COS-312  

Our Theological Heritage:  The Reformation

Summer Semester 2010  

Instructor:  Catherine Tinsley Tuell

Office hours:  After class or via email (catherine.tuell@cgu.edu) 

NOTE: Before class begins, please contact me if you have questions regarding this syllabus  

Dates of Class:  June 28-July 6, 2010   

A.  Course Description:    

This is a survey course covering the period commonly referred to as the “Protestant Reformation”.  The interrelated concepts of “grace”, “faith”, and “justification” will provide the vehicle by which the student will critically reflect upon important individuals, decisive events, and major theological developments during this period.   

B.  Learning Objectives:  

The goals for this course are that students will be able to 1) describe key elements in the history of the European Protestant Reformation; 2) thoughtfully articulate how the major theologians of the period understood the concepts of “grace”, “faith”, and justification” and implemented their particular understanding of the same; 3) be able to compare and contrast the basic teachings of these particular theologians regarding the sacraments of Baptism and Communion;  4) recognize and become conversant with the Wesleyan theological heritage that emerged from this vibrant historical period; 5) enter into the church’s ongoing task of interpreting and enacting the gospel for contemporary life, and 6) appreciate and appropriate historical theological perspectives for personal pastoral ministry.  

C.  Texts (all texts will be placed on reserve at the CST Library)  

      Required texts:  

1)     Gonzalez, Justo, L.  The Story of Christianity, Volume II:  The Reformation

   to the Present Day.  HarperSanFrancisco, 1985. Pages 7-132   

2. Janz, Denis R., editor.  A Reformation Reader:  Primary Texts with Introductions.  Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2^nd edition 2008. ISBN 978-0-8006-6310-0

4. Assignments

1. Read:

a) Gonzalez, Justo, L. The Story of Christianity, Volume 2:  The Reformation

                     to the Present Day.  HarperSanFrancisco, 1985. Pages 7-132. 

         b) Janz, Denis R., editor.  A Reformation Reader:  Primary Texts with

Introductions.  Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2^nd edition 2008. ISBN 978-0-8006-6310-0.

     Pages: Introduction, Chapter 1, pages13-31, 51-74, Chapters 2 – 7. 

2. Due by June 1, 2010 are pre-class papers that answer the

     following questions. Each answer should be two (maximum three)

     pages, double-spaced. 

1. What was “humanism” and describe its influence (or lack of) on the Protestant Reformation.  Why was Erasmus known as the “Prince of Humanists”?

2. Describe Martin Luther’s search for spiritual assurance and his “discovery” in scripture of the doctrine of justification by faith and its effect on his theology.

3. At the Marburg Colloguy (1529) Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli and their followers agreed on many things but not their understanding of the Lord’s Supper. Discuss the Marburg Colloguy and the position of these two reformers on the Lord’s Supper.

4. John Calvin and the doctrine of predestination have been closely linked. What was Calvin’s position on predestination and what is your response to Calvin’s understanding of it?

5. How did Anabaptist movement develop and in what ways did this differ from the leading reform movements of the European Reformation?  Explain the Anabaptist position on baptism and your reaction to it.

6. Describe the Methodist understanding of “justification” according to the Methodist Book of Discipline.      

4. Learning Assessments:

1. Class Attendance and participation:  15% of your grade (15 points

               possible)

• This is a short, intense class.  Students are expected to attend all class sessions. One absence will result in loss of points and students who miss two class sessions will be automatically dropped from the course.
• Students are expected to come to class prepared.  This means that informed and lively participation in class discussion is expected. Lack of participation will be reflected in the participation points earned.  Think of the Gonzalez text as the course roadmap. The assigned primary document readings in the Janz text are the must-see stops along the way.

•  Each member of the class will be required to lead at least one informed class discussion. Discussion topics will be assigned the first day of class.

2. Pre-assigned papers: Each pre-assigned paper is worth 10pts of a

student’s total grade. 6 papers X 10 pts = 60pts possible = 60% of your grade. As stated above, these papers are due by June 1, 2010. 

           3. A comprehensive exam = 25 %  

E.  Guidelines: 

1. Grading: Please refer to the Course of Study’s Handbook for the

      explanation of the grading policy. 

2. As the course progresses, the syllabus may be changed or adapted at the instructor’s discretion to facilitate students reaching the goals of the learning objectives stated above.   

3. I do not give make-up exams, and if you do not turn in your

     assignments you will fail the class.   

G.  Formatting your papers: 

1. Answer the questions using your own words and complete sentences.

2. Quotations from a text must be enclosed within quotation marks. The use of footnotes is preferred, but you may use parentheses after the quotation to cite the source and the page number. If you use this method and an assigned text, an abbreviation of the text may be used: Janz, A Reformation Reader = (Janz, 65.).  If you feel compelled to seek outside sources, please include bibliographical information. NOTE: Quotations should be at most a sentence or two accompanied by your analysis of the same. A short paper is not the place to use longer quotations. The object of the paper is to demonstrate your understanding of the question based on your readings of your texts.

3. Your printed papers should be on 81/2 X 11 white paper, one-sided, double-spaced, with 1” margins on all sides. Use Times New Roman or Arial 12-point font. There are approximately 250 words per 1 page of printed text.

4. Put your name, course name, and date of first class on the first page and last name and page number on subsequent pages.

5. Staple pages together in the upper left hand corner

6. Make copies of your papers and bring them to class. We will be using them during class discussions.

7. Academic Integrity:  Please reference the standards delineated in

     the Course of Study Handbook and pay particular attention to the

     section on “plagiarism”.  Plagiarism is the use of any material in

     your papers that is not original to you and for which you do not give

      credit to the source. Plagiarism must be avoided at all costs. When in any doubt, document the source of your written work. The use of plagiarism usually means failure of the course.  

8. Grading: Please refer to the Course of Study Handbook in your

registration packet for an explanation of the grading policy. A copy of the above handbook is also available in the faculty office.