Constructive Theology

“There is no clean intellectual coherence, no abstract ultimate meaning to be found, and if this is not recognized, then the compulsion to find such certainty becomes its own punishment. This realization is not the end of theology, but the beginning of it: trust no theory, no religious history or creed, in which the author’s personal faith is not actively at risk.”

- Christian Wiman, My Bright Abyss




Theology has a long history of humans crafting statements about their understanding of the nature of reality and the meaning of being human in an attempt to live in a world beyond themselves. The primary purpose of this course is to enable students to develop a systematic statement of their own theological perspective, with attention to: (1) its clarity, coherence, and capacity to illuminate experience; (2) its relationship to the resources and limitations of particular historical traditions and social locations; (3) its relationship to alternative perspectives; and (4) its explicit and implicit implications in terms of social and personal praxis.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES 

At the conclusion of this course you will be able (at a beginning level) to: 

  1. Identify methodological assumptions or structures inherent in theological images, metaphors, symbols, stories, concepts, and claims.
  2. Identify key theological questions and decision points that belong to each of the classical themes in Christian theology, including: God, Human Being, Sin and Evil, Jesus Christ, Church, Spirit, Creation, Redemption, and Eschatology.
  3. Listen carefully enough to others (e.g., authors, parishioners, politicians, artists and media producers) that you can identify the theological questions and choices implicit in their discourse or faith.
  4. Utilize a “theological lens” to examine and interpret contemporary events.
  5. Identify and articulate the central doctrines and concepts in your current theological thinking, including areas that still feel like they are in-process.
  6. Articulate connections between your current theological thinking and your coursework, your religious and other influencing traditions, and your vocational experiences.
  7. Write a systematic, integrative, and carefully reasoned statement of your current theological thinking.

Iliff Degree Goals


 

Iliff Degree Learning Goals for This Course 

MDiv Students

1.2. demonstrate awareness of Christianity as a historically-situated movement that interacted and changed in relationship to its surrounding cultures and subcultures over time, resulting in various expressions of Christianity located within and influenced by social structures, historical events, and ethnic and cultural ideologies

3. Think theologically in a contemporary context and articulate a constructive theological position.

3.2. critically engage historical theological expressions of Christianity in relation to contemporary events and/or situations

3.3. identify and articulate their constructive theological position on an issue, current event, or traditional Christian doctrinal category with clarity. 

MASJE Students

1. Engage in social, historical, and political analysis in order to identify key factors impacting situations in which social change is desired and potential contradictions within these settings that open up the possibility for change. 

MAPSC Students

2. Students will identify and critically evaluate the ways in which their personal, religious, and cultural experience, along with their activities in pastoral and spiritual care, shape their theology, moral orientation, and vocational formation.  

MTS Students

3. Relate learning from recognizable forms of theological discourse to contemporary issues and questions, particularly those relevant to the student’s own professional practices and personal life.

4. Identify theological resources that would broaden and deepen their thinking about these questions.

5. Demonstrate proficiency in theological research and writing as they articulate responses to their theological questions in light of their vocational goals and experiences.

Important Iliff Information

Required texts: 

1) Serene Jones and Paul Lakeland, eds.  Constructive Theology: A Contemporary Approach to Classic Themes.  Augsburg Fortress, 2005.  978-0-8006-3683-8 

2) You will also select one additional constructive theology book, from the list below. 

Choice texts (choose one): 

You may also propose an alternate text of your choice, if it meets the following criteria:

  1. The text explicitly addresses most of the traditional categories in systematic theology (i.e., it is not just a work on Christology or on praxis).
  2. The text was written or significantly revised in the past ten years.
  3. At least two of your classmates agree to read the same text.
  4. The instructor approves of your choice of text.

Choice of text (from the list above or an alternate) should be submitted on Canvas by the indicated date.

Recommended texts: 

If you feel rusty on theological terminology, you might find Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms by Donald McKim (Westminster John Knox, 1996) to be helpful. Abingdon Press’ New and Enlarged Handbook of Christian Theology (Nashville, 2003) contains helpful short essays on the classic loci and related issues in Christian theology. 

You may use any standard citation format (Turabian, Chicago, MLA, APA, SBL, etc.) for the written work for this class.  If you do not own a style guide, I recommend A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8th edition, by Kate Turabian (University of Chicago, 2013).

Basic Attendance and Participation

Basic Attendance and Participation Expectations

Participation Guidelines

Important Iliff Information

Constructive Theology Course Assignments

Meet the Theologians - find a contemporary theologian like you and unlike you.

Meet the Theologians assignment

Embodying Theology - Spotify playlist, Pinterest hashtag, bicycling, contemplative prayer - it is all theological. Do something.

Embodying Theology 2a assignment

Embodying Theology 2b assignment

Author Analysis - requirements for reporting on your choice theological text.

Author Analysis Choice assignment

Author Analysis 3a assignment

Author Analysis 3b assignment

Basic Attendance And Participation - rules for participating in the discussions.

Final Paper assignment

Other Important Information and Iliff Policies

Due DatesAssignments need to be turned in on the dates specified on the syllabus. Late assignments will lose one letter grade if not submitted by the date indicated. Students who do not complete any assignments during the first two weeks of class will not be able to pass the class and will be removed.

Incompletes are not a possibility because of the rules about incompletes and adjunct faculty in the Masters’ Student Handbook.

Pass/Fail:  Students interested in taking the class pass/fail should discuss this with the instructor by Sept. 16. In order to earn a Pass, students must perform at a level considered the equivalent of C or better.  

AccommodationsIliff engages in a collaborative effort with students with disabilities to reasonably accommodate student needs.   Students are encouraged to contact their assigned academic advisor to initiate the process of requesting accommodations. The advising center can be contacted at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303.765.1146. 

Community CovenantAll participants in this class are expected to be familiar with Iliff’s Community Covenant, as posted on Canvas. 

Academic Integrity:  All students are expected to abide by Iliff’s statement on Academic Integrity, as published in the Masters Student Handbook and posted on Canvas. Iliff professors are now using academic detection software that automatically detects plagiarism, and are taking it very seriously. Your final paper may not contain more than 30% material from any assignment turned in for another course. Plagiarizing materials will result in automatic failure of the entire course.

 

DateDayDetails
Sep 16, 2017SatDiscussion Facilitation Sign-Updue by 05:59AM
Sep 18, 2017MonIntroductionsdue by 05:59AM
Sep 18, 2017MonEncounter Discussion, Week 1: Theological Methodologydue by 05:59AM
Sep 25, 2017MonEncounter Discussion, Week 2: Goddue by 05:59AM
Oct 02, 2017MonEncounter Discussion, Week 3: Anthropologydue by 05:59AM
Oct 09, 2017MonEncounter Discussion, Week 4: Sin & Evil and Jesus Christdue by 05:59AM
Oct 23, 2017MonEncounter Discussion, Week 6: Church and Spiritdue by 05:59AM
Oct 30, 2017MonEncounter Discussion, Week 7: Creationdue by 05:59AM
Nov 06, 2017MonEncounter Discussion Week 8: Redemptiondue by 06:59AM
Nov 18, 2017SatParticipation and Journalsdue by 06:59AM