DESCRIPTION:

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to religious plurality in the U.S.A., with the African American community serving as a case study for the examination and investigation of relevant topics related to the varieties of African American religious experience. Based on an examination of the biblical, theological, and contextual basis for Christian missions, various streams of three global religions (African Traditional Religion, Christianity, and Islam) and two Afro-diaspora religions (Rastafarianism and Black Judaism) will be studied from the perspective of faith, practice, history, and culture within U.S.A. urban contexts. Special consideration will be given to the dynamics of evangelism, contextualization, and interfaith witness and dialogue.

This course is designed to assist students in developing an integrative Christian theological framework for understanding the nature and challenges of Christian mission within a religiously diverse society, as well as an understanding of how Christian dialogue and witness can become contextualized through congregational, ecumenical, and interfaith relations.

The course will include lecture, reading assignments, a field visit to an unfamiliar religious community or organization, case studies, videos, and communal reflections during the class period. Understanding as well as a passing grade will require diligent and active participation by the students. The class will meet daily for four-hour sessions for two weeks, August 7-18.

Hood, Robert. Must God Remain Greek? Afro Cultures and God-Talk. Fortress Press, 1990.

Keener, Craig S. and Glenn Usry. Defending Black Faith. InterVarsity Press, 1997.

Pinn, Anthony. Varieties of African American Religious Experience. Fortress Press, 1998.

Sernett, Milton C. "Twentieth-Century Religious Alternatives." Chapter 6 in African American Religious History: A Documentary Witness. Duke University Press, 1999

Thomas, Norman E. ed. "Mission as Interfaith Witness." Chapter 15 in Classic Texts in Mission and World Christianity. Orbis Books, 1995.

Van Rheenen, Gailyn. Missions: Biblical Foundations & Contemporary Strategies. Zondervan. 1996.

Young, W.A. The World's Religions: Worldviews and Contemporary Issues. Prentice Hall, 1995.

ONE of the following:

Chireau, Yvonne and Nathaniel Deutsch, eds. Black Zion: African American Religious Encounters with Judaism. Oxford Press, 2000.

Diouf, Sylviane A. Servants of Allah: African Muslims Enslaved in the Americas. New York University Press, 1998.

Haddad, Yvonne Yazbeck. The Muslims of America. Oxford Press, 1991.

Yasin, Abdallah. Islamicizing America. James T. Winston Publishing Company, Inc., 1996.

(1) Oral and written chapter critique: each student (with others in small group) will lead the class discussion on an assigned chapter of Pinn and submit a written critique (4-6 pp) of the chapter. (2) Oral and written book critique on Barboza, Diouf, McCloud, or Yasin. (3) Oral and written report (4-6 pp) on a critical conversation/interview with a religious person of non-Christian faith. (4) One five-page essay entitled "Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Plurality."

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Missions (MIN 8); meets M.A. in Theology requirement in Globalization (GLBL).