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T305-OTheologicalAnthropology(Spring2019)BethanyTheologicalSeminary

ProfessorNateInglis

WHATWILLYOULEARNINTHISCOURSE?

CourseDescriptionTheologicalanthropologyisthestudyofhumannatureinrelationtoGod.Itintersectswithquestionsofgrace,sin,salvation,andthepersonofJesusChrist.ByputtingtraditionalChristianviewsofhumanityindialoguewithinsightsfromthenaturalandsocialsciences,wewillfocusoncurrentquestionsaboutgender,sexuality,race,disability,culture,thedistinctionbetweenhumanbeingsandotheranimals,andhumanity’srelationshiptothenaturalworld.CourseObjectivesYourworkinthisclassshoulddevelopyourabilityto:

1. thinkcriticallyaboutclassicandcurrentissuessurroundingtheChristianunderstandingofhumanity,withaperspectiveinformedbycontemporaryscienceandsocialtheory.

2. demonstrateanunderstandingofsomeofthemajorthemes,questions,andproblemscentraltorecenttrendsintheologicalanthropology.

3. articulateyourownperspectivesandinsightsasanactiveandthoughtfulparticipantinclassdiscussions.

4. writeanalyticallyandcreativelyaboutissuesraisedinthecourseinordertofindyourowntheologicalvoice,connectingyourbeliefs,practices,andcommitmentsofministrywithadisputedquestionintheologicalanthropology.

ProgramObjectives

• Interpret Scripture, tradition, and theology: Apply the results of careful interpretation, with attention to multiple contexts, to contemporary settings, situations, and concerns (MDiv 1.3, MA 1.3)

• Communicate faith and values with contextual awareness: Demonstrate awareness of various contexts and social locations in one’s communication (MDiv 2.3, MA 2.3)

• InterpretskillfullytheChristiansources,includingscripture,history,andtheologyandchurchpractices,withspecialattentiontotheAnabaptist-Pietistheritage(CATS1).

• Communicatereligiousfaithandvalueseffectively,listenwell,andexpressfaithwithclarityinwaysthataretheologicallyinformedandculturallypersuasive(CATS2).

• Engageinconstructiveunderstandingsofthenatureoftheology,withattentiontoitsfunctioninthepublicsphereandconnectionstowiderculturalcontexts(CTTI1).

• Expressone’sowntheologicalimaginationinformedbytheologicalinvestigation(CTTI3)

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HOWWILLTHECOURSEBEDELIVERED?

Thisonlinecourseisasynchronousandcollaborative.Thismeansthatwhileyouwillbeabletodotheworkforthecourseattimesofdaythatareconvenienttoyou,therewillbeassignmentsandactivitiestocompleteeachweek,andmanyofthesewillinvolveinteractionwithotherstudentsintheclass.Thecourseisbuiltaroundaconsistentweeklyrhythmsothatyouwillknowwhattoanticipateandhowtoplanyourschedule.TheclassisstructuredintoweeklymodulesthatbeginonFridaymorningsandendonThursdaynights.Eachweekthereareassignedreadings,videos,orpodcasts.Youcanstarttheseassignmentsatanytime,butFridaythroughSundayofeachweekisdedicatedtimeforyoutodothereading.ThereadingforeachweekshouldbecompletedbySundaynight.MondaythroughThursdayofeachweektherewillbeanonlineclassdiscussionofthereading.Differentstudentswillbeinchargeofmoderatingthesediscussions.Iwillprovideshortweeklyintroductionstothemainthemesinthereadings.Finally,ifthereissufficientstudentinterest,ImayscheduleafewoptionalrealtimeclassdiscussionsonZoom.

EXPECTATIONS

WhatIexpectfromyou:Inanonlinecourselikethisone,youhavemorefreedomtoworkaccordingtoyourownschedule,butyoualsohavegreaterresponsibilityforyourlearning.Sinceyouareincontrol,youwillneedtobedisciplinedandresilientinordertokeepupwiththeweeklyreadingandassignments.Thefollowingstrategieswillhelpyousucceedinthecourse:

1. MoodleLogin:LogintoMoodleeverydaytoviewannouncements,discussionpostsandrepliestoyourposts.Youmayneedtologinmultipletimesadayduringthegroupdiscussion.

2. ManageyourTime:Takingcoursesonlinerequiresgoodplanning.Thinkingahead,andhavingaconsistentscheduleforyourclassworkallowsyoutoplanfortheunexpectedsickness,travelrequirements,Internetoutagesetc.Youshouldsetasideatleast9-12hoursperweektocompletethereading,discussions,assignments,andotherrequiredactivitiesforthiscourse.

