequate mastery of the subject. F = Failure: course must be repeated. 4

5 Warning on Plagiarism: Helpful guidelines on plagiarism can be found on the Indiana University website This document has the official recognition of the Gordon-Conwell faculty and provides very helpful tools to guide you as you prepare for your assignments. If a student is caught plagiarizing, the student will receive the consequences of this act according to the process established by the seminary. Intellectual Property Rights: To protect the professor s intellectual property rights with regard to classroom content, students are asked to refrain from audio and video recording of classes, as well as audio, video, and written publication (including internet posting and broadcasting) or live transmission of classroom proceedings. Internet Usage: Students are asked to refrain from accessing the internet at any point during class sessions, unless otherwise instructed by the professor. Surfing the web, checking , and other internet-based activities are distracting to other students and to the professor, and prevent the student from fully participating in the class session. Course Schedule Date Topic/Assignments Reading Week 1: The Theological Notion of Revelational Mystery Boyer and Hall, The Mystery of God, Introduction, Chapters 1 and 2 Rea, Introduction, pp in Analytic Theology, edited by Crisp and Rea. Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: The Theological Notion of Revelational Mystery Introduction to Analytic Christian Theology Introduction to Analytic Christian Theology Boyer and Hall, The Mystery of God, Chapters 3 and 4 Oliver D. Crisp, On Analytic Theology, in Analytic Theology, edited by Crisp and Rea. William J. Abraham, Systematic Theology as Analytic Theology, in Analytic Theology, edited by Crisp and Rea. Nicholas Wolterstorff, How Philosophical Theology Became Possible within the Analytic Tradition of Philosophy, in Analytic Theology, edited by Crisp and Rea. Andrew Chignell, As Kant Has Shown : Analytic Theology and the Critical Philosophy, in Analytic Theology, edited by Crisp and Rea. Andrew Dole, Schleirmacher s Theological Anti-Realism, in Analytic Theology, edited by Crisp and Rea. 5

6 Week 5: First Reading Week Week 6: Week 7: Week 8: Week 9: Second Reading Week Week 10: Week 11: No Class Meeting ASSIGNMENT: Substantial work on Analytic Theology Interaction Paper #1. The Nature & Notion of Holy Scripture DUE: Analytic Theology Interaction Paper #1 The Doctrine of the Trinity The Doctrine of the Trinity No Class Meeting ASSIGNMENT: Substantial work on Analytic Interaction Paper # 2. ASSIGNMENT: Substantial Work on Ministry Appreciation Paper The Doctrine of the Incarnation DUE: Analytic Theology Interaction Paper #2 The Doctrine of Redemption (Required) Boyer and Hall, The Mystery of God, Chapters 5 through 9, Epilogue David K. Clark, Beyond Inerrancy: Speech Acts and an Evangelical View of Scripture, in For Faith and Clarity: Philosophical Contributions to Christian Theology, edited by James K. Beilby. Thomas McCall, On Understanding Scripture as the Word of God, in Analytic Theology, edited by Crisp and Rea. Thomas H. McCall, Chapters 1 and 2, Which Trinity? Whose Monotheism? Thomas H. McCall, Chapters 3 and 8, Which Trinity? Whose Monotheism? Michael J. Murray, Science and Religion in Constructive Engagement, in Analytic Theology, edited by Crisp and Rea. Douglas K. Blount, On the Incarnation of a Timeless God, in God and Time: Essays on the Divine Nature edited by Gregory E. Ganssle and David M. Woodruff. Thomas V. Morris, Rationality and the Christian Revelation, in A Reader in Contemporary Philosophical Theology, edited by Oliver Crisp. Richard Swinburne, The Christian Scheme of Salvation, in A Reader in Contemporary Philosophical Theology, edited by Oliver Crisp. William P. Alston, The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Divine Nature and Human Language: Essays in Philosophical Theology. 6

7 Week 12: Week 13: Week 14: The Doctrine of Redemption The Doctrine of the General Resurrection The Doctrine of Divine Judgment DUE: Analytic Theology Interaction Paper #3 DUE: Ministry Appreciation Paper David Lewis, Do We Believe in Penal Substitution? in A Reader in Contemporary Philosophical Theology, edited by Oliver Crisp. Stephen T. Davis, The Wrath of God and the Blood of Christ, in Christian Philosophical Theology edited by Stephen T. Davis. Trenton Merricks, The Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting, in Oxford Readings in Philosophical Theology, Volume II: Providence, Scripture, and Resurrection edited by Michael Rea. Stephen T. Davis, The Resurrection of the Dead in Christian Philosophical Theology edited by Stephen T. Davis. Gregory MacDonald, A Hell of a Problem, The Evangelical Universalist (chapter 1). Michael J. Murray, Heaven and Hell, in Reason for the Hope Within edited by Michael J. Murray. 7