RELI228

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RELI228

Christ and Culture RELI228 SP

Not Currently Offered

The subject of critical discussion is the significance of Jesus Christ for personal formation, social change, and the destiny of creation. Negative and positive presentations of Christ in relation to culture will be examined. Themes of judgment, survival, identity, salvation, liberation, and transformation will be addressed in select theologians and settings from Germany, the Americas, and Africa. Attention will be given to proliferating concepts of Jesus, e.g., as victim, prophet, lord, healer, judge, liberator, sage, and cynic. Representations of the person and work of Jesus Christ will be examined for their views of God, humanity, evil, nature, and history. Although preference is given to contemporary theological and cultural views of Jesus Christ, relevant historical comparisons and recent conflicts in reading biblical sources will be engaged.

MAJOR READINGS

New Testament selections.
THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS
H. Frei, THE IDENTITY OF JESUS CHRIST
Jaspers, SOCRATES, BUDDHA, CONFUCIUS, JESUS
Downing, JESUS AND THE THREAT OF FREEDOM
H.R. Niebuhr, CHRIST AND CULTURE
Reuther, TO CHANGE THE WORLD: CHRISTOLOGY AND CULTURAL
CRITICISM
Selections from Luther, Calvin and Barth

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Readings required for discussion, midterm paper, final paper.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students should have completed at least one course in religion. Unless preregistered students attend the first class or communicate with the instructor prior to the first class meeting, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00 Gen Ed Area & Dept: HA RELI

Prerequisites: None

Last Updated on MAR-22-1999

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