3. Keeptrackofduedates:UsetheclasscalendaronMoodleandprintoutthecoursescheduleattheendofthesyllabus,butalsolookforupdatesonMoodle.

Whatyourpeersexpectfromyou:Justlikeatraditionalclassroom,inonlinecoursescertainrulesofnetiquetteareexpected,whichcontributetomoreenjoyableandproductivecommunication.Rememberthatthepersonreceivingyourmessageissomeonelikeyou,whodeservesandappreciatescourtesyandrespect.Whencommunicatingonlineplease:

• Writemessagesthatarecourteous.• Criticizeideas,notpeople.• Neversubmitamessageinanger.

Whatyoucanexpectfromme:Asyourteacher,Iamcommittedtoprovidingaqualitylearningexperiencethroughthoughtfulplanning,implementation,andassessmentofcourseactivities.Iamalsocommittedtobeingavailabletoyouthroughoutthesemester:

• ByappointmentviaZoomorphonethroughoutthesemester• Byreplyingtoquestionsintheforumsorthroughemailwithin24to48hours• Byreturninggradedcourseworkwithfeedbackwithinoneweekofeachassignment'sduedate

Withinourdiscussionforums,Iwillbepresentasstudentleadersinitiatethoughtful,on-topicdiscussions.Iwillencouragestudent-to-studentcommunication,andmediatewhennecessary.Although

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Iwillreadeverypost,Iwon’tresponddirectlytoeverythingsaidinthediscussions.Instead,mygoalistoencourageyoutotakeownershipofthelearningprocessbyengagingwitheachother.

THINGSYOUNEEDFORTHISCOURSE

Thefollowingtextsarerequiredreadingforthecourse.AlltextsareavailableforpurchaseonlineinprintoreBookformats.TheyarealsoallavailableattheLillyLibraryonreserveoraseBooks(whenindicatedbelow).Ifyoucannotaccessthebooksonreserveatthelibrary,youmaybeabletoborrowthembyusingyourlocallibrary’sInterlibraryLoan(ILL)service.InstructionsforfindingallotherrequiredreadingsareavailableonourMoodlecoursesite.RequiredTexts:

• Cole-Turner,Ron.TheEndofAdamandEve:TheologyandtheScienceofHumanOrigins.TheologyPlusPublishing,2016.ISBN:0998068608

• Copeland,M.Shawn.EnfleshingFreedom:Body,Race,andBeing.Minneapolis:Fortress,2009.ISBN:0800662741

• MarvinEllisonandKellyBrownDouglas,eds.SexualityandtheSacred:SourcesforTheologicalReflection,2ndedition.Louisville:WJK,2010.ISBN:9780664233662[LillyeBook]

• Fernandez,EleazarS.ReimaginingtheHuman:TheologicalAnthropologyinResponsetoSystemicEvil.St.Louis:ChalicePress,2004.ISBN:0827232527[LillyeBook]

• Gonzalez,MichelleA.CreatedinGod’sImage:AnIntroductiontoFeministTheologicalAnthropology.Maryknoll,NY:OrbisBooks,2007.ISBN:157075697X

• Lents,NathanH.NotSoDifferent:FindingHumanNatureinAnimals.NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress,2016.ISBN:0231178328[LillyeBook]

• TedPeters,ed.Astrotheology:ScienceandTheologyMeetExtraterrestrialLife.Eugene,OR:CascadeBooks,2018.ISBN:9781532606397[LillyeBook]

• Sinha,Indra.Animal’sPeople:ANovel.NewYork:Simon&Schuster,2007.ISBN:141657879X• Sussman,RobertWald.TheMythofRace:TheTroublingPersistenceofanUnscientificIdea.

Cambridge,MA:HarvardUniversityPress,2014.ISBN:067466003X[LillyeBook]TechnologyRequirements:

• Computerwithhigh-speedinternet,speakers,microphone,andvideocamera.• Webbrowser(e.g.,Firefox,Safari,Chrome,orInternetExplorer)• Wordprocessor(e.g.Word,Pages,orGoogleDocs)• PDFReader(AdobeAcrobatReaderorother)• Headsetwithmicrophone

COURSEPOLICIES

1.Communication

• CourseAnnouncements:AllannouncementsrelatingtothecoursewillbemadeontheMoodleNewsForum.

• DiscussionBoards:Therearethreetypesofdiscussionboardsinthecourse:o CourseQ&A:Usethisforallquestionsrelatingtothecourseoritscontent.o TheGatheringRoom:Usethisforumposttoexploreideasbeyondthescopeoftheclass

discussionsorpostresourcesoreventsthatyouthinkthattheotherstudentsmightbeinterestedineveniftheyarenotdirectlyrelatedtothecourse.

