IST2010-1-WI14 - Constructive Theology

Edward P. Antonio
Office Location: BEC 218
E-mail: eantonio@iliff.edu
Tel: 303-765-3163


Consultation is by appointment only.

Time: Tuesday 1:00pm

Room: TBA

Course Description

This course is a critical and constructive examination of classical themes and topics in theology in relation, and as a response, to contemporary problems and challenges. The emphasis is on doing theology as an imaginative and constructive endeavor in the light of the deconstructing forces of modernity and a would-be postmodern global world. The idea of ‘constructive theology’ will be explored through an analysis of five related themes: imagination, theological construction, relevance, context, and everyday practice.

Course Goals

  1. To help students imaginatively engage the substantive proposals of Christian theology by carefully examining its classical and contemporary content, tasks, and methods.
  2. To explore particular issues currently shaping theological debate.
  3. To equip students to develop a ‘systematic’, critical and carefully reasoned statement of their own theological perspective.

ADA Statement 

If you have concerns about accommodations as stipulated in the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact your assigned advisor to initiate the process of requesting accommodations.  You can contact your advisor through The Advising Centre at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303.765.1146.

Use of Laptops

Please make sure that your cell or mobile phones are switched off when in class. Note also that if you wish to use your laptop, tablet and smartphone  to take notes you must do so responsibly. Do not use your laptop,tablet or smartphone in class to check email, do online shopping, play games,  and consult Wikipedia,or other sites to fact check lecture or class presentation content. You can do that afterwards. Respect yourself, your instructors, and your fellow students.   

Course Goals

  1. To help students imaginatively engage the substantive proposals of Christian theology by carefully examining its classical and contemporary content, tasks, and methods.
  2. To explore particular issues currently shaping theological debate.
  3. To equip students to develop a ‘systematic’, critical and carefully reasoned statement of their own theological perspective.

Required Texts

 Books

Peter C. Hodgson and Robert H King (eds) Christian Theology: An Introduction to Its Traditions and Tasks. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1994.
Kwok Pui-Lan, Hope Abundant: Third World and Indigenous Women’s Theology, 2010.
Serene Jones and Paul Lakeland (editors), Constructive Theology: A Contemporary Approach to Classical Themes. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005.
Elizabeth Stuart, Gay and Lesbian Theologies: Repetitions with Critical Difference. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2003
Dwight N. Hopkins, Down, Up and Over: Slave Religion and Black Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2000.
Rosemary Radford Ruether, (editor) Feminist Theologies: Legacy and Prospect. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007.




 Articles

  1. William V. Dych, ‘Theology and Imagination.’ Thought (57) 1982, 116-127.  Theology and Imagination ~ Dych.pdf
  2. M. P. Gallagher, ‘Imagination and Faith.’ The Way (24) 1984, 115-123. Imagination and Faith ~ Gallagher.pdf
  3. Brian Hearne, ‘Theology and Imagination’. The Furrow (pp. 505-515) Theology and Imagination ~ Hearne.pdf
    John McIntyre’s ‘The Place of Imagination in Faith and Theology’- I & II. The Expository Times Imagination and Theology ~ McIntyre I.pdf

  4.  Gordon D. Kaufman, 'Theology as Imaginative Construction'. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Vol. 50, No. 1 (Mar., 1982), pp. 73-79. Imagination and Theology ~ Kaufman.pdf

Required Texts

 Books

Peter C. Hodgson and Robert H King (eds) Christian Theology: An Introduction to Its Traditions and Tasks. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1994.
Kwok Pui-Lan, Hope Abundant: Third World and Indigenous Women’s Theology, 2010.
Serene Jones and Paul Lakeland (editors), Constructive Theology: A Contemporary Approach to Classical Themes. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005.
Elizabeth Stuart, Gay and Lesbian Theologies: Repetitions with Critical Difference. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2003
Dwight N. Hopkins, Down, Up and Over: Slave Religion and Black Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2000.
Rosemary Radford Ruether, (editor) Feminist Theologies: Legacy and Prospect. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007.




 Articles

  1. William V. Dych, ‘Theology and Imagination.’ Thought (57) 1982, 116-127.  Theology and Imagination ~ Dych.pdf
  2. M. P. Gallagher, ‘Imagination and Faith.’ The Way (24) 1984, 115-123. Imagination and Faith ~ Gallagher.pdf
  3. Brian Hearne, ‘Theology and Imagination’. The Furrow (pp. 505-515) Theology and Imagination ~ Hearne.pdf
    John McIntyre’s ‘The Place of Imagination in Faith and Theology’- I & II. The Expository Times Imagination and Theology ~ McIntyre I.pdf

  4.  Gordon D. Kaufman, 'Theology as Imaginative Construction'. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Vol. 50, No. 1 (Mar., 1982), pp. 73-79. Imagination and Theology ~ Kaufman.pdf

Course Requirements


Class Format
Members of the class will be required, individually or in groups, to make a presentation to class on a  topic chosen from one of the class readings. I will guide the discussion, answer questions and expound on obscure points or points of concern to students.

