RT7342: Majority World Voices: Global South Theologies

School Religion
Department Code SHARE
Module Code RT7342
External Subject Code V610
Number of Credits 20
Level L6
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Dr Nicholas Baker-Brian
Semester Double Semester
Academic Year 2013/4

Outline Description of Module

This module explores the significance for theology of the changing centre of gravity of world Christianity. With the majority of the world’s Christians now living in Africa, Asia and Latin America some claim that ‘the era of Western Christianity has passed and the day of Southern Christianity is dawning.’ Such dramatic changes in world Christianity imply that any evaluation of the nature and significance of Christian faith in the contemporary world needs to engage with theologies emerging from the Global South. This module enables students to engage critically with significant Christian voices from the Global South, and to examine how Majority World perspectives challenge and enrich discussion of central Christian themes.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

Critically evaluate the significance of the growth of the Christian church in the Global South;

  • reflect critically upon the contemporary relevance of doing theology in a global context;
  • assess critically the insights of selected Majority World theologians, evaluating their wider significance;
  • evaluate global Christian perspectives on central Christian themes;
  • discuss the interrelationship of culture and faith.

How the module will be delivered

This module will be taught through lectures and group discussion. Students will be expected to engage directly with key texts and to pre-prepare material for discussion in class. The module will be supported by materials and tools on Learning Central.

Skills that will be practised and developed

Skills that will be practised and developed

 Academic:

  • critical analysis of key texts and ideas
  • constructing clear arguments supported by relevant evidence
  • oral and written presentation

 Subject-specific:

  • integrating insights from different theological disciplines
  • interpreting cultural dimensions of theology
  • use of appropriate terminology

 Generic:

  • organisation of time and resources
  • self-reliance
  • problem solving

critical evaluation

How the module will be assessed

How the module will be assessed

Formative assessment: At any stage during the year I am available to comment on a one-page plan of the coursework essays, in person or by email. In addition, plans will be discussed with peers during a class session. The first essay will be submitted in January for formative assessment and will then be formally submitted for summative assessment by the end-of-year submission deadline.

Type of assessment

 

%

Contribution

Title

Duration
(if applicable)

Approx. date of Assessment

3,000 word essay

50

Coursework essay 1

[e.g. A critical evaluation of the contribution of a non-Western theologian]

 

May 2013

3,000 word essay

50

Coursework essay 2

[e.g. A critical discussion of global perspectives on a selected Christian doctrine]

 

May 2013

 

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Written Assessment 50 Essay 1 N/A
Written Assessment 50 Essay 2 N/A

Syllabus content

 The following areas will form the syllabus content of the course:

  • Examination of the evidence indicating how Christianity’s centre of gravity has moved southward to Africa, Asia and Latin America;
  • Critical evaluation of the significance of Christianity’s changing centre of gravity for theology,
  • Discussion of the differences between world Christianity and global Christianity,
  • Consideration of issues raised by the encounter between Christianity and non-Western cultures,
  • Evaluation of the contributions of influential Christian thinkers from the Global South such as Lamin Sanneh, Kwame Bediako and Mercy Amba Oduyoye,
  • Exploration of contributions of non-Western theologians to discussions about central Christian beliefs,
  • Discussion of global perspectives on core Christian doctrines, such as Christology, engaging critically with the perspectives of majority world voices,
  • Consideration of the significance of majority world voices for Western expressions of Christian faith.

Essential Reading and Resource List

Indicative Reading and Resource List:

Bediako, K., Christianity in Africa, (Edinburgh University Press, 1995).

Bevans S B and Schroeder, R P, Constants in Context: A Theology of Mission for Today, (New York, Maryknoll, Orbis, 2004)

Bosch, D. J., Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in the Theology of Mission, (Orbis Books, 1992).

Corrie, J. (ed.), Dictionary of Mission Theology: Evangelical Foundations(Nottingham: IVP, 2007).

D’Costa, Gavin, Christianity and world religions: disputed questions in the theology of religions (Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009).

Dyrness, W. A., & Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Global Dictionary of Theology (Nottingham: IVP, 2008).

Jenkins, Philip, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity. Revised and Expanded Edition (Oxford: OUP, 2007).

Jenkins, Philip, The New Faces of Christianity: Reading the Bible in the Global South (Oxford: OUP, 2006).

Oduyoye, Mercy Amba, Beads and Strands: Reflections of an African Woman on Christianity in Africa (Akropong: Regnum Africa/Paternoster: Carlisle, 2002).

Ott, Craig, and H. A. Netland (eds.), Globalizing Theology: Belief and Practice in an era of world Christianity (Nottingham: Apollos: 2007).

Ramachandra, V., Faiths in Conflict? Christian Integrity in a Multicultural World, (Leicester: IVP, 1999).

Ramachandra, V., Subverting Global Myths: Theology and the Public Issues Shaping our World (London: SPCK, 2008).

Sanneh, L., Disciples of All Nations: Pillars of World Christianity (Oxford: OUP, 2008).

Stinton, Diane B. Jesus of Africa: Voices of Contemporary African Christology (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2004).

Tennent, Timothy C., Theology in the context of World Christianity: How the global church is influencing the way we think about and discuss theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007).

Walls, A.F., The Missionary Movement in Christian History, (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1996).

Walls, A. F., The Cross-Cultural Process in Christian History (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 2002)


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