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o ClassDiscussions:Usetheseforumstoparticipateinweeklydiscussionsofthereadings.• E-mail:Pleaseusemye-mailaboveforallprivatecommunicationthatcannotgoononeofthe

discussionboards.IfIbelievethatyourquestionisbetteransweredonthediscussionboard,ImayaskyoutopostittherebeforeIanswerit.

• Individualappointments:DuringthefirstweekofclassIwillaskyoutoscheduleanappointmentwithmeoverZoom.Thisisanopportunityforustomeetandformetoansweranyremainingquestionsyoumighthave.IwillbeavailableanytimeduringthesemesterviaZoom(orbyphone).Justemailmetosetanappointment.

2.AttendanceForanonlineclassattendanceandparticipationareessentiallyequivalent.IwillexpectyoutobepresentonourMoodlecoursepage,andtoactivelyparticipateinclassdiscussionsandgroupactivities.ThisclassfollowsBethany’spolicyonattendance,whichplaceslimitsonallowableabsences.Thepolicyforonlinecoursesstates:“Onlinecoursesdonotrequireattendanceatface-to-facemeetings,butregularparticipationinonlinediscussionsbecomestheequivalentofclassroomattendance.TimespentinteractingonMoodleisconsideredtimethestudentwouldotherwisebespendingintheclassroom.Oneshouldtypicallyexpecttospendatleastthreehoursonlineeachweek,inadditiontoreadingsandotherassignments.Inkeepingwiththeabove20%standard,astudentwhomissesmorethan20%ofthepostingdeadlines(whetherfailingtopostorpostinglate)duringasemester-longcoursewillnotreceivecreditforthecourse.Inordertomaximizeinteractionamongparticipantsinthecourse,itishighlypreferablethatstudentsparticipateinonlinediscussionsaccordingtotheschedulesetbytheinstructor.Itisessentialthatstudentskeepupwithonlinepostingsandotherassignments,asthisisavitalpartofthecontextforonlinelearning.Typically,latepostsarenotallowed.However,instructorshavethefreedomtomakeexplicitexceptionstothis,asstatedincoursesyllabi.”(BethanyStudentHandbook,2015-2016,p.70)3.AssignmentsAllassignmentsaredueonthedateandtimelistedonthecoursescheduleandontheassignmentinstructions.Ifyouknowthatyouwillnotcompleteanassignmentontime,pleasecontactmeassoonaspossiblesowecandiscussyouroptions.Therearenoexceptionsforlateworkifyoudonotapproveitwithmeaheadoftime.Donotwaituntilthelastminutetosubmit.Ifyouturninanassignmentveryclosetothedeadline,anytechnicalproblemswithyourcomputeroryourinternetconnectionmaycauseyourassignmenttobecountedaslate.Unlessotherwisenoted,allassignmentsshouldbesubmittedonlinethroughourcourseMoodlesite.4.GradingCriteriaStudentswillreceiveeitherCreditorNo-Creditforthecourse,aswellasaRubricAssessment.However,evaluationforBethanystudentswillappearasfollows:CreditwithDistinction,Credit,CreditwithConcern,orNo-Credit.ThiswillallowBethanytorecognizeexemplaryworkwhilealsoidentifyingareasofconcernasastudentprogressesthroughtheprogram.Note:ThiswillonlyappearontheRubricAssessmentforBethanystudents,whilethegradereportedandtranscriptwillcontinuetoreflectthe“Credit/No-Credit”system.5.AcademicIntellectualHonestyPolicyandPlagiarismUsingcontentfromothersourcesasyourown,orusingclassmates’responsestoanswerexaminationorassignmentquestionsunderminestheintegrityandrespectonwhichourclassdepends.ThiscoursecomplieswithBethany’spolicyandactionsonplagiarismasstatedintheStudentHandbook:“Plagiarismisusingtheworkofotherpeoplewithoutgivingthemcredit,whetherinwrittenassignmentsorformaloralpresentations....Theconsequencesforplagiarismwillvaryaccordingtotheextentoftheoffense,buteven

