Course Syllabus

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Instructor: Dr. Shelli M. Poe, Visiting Professor, Iliff School of Theology

Office Hours: By appointment via Zoom

Course Synopsis: 

Students in this course will explore the thought of two of the most important Reformation thinkers in Christian history: Martin Luther and John Calvin. Luther is known for his doctrine of justification through faith alone, while Calvin is known for his emphasis on divine sovereignty or grace alone. Students will read primary texts on the doctrine of justification by each Reformer. Then we will see how Friedrich Schleiermacher, the progenitor of modern Protestant theology, builds on and revises the work of Luther and Calvin. After Gathering Days, we will discover how womanist and postcolonial theologians bring these Reformation themes into the 21st century.

Overview and Objectives:

After taking this course, you will be able to:

  • identify and interpret major theological themes in the work of Luther, Calvin, and Schleiermacher
  • analyze how modern and contemporary theologians draw on their predecessors’ work and revise their ideas in constructing their theologies
  • identify the motives behind modern and contemporary theologians’ revisionary work
  • identify your own motives as theological thinkers
  • draw on your predecessors’ work in constructing your own views on course themes

To achieve these objectives, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Watch and take notes on lectures. The goal of the lectures is to prepare you to accurately interpret primary texts each week, not to summarize key points of the reading.
  • Post weekly 1-page (250 word) summaries of the major points discussed in primary texts, and how they are shaped by the author’s context and concerns.
  • Discuss course material with classmates by EITHER 1) replying to at least one other post weekly and responding to replies on your own posts; OR 2) meeting independently with 1-2 classmates (in person or via Zoom) to discuss the material for 45 minutes each week (on your honor) and post your questions/concerns for the instructor’s feedback when needed.
  • Write three papers:
    • Write a 5-7 page paper on how Schleiermacher draws on and revises either Luther or Calvin’s work in his own context during week 6.
    • Write a 5-7 page paper on how a contemporary theologian (womanist or postcolonial) draws on and revises reformation and/or reformed theology in their own context during week 9.
    • Write a 3-5 page paper that represents your own perspective on one of the themes of the course during week 10. The paper should draw in 1) your own tradition, context, and concerns as ministers, teachers, chaplains, or other vocations, 2) primary texts from the course, and 3) secondary texts as needed.

Evaluation:

Posts and discussions are evaluated on a complete/incomplete basis.

Papers are evaluated based on their claim, reasons, inferences and assumptions, evidence, acknowledgement of a counter-argument and response to that counter-argument, and general language/spelling/grammar. The following rubric indicates levels of achievement in relation to these criteria.

Paper Grading Rubric

levels of achievement -->

Highly Competent

(9-10pts)

Competent

(8 pts)

Minimally Competent

(7 pts)

Not Competent

(6 pts)

criteria --v

Claim

Clear, precise, fully explained; Addresses an important problem/issue; is contestable (could be true or false); is debatable (could be proved or disproved).

Mostly clear, precise; Addresses an important problem/issue; is contestable (could be true or false); is debatable (could be proved or disproved).

Addresses an important problem/issue; is contestable (could be true or false); is debatable (could be proved or disproved).

Does not address an important problem/issue; is not contestable; is not debatable.

Reasons

Offers convincing reasons that support the claim well.

Offers plausible reasons that support the claim adequately.

Offers a few reasons that support aspects of the claim.

Does not offer reasons that support the claim.

Inferences, Assumptions

Inferences are valid; assumptions are explicitly addressed if needed.

Inferences are usually valid; assumptions are explicitly addressed if needed.

Inferences are usually valid; assumptions are sometimes explicitly addressed if needed

Inferences are not valid; assumptions require addressing but are not explicitly addressed.

Evidence

Passages from the text are well chosen as support for reasons and/or inferences, are accurately interpreted, and convincingly analyzed.

Passages from the text are usually well chosen as support for reasons and/or inferences, are usually interpreted accurately, and sometimes convincingly analyzed.

Passages from the text somewhat support reasons and/or inferences, but are usually interpreted inaccurately (or not interpreted), and usually unconvincingly analyzed (or not analyzed).

Passages from the text are not offered or do not support reasons and/or inferences.

Acknowledgment and Response

Acknowledges objections to the argument and convincingly responds.

Acknowledges one objection to the argument and plausibly responds.

Acknowledges one objection to the argument and responds incompletely.

Does not acknowledge objections to the argument.

Language/Spelling & Grammar

Clear and concise. Word choices, spelling and grammar are accurate and allow thorough understanding.

Word choices, spelling and grammar are usually accurate and allow thorough understanding.

Word choices, spelling and grammar are accurate enough to usually convey ideas adequately for basic understanding.

Word choices, spelling and grammar do not allow the conveyance of ideas for basic understanding.

 

Course Texts:

  • Martin Luther, “Luther’s Declaration,” Commentary on Galatians (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1979; reprint of 1850 edition published by the Harrison Trust, London), xi-xviii. [Provided as PDF]
  • John Calvin, “Calvin’s Reply to Sadoleto,” A Reformation Debate, ed. John C. Olin (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2002; reprinted in 1976 by Baker Book House with permission of Harper & Row publishers), 49-94. [Students must purchase this text, which is available on Amazon]
    • Recommended but not required: For a comparison and evaluation of Luther and Calvin, see Martin Luther King Jr’s essay: King on Luther and Calvin[Provided online at this link]
  • Friedrich Schleiermacher, Christian Faith, trans. Terrence N. Tice, Catherine L. Kelsey, Edwina Lawler, eds. Catherine L. Kelsey, Terrence N. Tice (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2016), §109, p. 710-723.  [Provided as PDF]
  • Friedrich Schleiermacher, Christian Faith, trans. Terrence N. Tice, Catherine L. Kelsey, Edwina Lawler, eds. Catherine L. Kelsey, Terrence N. Tice (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2016), §108, p. 690-710. [Provided as PDF]
  • Katie Geneva Cannon, “Transformative Grace,” Feminist and Womanist Essays in Reformed Dogmatics, eds. Amy Plantinga Pauw and Serene Jones, Columbia Series in Reformed Theology (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006), 139-151. [Provided as PDF]
  • John Nunes, "A Postcolonial Framework for Justification and Eco-Justice," Dialog: A Journal of Theology 55/2 (Summer 2016), 122-130. [Provided as PDF]

Accommodations

Iliff engages in a collaborative effort with students with disabilities to reasonably accommodate student needs.  Students are encouraged to contact their assigned adviser to initiate the process of requesting accommodations.  The advising center can be contacted at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303.765.1146.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due