Syllabus
Syllabus for Independent Study on
FAITH, CHURCH AND CULTURE
By Leonardo M. Alves
METHODOLOGY
Read the selected texts and reflect, writing an essay on the state of Christianity and the contemporary culture.
OBJECTIVES
Reflect on different understandings of being human as cultural, social and believing human beings by interacting with Anthropology, Cultural and Social Studies. It also equips them to examine the role, place and nature of churches, communities and structures of faith within society (ecclesiology)
Defining Terms
The Kingdom
Gospel
Church
Culture
The World
Evangelization
Summary of History of Christianity and Culture
How to Interpret Culture
Early Study of Church and Society/Culture
Weber
Troeltsch
Niebuhr’s Christ and Culture
Christ (Church) against Culture
Christ (Church) of Culture
Christ (Church) above Culture
Christ (Church) and Culture in Paradox
Christ (Church) the Transformer of Culture.
John Howard Yoder critique of H.R. Niebuhr
Paul Tillich on Culture
Theology of Culture
Cultural form as actualization of religion
Culture as source for Theology
Autonomy
Heteronomy
Theonomy
Other perspectives
T.S. Eliot: The role of Church in preservation and transmission of Culture
Harvey Cox: Secular Christianity
Stanley Hauerwas: Church in a pluralistic culture
Clifford Geertz: Religion as a Cultural System
Peter Berger: religion as a cultural construction of society.
Hegeman: culture as a gift from God
Reformed perspective: the Christian (re)construction of Culture: Abraham Kuyper, J. Gresham Machen, Francis Schaeffer
Carter: the Church as a Culture
Reflection on Contemporary culture and Christianity
Role of Church
Mission of Church
Christian expression in secular way
Music: Bono
Literature: Tolkien
Film: Passion of Christ
Thought: Francis Collins
Culture as a challenge to Christianity
Music: Judas Priest
Literature: DaVinci Code
Movie: Dogma
Thought: Richard Dawkins
Christianity conquering the mainstream
Music: He raises me up
Movie: Amazing Grace
Thought: Alvin Platinga
Christianity as subculture
Music: Hillsong
Literature: Left Behind series
REFERENCE
· Clifford Geertz. The Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic Books, 1973.
· Ernst Troeltsch. The Social Teachings of the Christian Church, vol. 1, 2, Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox, 1992.
· Harvey Cox. The Secular City. New York: Collier Books, 1990.
· Hegeman, David Bruce. Plowing in Hope: Toward a Biblical Theology of Culture
· Niebuhr, H.R. Christ and Culture. New York: Harper & Row, 1951.
· Peter Berger. The Sacred Canopy. New York: Doubleday, 1967.
· Stanley Hauerwas. A Community of Character. Notre Dame IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1982
· Stassen, Glen, D.M. Yeager, and J.H.Yoder. Authentic Transformation: A New Vision of Christ and Culture. Nashville: Abingdon, 1996.
· T.S. Eliot. Christianity and Culture. New York: Harcourt, 1976
· Tillich, Paul. Theology of Culture. New York: Oxford University Press, 1959.
· Carter, Craig A. Rethinking Christ and Culture: A Post Christendom Perspective. Brazos Press. 2006
· Bible. King James Version.