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‘minor’instancesareconsideredseriousenoughtoincurpenalties.Thesemayrangefromrewritingtheassignment,non-creditingtheassignment,ornon-creditingthecourse,uptodismissalfromtheprogram.Anyinstanceofplagiarismwillbereportedbytheinstructortothestudent,thestudent’sadvisor,theacademicdeanoftheinstructor’sinstitution,andthedeanofthestudent’sinstitution,ifappropriate.StudentswhowishtochallengethechargeofplagiarismhaverecoursetotheComplainPolicyoftheinstructor’sinstitution.”(BethanyStudentHandbook,2015-2016,p.79).6.TurabianCitationStyleTheTurabian(akaChicago)citationstyle,withfootnotesandfullbibliography,isrequiredforallwrittenassignmentsinthiscourse.GuidelinesforthiscitationstylecanbefoundinthemostrecenteditionofKateTurabian’sAManualforWritersofTermPapers,Theses,andDissertations:ChicagoGuidestoWriting,Editing,andPublishing(Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress).ATurabianQuickReferenceGuideisalsoavailableasadownloadablePDFontheBethanyTheologicalSeminarywebsiteat:https://bethanyseminary.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Turabian-Style-Guide-2017.pdf7.StudentswithDisabilitiesPolicyThiscoursecomplieswithBethany’spolicyonstudentswithdisabilities,asstatedintheStudentHandbook.Bethany’spolicyincludesacommitmenttoprovideappropriateaccommodationsforstudentswithdocumenteddisabilities.Ifyoubelievethatyouneedaccommodations,pleasebeincontactwiththeDirectorofStudentDevelopmentaboutthedevelopmentofsuchaplan.Itistheresponsibilityofthestudenttocommunicatethisplantotheinstructorassoonaspossible.

ASSIGNMENTSParticipationinWeeklyDiscussionForumsandOtherWeeklyActivities[30%]Yourworkwillinvolveweeklyparticipationinanonlinediscussionforumwiththeotherstudentsinthecourse.Eachweek’sdiscussionwillbefourdayslong,startingeachMondaymorningandendingonThursdayevening.Pleasescheduleatleastonehoureachofthesedaystoparticipateintheclassdiscussionbyreadingtheentriesofothersandpostingyourowncontributions.DetailsaboutthediscussionguidelinesarepostedonourcourseMoodlepage.I’malsoplanningtohostmonthlylivediscussionsessionsoverZoom.Althoughthesesessionsareoptional,theyareanopportunitytotalkinrealtimeaboutlargerquestionsandideasinthecourse.LeadOnlineDiscussions[20%]Eachweekonestudentwillleadtheonlinediscussion.Asthediscussionleaderyouareresponsibleforstartingthediscussionbypostingabriefsummaryoftheissuesyouthinkaremostimportantfromtheweek’sreadingandposingatleastthreeopen-endedandthought-provokingquestionsaboutthereadings.Onceeveryoneelsestartsrespondingtothequestions,yourroleistoenhancetheconversationbydrawingconnectionsbetweenparticipants’thoughts,highlightingdifferencesofopinionintheclass,orencouragingotherstothinkaboutsolutionstoproblemsinthetextandanswerstoquestionsraisedindiscussion.ReflectionEssay[Credit/NoCredit]Towardthebeginningandendofthesemesteryouwillbeaskedtowriteatwo-pagereflectiveessay.FinalResearchProject[50%]Themajorassignmentforthiscourseisaresearchprojectonatopicorquestionrelatedtothecoursethatculminatesina20-pageessay.Assignmentdetailswillbeprovided.

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COURSESCHEDULEWeek0:(Jan28–31):CourseIntroduction

I.FoundationsfortheStudyofTheologicalAnthropologyWeek1(Feb1–7):IntrotoTheologicalAnthropology:“ImageofGod”

Reading:• MichelleGonzalez,CreatedinGod’sImage,ix-84(Introandchs.1-3).

Week2(Feb8–14):IntrotoTheologicalAnthropology:“Sin”

Reading:• EleazarFernandez,ReimaginingtheHuman,11-71(chs.1-3).REFLECTIONESSAYDUE

II.CurrentQuestionsinTheologicalAnthropology

Week3(Feb15–21):WomenandtheImageofGod

Reading:• JohnPaulII,“LettertoWomen,”139-43.• ElizabethJohnson,“ImagingGod,EmbodyingChrist,”45-59.• MichelleGonzalez,CreatedinGod’sImage,85-160(chs.4-6).

Week4(Feb22–28):GenderandSexuality

Reading:• BMC,"Trans101:ABriefGuide."• AustenHartke,"AndGodSaid,LetThereBeMarshes,"inTransforming,47-58(ch.4).• MarvinEllisonandKellyBrownDouglass,SexualityandtheSacred,2nded.,48-66,105-164(chs.

4,8-10).Watch:SaltwaterBaptism

Week5(Mar1–7):HumanEvolution

Reading:• RonCole-Turner,TheEndofAdamandEve,67-172(chs.5-9).

