Description: The title of this class is “Foundations and Global Theology.” Does theology have foundations? Daniel Migliore begins his view of task of theology with “inquiry” (Migliore, Faith Seeking Understanding, 3). If theology is about “questions,” in what ways can we find foundations on which theology can be constructed? Grenz discusses theological alternatives of “post-foundationalism” quoting from Nicholas Wolterstorff, “On all fronts foundationalism is in bad shape. It seems to me there is nothing to do but give it up for mortally ill and learn to live its absence” (Wolterstorff, Reason within the Bounds of Religion, 52, quoted by Grenz, Articulating the Christian Belief-Mosaic, 112). Living in these relativistic, rapidly changing, and doubtful days, can we still have foundational knowledge of God, humanity and their relationship on which we can continues to construct our own theology? Or, do we have to make a shift from a classical view of foundationalism to contemporary, web-like, and mosaic view of contextualism? Having foundations, for example in a modest type of foundationalism, is, however, not so much close to having an absolute faith in unchangeable and transcendental foundations as constructing theology with foundational knowledge which can be collectively and plausibly shared and developed in different communities and contexts. A balance between foundations and their contextual relevance will be a critical focus of this course.

Seminary: New Brunswick Theological Seminary

Key Words: Prolegomena; Doctrine of Revelation; Doctrine of God and the Trinity; Anthropology; Pneumatology