Assignments

There are two assignments for this course. The first is a five (5) page statement in which you reflect upon and analyze two texts: 1) Jones and Lakeland, Constructive Theology, pp.1-18; and 2) John McIntyre’s ‘The Place of Imagination in Faith and Theology’- I & II.  Read, critically reflect upon and concisely analyze these texts in relation to your social location or context (e.g. Queer, Black or White, Methodist, etc).  Use these texts to formulate your own approach to theology. I am not asking you to develop a theology of your own just yet. This will come later. Rather, at this point I am asking you to articulate a method or an approach for such a theology. You must relate your approach or method to your social location. This assignment is due on February 4, 2014. The essay by McIntyre will be posted on Canvas.

The second assignment is a five (5) page statement of your critical (reasoned and well argued) theological position which uses the approach or method developed in your first assignment to  constructively address one of the following topics:

  1. Christology and Revelation: What is revelation, and where, if anywhere, is it located? In what respects, if any, is Jesus Christ God’s revelation? Why do Christians need the idea of revelation, or what function does it have in the structure of Christian belief and practice?
  2. Liberation: What is the place and role of the idea of ‘liberation’ in Christian Theology? What, if any, are the theological and political implications of this idea?
  3. Gender and Theology: Using the texts prescribed for this course show: 1) how the idea of gender has contributed to major changes in theological method and understanding in recent times, 2) Discuss the role of non-western gender and women’s theologies in this process in relation to some of the key areas of difference in different women’s theologies?
  4. Humanity: Is there such a thing as human nature? What relevant examples of it exist? What are the implications of denying or affirming the existence of human nature? Or, using the standard Christian claim that humans are made in the image of God, describe and critically articulate a theology of both the universality and particularity of humanity. The paper is due on March 4, 2014.  The CD that comes with the Jones/Lakeland text contains helpful hints and guidelines for writing theological papers.

Post Class Reflections

Grading and Incompletes
This class cannot be taken on a pass/fail basis.
You are reminded that plagiarism is an offense for which you will be severely penalized. It is your responsibility to consult the Masters Student Handbook for a definition of plagiarism and other instances of academic dishonesty.

The grade is structured as follows:

  1. Class Participation  25%
  2. First Assignment    35%
  3. Final Assignment   40%

I will not entertain incompletes except in cases of a demonstrated medical or other emergence. Lack of proper planning on your part does not count as an emergence.
Writing an Essay

Grading and Incompletes
This class cannot be taken on a pass/fail basis.
You are reminded that plagiarism is an offense for which you will be severely penalized. It is your responsibility to consult the Masters Student Handbook for a definition of plagiarism and other instances of academic dishonesty.

The grade is structured as follows:

  1. Class Participation  25%
  2. First Assignment    35%
  3. Final Assignment   40%

I will not entertain incompletes except in cases of a demonstrated medical or other emergence. Lack of proper planning on your part does not count as an emergence.

Quality Class Participation Defined

Class Participation is not:

  • Attending class. While on the one hand, the simple fact of turning up  and being in class does not count as participation, on the other, repeated and unexcused  absence from class will count against you
  • Uninformed  comments, statements, claims and would-be arguments do not count as participation
  • Over-participation: Be warned of the dangers of being besotted with the sound of your own voice and  the appearance of your own ideas.This can lead to monopolizing the floor, over-participation, irrelevance and the exclusion and silencing  of other voices.

Quality Class Participation is comprised of:

  • Comments  that contribute to the continuity and focus of the class discussion.This disallows off-the-wall comments

  • Comments that are relevant and connect with the input and contributions of others

  • Comments that are focused, critical while being constructive and, if necessary, controversial without being rude or disrespectful

  • Comments that demonstrate in-depth analysis and  are well supported by good arguments, solid data and relevant sources

  • Comments that make connections between material and ideas in different parts of the class or between this and other classes

  • Comments that provide examples from your own observations or experience of the subject under discussion

  • Active participation in group or team activities in class

Finally, civility in the give and take of rigorous and critical class discussion is a requirement. Discussion questions in class will be formulated to provoke passion and disagreement, and, of course, there always is more than one viable approach to resolving problems presented in any context. Again, disagree without being disagreeable.

These comments are intended to give you a general sense of what I am looking for in class discussions. These comments are not intended to be an exhaustive checklist of the precise and only criteria I will use.

Etiquette

  • Please always address me by my title unless I indicate otherwise
  • Do not befriend me on Facebook or invite me to join you on LinkedIn unless we have agreed on this beforehand
  • Respect your fellow students at all times
  • Always wait your turn to speak and do not monopolize the floor
  • Allow others who may be less forthcoming to make their contribution before you return to the floor
Printable Syllabus









DateDayDetails
Jan 07, 2014TueClass 1: Definitions, Sources and Tasks of Theology/Readingsdue by 08:00PM
Jan 14, 2014TueClass 2: God and Revelation/Readingsdue by 08:00PM
Jan 21, 2014TueClass 3: Creation, Sin, World and Evil/Readingsdue by 08:00PM
Jan 28, 2014TueClass 4: Humanity and Personhood/Readingsdue by 08:00PM
Feb 04, 2014TueClass 5: Humanity as Gendered/Readingsdue by 08:00PM
Feb 05, 2014WedFirst Paperdue by 12:00AM
Feb 11, 2014TueClass 6: Humanity as Race-d/Readingsdue by 08:00PM
Feb 18, 2014TueClass 7: Humanity as Sexed/Readingsdue by 08:00PM
Feb 25, 2014TueClass 8: Christology/Readingsdue by 08:00PM
Mar 04, 2014TueClass 9: Spirit and Spirits in a Material World/Readingsdue by 08:00PM