Purpose of the Course: To acquaint students engaged in the academic study of religion with the theological method while studying the basic beliefs of Christianity and contemporary developments in Christian theology.
Required Texts: Christian Beliefs and Teachings (second edition) by John C. Meyer (Lanham · New York · Oxford: University Press of America, Inc., 1997) and The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, New Revised Standard Version (NY: Oxford University Press, 1990).
Course Outline:
A. Introduction
B. The Christian God
l. The Biblical Concept of
God
2. Traditional Doctrine of
the Trinity
3. Contemporary Understanding
of the Trinity
4. The Attributes of God
5. Divine Revelation
C. Jesus Christ
1. Son of God
2. Jesus the Man
D. Jesus and Reconciliation
1. Humans as Sinners
2. The Doctrine of the Atonement
3. Sanctification
E. Christian Faith
1. Reason Related to Faith
2. Definition of Christian
Faith
3. The Conversion Process
F. The Christian Church
1. The Church and the Holy
Spirit
2. The Necessity of
the Church
3. Who is a Christian?
4. The Unity of the Church
5. The Church and the Kingdom
of God
G. Christian Ethics
1. The Christian View of
Human Beings
2. Sin in Christian Tradition
3. Different Approaches to
Christian Ethics
4. The Problem of Evil
H. Christian Eschatology
1. The Concept of Death
2. The Concept of Judgment
3. Concept of Eternity
4. Concepts of Heaven, Hell,
and Purgatory
5. The End of History
Evaluation Procedure: The grade for this course will be the average grade achieved in the examinations given. Three examinations are scheduled during the semester and an optional comprehensive examination during the semester final examination period. Students with excused absences will be given make-up exams. However, all make-up exams will be essay style.
Students with Disabilities: Any student who, because of a disability, may require some special arrangements in order to complete course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make necessary accommodations.