Course Catalog

REL347E Postmodern Theologies (3 credits) 9506

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed as a study of the postmodern situation and of the various theological responses to which it has given rise. The working hypothesis of the course is that the postmodern condition presents both new problems and new possibilities for the Christian. The course examines these problems and possibilities with respect to specific areas of theology.

LEARNING RESULTS
In this course the student will:
Be encouraged to think theologically about the changes currently challenging the intellectual and cultural establishments of the Western word.
Become acquainted with various ways of understanding and critiquing "modernity," and hence to have a better grasp of the meaning of "postmodern."
Assess the impact of postmodernism upon theological methodology, the doctrine of God, Scripture and truth, "Spirituality," and the Church.
Locate evangelical theology in the discussion between modernism and postmodernism.
Develop an approach to reading and interpreting the Bible that listens to the postmodern critique of modern biblical studies and yet avoids its relativistic conclusions.
Consider how an evangelical might respond to postmodern theology, thus develop a personal vision as to what evangelical theology, life, and witness must be or might become in postmodern times.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS
Millard J. Erickson, Postmodernizing the Faith: Evangelical Responses to the Challenge of Postmodernism (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998).
Stanley Grenz and John R. Franke, Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in a Postmodern Context (Louisville, Kent.: Westminster John Knox, 2001)

Kevin J. Vanhoozer, ed., The Cambridge Companion to Postmodern Theology (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2003).
Professor John Studebaker’s “Course Notes” (emailed at beginning of course).

 To purchase textbooks, click here - AMAZON.com

INTEGRATION OF FAITH AND LEARNING
The integration of faith and learning is presented in this course as students examine how traditional ways of conceiving God, self, the world, and the church have been "undone." Students will be asked to consider the extent to which both modernity and postmodernity are the result of certain theological decisions, and to attempt to develop a balanced evangelical response to postmodernism's impact upon theology.

LEARNING DOCUMENTATION
To determine if the course learning results have been attained, students document their learning by submitting the following items:
Readings (25%) At the end of the course, send a report of the number of chapters thoroughly read. There are 20 chapters total. (100 points total)
Papers (50%) There will be 5 required papers. Each will be worth 10%. (200 points total)
Online "Discussions" (25%) There are two "blog" web sites where I would like you to contribute to the ongoing discussions. 10 points each. (100 points total)
There are 5 lessons and 0 examinations for this course.

LEARNING EVALUATION
Assignment #1 – Introduction to Postmodern Theologies
Assignment #2 - Postmodernism and God/Christ
Assignment #3 - Postmodernism and Scripture/Truth
Assignment #4 - Postmodernism and "Spirit" (Spirituality/Humanity/Culture/Ethics)
Assignment #5 - Postmodernism and Church/Ministry