Courses

This course looks at key moments in the history of Christian theology with an eye toward considering their importance for contemporary Christian thought, life, and ministry. It considers the theology behind early church trinitarian and Christological controversies and movements like monasticism, the Protestant Reformation, the revivals of the nineteenth and early twentieth century—Great Awakenings, Holiness and Pentecostal revivals, and the rise of new theological movements in the church.

Knowing

• Know significant persons in the history of Christian theology.
• Know the important theological developments in the history of Christian theology (e.g., patristic and medieval).
• Know the important Protestant Reformation theological trajectories and figures (Luther, the Radicals, Calvin, and Wesley).
• Know the theological and philosophical issues related to Modernism and Liberal theology.
• Know the theological and philosophical issues related to Postmodernism
• Know the theological and philosophical issues related to Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism, and Postconservative evangelical theology.
• Be familiar with several important trends in contemporary theology (e.g., Radical Orthodoxy, Open Theism, and theology of religions)

Being

• Appreciate that theology is a dynamic and contextual effort to discern appropriate ways to embody the redemption revealed in Jesus Christ.
• Embrace a deeper sense of your own Christian identity vis-à-vis significant historic Christian theological traditions and contemporary Christian theology and postmodern culture.

Doing

• Develop analytical and synthetic skills in theological reflection.
• Hone your critical abilities for reading texts in historical theology.
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the development and trajectories of Christian theology.
• Engage in the process of constructive and generative theological reflection and writing.