Week6(Mar8–21):ScienceandRacism

Reading:• RobertWaldSussman,TheMythofRace,1-209(Introandchs.1-7).

March11:LASTDAYTODROP–NO“NC”ONTRANSCRIPTWeek7(Mar22-28):TheologyandRacism

Reading:• JamesBaldwin,“OnBeingWhite...andOtherLies,”inTheCrossofRedemption,135-38.• EleazarFernandez,ReimaginingtheHuman,133-154(ch.6).• M.ShawnCopeland,EnfleshingFreedom,1-105(chs.Intro,chs.1-4).

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Week8(Mar29–Apr4):DisabilityReading:• DeborahCreamer,DisabilityandChristianTheology,13-52,93-114(chs.1-2,5).• ThomasReynolds,“LoveWithoutBoundaries:OnParentingaChildwithDisabilities,”193-209.• MaryEliseLowe,“’Rabbi,WhoSinned?’DisabilityTheologiesandSin,”185-94.

Week9(Apr5–11):Animal’sPeople

Reading:• IndraSinha,Animal’sPeople.PROGRESSREPORTDUE

Week10(Apr12–18):HumansandAnimals

Reading:• NathanLents,NotSoDifferent:FindingHumanNatureinAnimals,69-90,225-245,272-310(chs.3,

8,10,andconclusion).• GarySteiner,“Descartes,Christianity,andContemporarySpeciesism,”inACommunionofSubjects,

117-131.• NancyHowell,“EmbodiedTranscendence:BonobosandHumansinCommunity,”Zygon44no.3

(September2009):601-612.• OliverPutz,“MoralApes,HumanUniqueness,andtheImageofGod,”Zygon44no.3(September

2009):613-624.Week11(Apr19–25):LifeBeyondEarth

Reading:• TedPeters,ed.,Astrotheology,3-105(chs.1-5).

April25–27:BethanyTheologyandScienceConferenceWeek12(Apr26–May2):TheologicalAnthropology,Ecology,andEthics

Reading:• EleazarFernandez,ReimaginingtheHuman,159-232(chs.7-9).

May9:FINALPROJECTDUE

Thursday, April 253:00-4:00 PM Check-In

4:00 Welcome: Seminary President and Conference Directors Invocation: Song and Prayer

4:30 “The Big Bang, Fine Tuning, and the Existence of God” Isaac Wilhelm, Rutgers University

5:20 Break

5:30 “Looking for Life on Other Planets” Dr. Wes Tobin, Indiana University East

6:20 Dinner

7:40 Small Group Meetings

8:45 Reception

“Look at Life”A Conference Where Faith Meets Science

S C H E D U L E

Friday, April 268:00 AM Continental Breakfast

8:45 Morning Song and Prayer

9:00 “Putting Faith and Science Back Together Again” Dr. Russell Haitch, Bethany Theological Seminary

10:00 Break

10:15 “The Tree of Life, Biologically Speaking: A Brief History with Updates” Dr. Craig Story, Gordon College

11:15 Break

11:30 From Tree Rings to Microwaves: How Scientists Date Stuff Dr. Katherine Miller-Wolf, Indiana University East

12:30 PM Lunch

1:30 Small Group Meetings

2:30 Nature Walk or Museum Visit

4:15 “The Perfect Human? The Promises and Perils of Human Genome Editing” Dr. Craig Story, Gordon College

5:15 Dinner

6:30 “The Lost World of Genesis 1” Dr. John Walton, Wheaton College

7:45 Break

8:00 Dialogue with Dr. John Walton

8:45 Reception

Saturday, April 278:00 AM Continental Breakfast

8:45 Morning Song and Prayer

9:00 “The Lost World of Adam and Eve” Dr. John Walton, Wheaton College

10:15 Break

10:30 Professors Discuss Genesis Dr. Nancy Bowen, Earlham School of Religion Dr. Martin Hanna, Andrews University Dr. Russell Haitch, Bethany Theological Seminary Dr. Steve Schweitzer, Bethany Theological Seminary Dr. John Walton, Wheaton College

11:30 Small Group Meetings

12:30 Lunch

1:30 Panel Discussion: Pulling Strands Together

2:30 Closing Prayer

Craig Story Gordon College

John Walton Wheaton College

Wes Tobin Indiana University East

Isaac Wilhelm Rutgers University

Nancy Bowen Earlham School of Religion

Russell Haitch Bethany Theological Seminary

Martin Hanna Andrews University

Katherine Miller-Wolf Indian University East

Conference Presenters and Panelists