THC2100EN - Doing Theology in Context

Course description

Explores key theories and practices necessary for local (indigenous) communities to receive the Christian faith and apply its message to their life contexts, expressing it through local cultural forms and traditions, reflecting upon it in writings, art, music, drama, dance, etc., while addressing issues, needs, problems and questions which have arisen within and are pertinent to those specific contexts.

How this course benefits students

The bachelor level course will provide the student with an introduction to the reality that all theology is contextual and the missional task is a theological task. The master’s level course assumes a basic knowledge of contextual theology and examines case studies of the contextualization process. This course will provide necessary skills and a conceptual framework for evaluating a context entering into a constructive, missional dialogue with it.

Why this course is important

The missional imagination is one in which the reign of God is realized within every particular context in the world, both conforming to the shape and transforming the shape of that context with the message of Jesus. This course teaches the practical process of living that theological reality out in everyday practice within community, and is thus, vital to the vision of Missional University.

Credit hours
3 hours
Subject area
Contextual Theology
Educational level
Associate
Learning type
Instructional
Prerequisites
None
Upcoming terms
Pending
* Schedule subject to change. Please contact the Registrar's office with schedule questions.
Professor
Dr. Stephen Lim, Professor of Contextual Theology

How this course relates to missional core values

Biblically based

The Bible is a contextual document, written in particular contexts for particular contexts. Doing theology in context is a Biblical practice.

Missionally driven

The mission of God is to bring the message of Jesus into the myriad of particular contexts in the world for the purpose of God’s reign being realized within each context. This course offers a framework in which to participate in the process.

Contextually informed

This course embraces the core value that everything is contextual and allows the student to enter into that conceptual and practical space.

Interculturally focused

It is a growing reality that many contexts are a pluralistic mixture of cultures, thus adding complexity to the contextualization process and the necessity of learning to communicate interculturally.

Practically minded

All theology is practical theology because it is the process of framing the lived experience in the mission of God at work in the world. This course offers the practical experience of doing theology.

Experientially transformed

The process of doing theology in a particular context is the experience of dialogue with the neighbor who is different. This course will offer opportunities to experience the dialogue.