Catalogue 2008 Book - Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

THEOLOGICAL-HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT
TH.271 THEOLOGY AND LITERATURE
In this course students read and analyze works of literature with an eye toward refl ecting
on how knowledge of Christian doctrine shapes our readings of texts, and discovering what
great literature has to teach us about the relevance of Christian doctrine to everyday life.
Selected readings from both classic and contemporary literature, with some attention given
to writings which explicitly refl ect on the relationship between writing fi ction and thinking
theologically. Six credits. Ms. Rigby
TH.275 THE THEOLOGICAL ETHICS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
This seminar examines the theology and ethics of Martin Luther King Jr. Students engage
in the constructive task of formulating the theological social ethic of this pastor-theologian.
Special attention is given to fi gures who infl uenced the thought of King. Among the topics
considered in class are: strategies of social change, social gospel and Christian realism,
philosophy and theology of nonviolence, personhood, social justice, love and the beloved
community. Six credits. Mr. García
TH.277 THEOLOGICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL CONCEPTIONS OF JUSTICE
In this course students examine selected theories of social justice presented by contemporary
political philosophers and relevant to the North American scene. Participants explore and
critically evaluate the main arguments presented by authors such as John Rawls, Robert
Nozick, Michael Walzer, and Arthur Okun. Attention is given to the way leading Christian
theologians such as Reinhold Niebuhr, Jacques Maritain, Paul Tillich, Jon Sobrino, and
John Donahue think about social justice. The theologians are selected on the basis of their
relevance for some political movements or their infl uence on the way Christians think about
social justice issues. Six credits. Mr. García
TH./CM.279 DIETRICH BONHOEFFER AND THE PUBLIC CHURCH
This course explores the public role of the Christian church by focusing on Dietrich
Bonhoeffer’s life and ecclesiological writings. Bonhoeffer’s ecclesiology provides three models
for the church, each of which presents distinctively public features, beginning with the
Sanctorum Communio of his dissertation and culminating in the “Servant Church” of his
Letters and Papers from Prison. The course introduces students to Bonhoeffer’s seminal studies,
offering viable ways to rethink church in relationship to the world and to understand the
public dimensions of Christian discipleship. Six credits. Messrs. Jensen and Jinkins
TH.281 MEDIEVAL SPIRITUALITY AND THE REFORMED TRADITION
This course focuses on the question of whether the Reformed tradition includes a mystical
element, and if so, what the contours of that element might be. Using primary and secondary
sources, participants explore implications of mystical thought for anthropology, epistemology,
ecclesiology, and Christology. Six credits. Ms. Babinsky
TH.283 PHILOSOPHICAL THEOLOGY
This course considers the appropriate place of philosophy in theological refl ection and
introduces students to the philosophical dimensions of basic Christian doctrines. Issues covered
include modern versus postmodern rationality; faith and reason; revelation; the meaning of
truth and the meaningfulness of language about God; miracles; the problem of evil; and the
intelligibility of key doctrines such as the incarnation, the atonement, and the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit. The course is designed to be accessible both to advanced students and to
students with little or no philosophical training. Six credits. Mr. Greenway
TH.287 RELIGIOUS PLURALISM AND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
In a world becoming more and more religiously plural, Christians are faced with the challenge
of identifying and articulating an appropriate theological response to those of other religious
traditions. This course looks at core Christian doctrines such as God, creation, revelation,
and reconciliation, raising the questions students need to answer about each in response to
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