MP522: Religion and Contemporary Culture (4 units)

Wilbert R. Shenk, Paul E. Pierson Professor of Mission History and Contemporary Culture
Winter 2005 Pasadena

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

One of the most troubled issues in modern culture is the place of religion. Since the 18^th century religion has been on the defensive and the church increasingly marginalized in modern society. “Culture Christianity” has lacked the will to respond. Today postmodernity is shaking the epistemological foundations of modern culture. Science and technology no longer have the last word and a new opportunity for Christian witness is opening up. This course grapples with approaches and models of witness that engage the critical intellectual and religious issues of contemporary culture.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• A grasp of the main changes in religion since 1700 and their impact on organized religion.
• Awareness of ways the church has accommodated to modernity and the consequences.
• Knowledge of emerging new forms of Christian life and the opportunities these present.

COURSE FORMAT: The class meets two times per week for two hours. About half of the time will be devoted to lectures and special presentations that explore key intellectual and religious developments; the other half will be spent in discussion of student presentations and assigned readings.

REQUIRED READING: A minimum of 1,500 pages of reading from the following books:

Berger, Peter L. The Sacred Canopy. Anchor, 1990.
Berger, P. and T. L. Luckmann. The Social Construction of Reality. Anchor, 1996.
Bruce, Steve. Religion in the Modern World. Oxford, 1996.
Howe, Neil and William Strauss. Millennials Rising. Vintage, 2000.
Kirk, J. A. and K. J. Vanhoozer. To Stake a Claim. Orbis, 1999.
Lyotard, Jean-Francois. The Post-Modern Condition. Minnesota, 1984.
Smith, Christian. American Evangelicalism. Chicago, 1998.
Toulmin, Stephen. Cosmopolis. Free Press, 1990.
Turner, James. Without God, Without Creed. Johns Hopkins, 1985.
Williams, Peter W. Popular Religion in America. Prentice-Hall, 1989.

RECOMMENDED READING (available on reserve):

Buckley, Michael. At the Origins of Modern Atheism. Yale, 1987.
Clouser, R. A. The Myth of Religious Neutrality. Notre Dame, 1991.
Milbank, John. Theology and Social Theory. Blackwell, 1991.
Newbigin, Lesslie. Proper Confidence. Eerdmans, 1995.
Penning, James M. and Corwin E. Smidt, Evangelicalism in the Next Generation. Baker, 2002.
Snyder, Howard A. with Daniel V. Runyon. Decoding the Church. Baker, 2002.

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Write journal reflections—500 words per week—on assigned reading. Journaling is to be submitted at the end of the third, sixth, and ninth weeks of the quarter.
• Research and write a 3,500-word paper on an issue or theme involving an intellectual or religious theme relevant to your ministry and explore its missiological significance.
• Th.M. students: Read 1,600 pages and write a 4,000-word paper that demonstrates grasp of theoretical issues.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective

FINAL EXAM: No

Last Date Edited: September 21, 2004