Description: This course focuses on the development of theological thinking and imagination for today’s world. It facilitates the integration of theology and the commitment to sustainable justice via exploring fundamental concepts of theology, e.g., God, Creation, Sin and Evil, Jesus Christ, and the Kingdom of God through engagement with science and social sciences, such as evolutionary anthropology. Learners will deliberate on questions such as, ‘what does theology gain by entering in dialog with scientific advances in evolutionary anthropology?’ ‘What are the theological sources, criteria, and tasks?’ Students are encouraged to engage in creative and critical theological reflections to cultivate and refine their own values and commitments as theologians. This course is organized according to the principles guiding inquiry-based methods of learning combined with engaged pedagogy and constructive theology. Class activities, assignments and group dynamics will require from each participant to be opened to learn and practice compassionate communication in order to generate theological insight. May compassionate communication and action be a basis for emerging theologies, practices and teachings that promote a life-giving human-Earth-divine relationship. Please note that this course is an introduction to the study of theology. It cannot cover all the main doctrines within Christian systematic theology. Therefore, students who are in the ordination track are strongly advised to take other theological courses pertaining to their own faith traditions in their 2nd and 3rd semester to better prepare for their ordination interviews.

Seminary: Methodist Theological School of Ohio

Science areas: Evolution, inquiry-based processes and history of science, social sciences, anthropology