DESCRIPTION:

This course explores the crucial dimensions of the evangelism mandate for the stimulating context of Intellectuals, as the new knowledge elites, often considered the trend setters and shapers of our social environment. Who are the Intellectuals? Why are they important? What are their roles in society? What are the most congruent ways of communicating the Gospel to this strategic group? These and related queries will be the chief concern of this course. In the process of this investigation there will be ample exposure to a theology of evangelism resourced by Scripture, ecclesiastical traditions, and current approaches in reasoning.

This course will encourage students to (1) design a thoughtful and engaging theology of evangelism; (2) develop an appreciation and understanding of the multidimensional tasks of Intellectuals in our culture; and (3) discover the vital connections for church life with Intellectuals in higher education (researchers/academics); organizational life (professionals/managers); and the public sphere (bohemians/activists).

The course will involve lectures, reading, discussions, work groups, and site visitations. The class will be conducted seminar style utilizing student participation and will meet once weekly for three-hour sessions.

Karabell, Zachary. What's College For? New York: Basic Books, 1998.

Lasch, C. The Revolt of the Elites. New York: W. W. Norton, 1995.

Peace, Richard. Conversion in the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.

Powers, Ann. Weird Like Us: My Bohemian America. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.

Wallace, Mark. Fragments of the Spirit. New York: Continuum, 1996.

1. Choose a twentieth-century Intellectual who is Christian and discern their process of conversion. This should be a 3-5 page reflection on the primary influences in a particular Intellectual's journey of faith (40% of grade).

2. Produce an 8-10 page paper demonstrating your theology of evangelism in the context of Intellectual life (30% of grade).

3. Required Readings/Class Discussion (30% of grade).

None.

Meets M. Div. core requirement in Evangelism (MIN 3).

No.