Introduces students to the evolution and nature of human communities from a geographical, historical, religious, and sociological perspective. Particular attention that may be explored include community formation and change, cooperation within and between communities, claiming communities for Christ, and the need to address community/urban concerns.
According to Cities and Urban Life (Macionis and Parillo:2013), The reasons why cities have increasing dominance in modern affairs is that “everything human---art, music, business, traditions what we love and hate---converges there.” cities will continue to grow around the world and more particularly, in Africa and Asia.
Communities will continue to be important as a majority of individuals will live in such areas and/or building and relocating to urban areas around the world. Knowledge of community and urbanism is a great opportunity to join God where He is working and with the hope and freedom that can be found in Him. We have the opportunity to join Him in His mission.
This course will be based on a biblical worldview. We will specifically focus on Romans 12:4-5 NIV “For as in one body we have many members and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
Our goal is to see how God can and is working in communities around the world and how this allows us the opportunity to join Him in that work. It is a mission that He has provided for us.
Communities were in existence in many cases, even prior to cities. Many communities, particularly when its members looked out for one another, sometimes continued their action or activities, or advocacy when larger formations, today’s cities were formed.
Regardless of your degree, you will be a member of many communities- your neighborhood, your church, your race and/or ethnicity, your gender, your workplace, your professional group, your voluntary association(s), your city, your country, and the world. This course gives students the opportunity to see how this works around the world.
This course will give students the practical tools and insights that they need to create and make a difference in their respective communities.
This course will not only focus on the ideas and concepts that are taught, but will also give students the opportunity to apply them and live them out in their lives. Students will take what they have learned and apply that learning to their specific environment.
