Investigating Christian Theology: A Dialogical and Interreligious Approach (TH-505)

Whether we think of it as “faith seeking understanding” (Anselm of Canterbury) or “the study of God and God’s ways" (Frederick Buechner) or “the discovery, understanding, and transformation of the convictions of a convictional community, including the discovery and critical revision of their relation to one another and to whatever else there is” (James Wm. McClendon Jr), Christian theology is complex—complicated as it is by the sheer manyness of the forms Christianity now takes. Taught collaboratively by two scholar-practitioners who embrace radically different expressions of this faith, who delight in the resulting complexity, and who have deep experience in multifaith contexts, this course provides an opportunity for dialogical investigation of such core Christian doctrines (revelation, creation, Trinity, Christology, pneumatology, ecclesiology, soteriology, eschatology, and more). It facilitates exploration of multiple perspectives of thinkers and exemplars from the early church to the present—among them, a few non-Christian scholars of Christian scripture, belief, and practice. This course will help students connect “theology” to their own beliefs and practices, ecclesial ministry, service as a chaplain, or social activism—whatever their orientation toward “religion”’ or their prior experience with formal study of Christian doctrines may be.

Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS - Islamic Studies: Religious Pluralism
MAIRS - Interreligious Studies: Elective
MAIRS- Ministerial Studies: Foundations of the Christian Faith