Summer 2008
FNW-Seattle
TC531
Keuss

 

DESCRIPTION: Seeking to introduce students to the theological and social dimensions of the forces that shape contemporary human culture, this course will engage postmodernity theologically by studying primary sources of meaning in contemporary culture. This course will investigate some of the social, ethical, and psychological implications of postmodernity upon theology, and in turn seek a theological engagement with western culture.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Through reading, lecture and seminar discussion, students will (1) understand the relationship between popular culture and theology, and be able to articulate the presence of God in human culture; (2) explore the contours of postmodern theology and its intersections with contemporary culture and needs; (3) be able to appreciate the dynamics affecting contemporary ministry today; and (4) be able to critically assess and apply the significance of these process personally and for Christian ministry.

 

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Postmodern ministry must engage audiences barraged by electronic overload and largely cut off from traditional, Biblical understandings of God. This course will equip students with critical perspectives that will sharpen the skills of tomorrow's ministers in analyzing and engaging culture--"reading" culture and forging theological responses. Special emphasis will be given to recent cultural forms of meaning making such as contemporary film, music and pop art, particularly the edgy, spiritually-charged visions of emerging artists and theorists which expose the individual to relevant cultural narratives.

 

COURSE FORMAT: Interactive. The class will meet daily for three hours over two weeks. During each session, students will (1) engage a particular claim of postmodern thought; (2) grapple with the key thinkers germane to these claims; (3) consider possible theological responses for ministry.

 

REQUIRED READING AND VIEWING:

• Crace, Jim. Quarantine. (New York: Picador, 1999) ISBN: 0312199511. 256pp.
• Christianson, Eric S. (ed.) Cinema Divinite: Religion, Theology and the Bible in Film (New York: SCM, 2005). ISBN: 9780334029885. 300pp. Film options for the theological reading of film assignment are found in Appendix 1
• Raschke, Carl. The Next Reformation: Why Evangelicals Must Embrace Postmodernity (Baker Academic, 2004) ISBN: 9780801027512. 240pp.
• Smith, James K.A. Who’s Afraid of Postmodernity: Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church (Baker Academic, 2006). ISBN: 9780801029189. 160pp.
• Taylor, Mark C. Erring: A Postmodern Theology (University of Chicago Press, 1984). ISBN: 9780226791425. 234pp.
• Whitley, Raewynne J. and Maynard, Beth. Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog (Cowley, 2003). ISBN: 9781561012237. 212pp.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.        Attendance and class participation (20%)

2.        Three two-page reviews on Moore, Raschke, and Smith (30%).

3.        A two-page theological ‘reading’ of one of the films listed in Cinema Divinite: Religion, Theology and the Bible in Film utilizing the matrix of film reading I outline on page 81. (10%)

4.        A twelve- to fifteen-page paper rooted in field research on one of 10 topics covered in the course (one per day). Papers will forge a theological response to the research gathered. Students will study three cultural loci of meaning making (guidelines will be given in class) and include a plan for a theological presentation in their life and ministry (e.g., a Sunday school series, a sermon) (40%).

 

PREREQUISITES: None

 

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the culture (CULT) requirement in Cultural Literacy for MA programs. Meets the MAT in Theology & Arts format requirement in Integrative studies. Meets the MACL in Integrative Studies requirement for an interdisciplinary course (IDPL).

 

FINAL EXAM: None