RLST 905 (Fall 2017): Required Theology Doctoral Seminar

Instructors: Chloë Starr and Kathryn Tanner

Wed 4-5:50pm
Theological Genres
Spurred by contemporary criticisms of systematic theology, this course considers
the various literary forms that theological writing takes, their theological
presuppositions and theological effects, with attention to the influence of
differences in historical, socio-political, and cultural context.

Schedule of meetings and assignments:

Aug 30: Introduction and Welcome Gathering (location tba)

Part 1: Systematic Theology

Sept 6: Reservations about ‘systematic theology’
Marcella Althaus-Reid, Indecent Theology (Routledge, 2001), chapter 1
Sarah Coakley, God, Sexuality and the Self, (Cambridge University Press, 2013),
chapter 1
Kitamori Kazoh, Theology of the Pain of God (John Knox, 1965), prefaces
David Kelsey, Eccentric Existence, vol 1 (Westminster/John Knox, 2009), chapter 1
(a and b)
Kierkegaard, Concluding Unscientific Postscript, part 2, chapter 2
Rahner, Foundations of the Christian Faith, Introduction
-- “Pluralism in Theology and the Unity of the Creed in the
Church,” Theological Investigations, vol 11
Chloë Starr, Chinese Theology: Text and Context (Yale University Press, 2016),
Introduction and Afterword

Sept 20 and Oct 4: Varieties of systematic theology

Over the next two sessions, each student will make a short (20 min) presentation on
a theological work of their choosing (see the list below for possibilities) that seems
to offer a comprehensive treatment of theological topics as an interconnected
whole. Why is an attempt of that kind made? How are topics selected and ordered?
What form does the text take? How would you characterize the style of expression?
Is the work following established literary models of some sort?
Aquinas, Summa Theologiae
Calvin, Institutes
James Evans, We Have Been Believers
Irenaeus, Against Heresies
Origen, On First Principles
Pannenberg, Systematic Theology
Rahner, Foundations of the Christian Faith
Schleiermacher, Christian Faith
Kathryn Tanner, Jesus, Humanity and the Trinity

Part 2: Disparate Genres

Besides the theological ones, what historical--socio-political and cultural--factors lie
behind the decision to write theology in a particular way? What is the relation
between textual form and theological content? Questions like these will be explored
in the remaining weeks by looking at different types of theological writing. Students
should come prepared each week to lead discussion on some selection of the
assigned texts.

Oct 25: life stories, hagiographies and martyrologies, historical narratives,

conversion accounts
Acts of Paul and Thecla
Athanasius, Life of Anthony/Gregory the Great, Life of Benedict
Eusebius, Church History
Augustine, Confessions
Gregory of Nyssa, Life of Macrina
Teresa of Avila, Autobiography of Teresa of Avila
John Bunyan, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
Cotton Mather, Magnalia Christi Americana
Lin Yutang, From Pagan To Christian (World Publishing, 1959), Chapters 1, 2
Christiana Tsai, Queen of the Dark Chamber: The Story of Christiana Tsai (Chicago:
Moody Press, 1953)

Nov 8: dialogues, prayers, monastic rules, biblical commentaries, commentaries on

revelation/spiritual experience
Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho
Basil, The Long Rules/John Cassian, Conferences/Rule of Benedict
Athanasius, Discourses against the Arians
Anselm, Prayers and Meditations
Bonaventure, Itinerarium Mentis in Deum
Julian of Norwich, Showings
Abiezer Coppe, Fiery Flying Roll
Luther, Commentary on Galatians
Matteo Ricci, The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven

Nov 29: jottings, sermons, letters, polemics, and other occasional writings
Pascal, Pensees
John Chysostom, Sermons on Wealth and Poverty
Gregory of Nazianzus, ‘Funeral Oration for his sister, Gorgonia’
Luther, Bondage of the Will
--Table Talk
John Winthrop, ‘A Model of Christian Charity’ (from aboard the Arabella)
St Paul, Epistles
Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison
M L King, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail’
Starr, Chinese Theology, chapter 3

Dec 6: lives of Jesus, plays and narrative fiction, song, poetry

All students taking the course for credit should create a play list of at least 5 pieces
of contemporary music that they consider to be of religious significance (saved in a
format that will allow for playing—on shuffle--at a last celebratory meeting of the
class. (time and place tba)
All class participants (including faculty) should assemble a list of their five favorite
films with religious significance for them. (The ‘winning’ film—judged by Starr and
Tanner—will be screened, time and place tba, next semester.)

Shusaku Endo, Life of Jesus

--Silence
Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress
Lessing, Nathan the Wise
Ngugi Wa Thiong-go, Devil on the Cross
Alice Walker, The Color Purple
Mary Rakow, This is Why I Came

Song of Songs
Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Paradise
James Cone, The Spirituals and the Blues
John Wesley, Collected Hymns

Christian Wiman, Every Riven Thing

Countee Cullen, The Black Christ and Other Poems
Micheal O'Siadhail, Five Quintets
Susan Howe, Singularities

Starr, Chinese Theology, chapters 4 and 10.

Term paper due Dec 13