Theology Course

INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY
A course offered by the New York School of Ministry,
United Church of Christ

Instructor: Dr. Charles A. Maxfield
Location: Homer Congregational United Church of Christ

Winter-Spring 2006

Objectives:

To become familiar with major issues in Christian theology, past and present, including:

-the different arguments for different positions
-the ways in which conflicts have been resolved.

To develop one’s ability to think theologically and to articulate one’s beliefs.

Requirements:

Read assignments,
attend class,
participate in discussion
Write an “apology” of the Christian faith of about 5 to 20 pages, due at the last session. An apology is an explanation of the Christian faith, addressed to an intelligent, non-hostile non-believer.

Text:

Migliore, Daniel L. Faith Seeking Understanding: An Introduction to Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991.

Each meeting consists of five one-hour session. For each session we will discuss hand-out reading, when there are some, and text.

We will have a 30 minute break for lunch. You may bring a lunch, go to a local restaurant, or pick up something at a local restaurant and bring it back to the church.

Grade

The grade will be based 80% on the apology and 20% on class participation.

MARCH 4

Hr Topic Text Readings

1 Introduction

2 What is Theology? 1

3 Ways of knowing 2,3 selections from Calvin’s Institutes;
Barth, Evangelical Theology

4 God–beyond or within? app. A

5 Human situation–Image of God and Original Sin 5,7

MARCH 18

Hr Topic Text Readings

1 Christ 8, app. B

2 Atonement

3 Christianity and Other Religions selections from Newbigen, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society

4 Trinity 4

5 Salvation selections from Graham, How to Be Born Again, and
Gutierez, A Theology of Liberation

APRIL 1

Hr Topic Text Readings

1 Evil and Suffering 6 selections from Soelle, Suffering

2 Free Will and Predestination selections from Calvin, Institutes, and
Wesley, Sermons

3 Grace and Works selections from Luther, Preface to Romans and
Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship

4 Holiness 9

5 The Church and the Kingdom of God 10,11 selections from Hawerwais, The Peaceable Kingdom

Date to be negotiated

Hr Topic Text Readings

1 Social Gospel/Liberation Theology App. C selections from Boff, When Theology Listens to the Poor

2 The End of Time 12 selections from Blumhardt, Action in Waiting

3 Feminist Theology selections from Daly, Beyond God the Father

4 Share student reports and discuss

5 Share student reports and discuss

Return to Maxfield Books

Hr	Topic	Text	Readings
1	Introduction
2	What is Theology?	1
3	Ways of knowing	2,3	selections from Calvin’s Institutes; Barth, Evangelical Theology
4	God–beyond or within?	app. A
5	Human situation–Image of God and Original Sin	5,7