Course Description
Examination of the meaning of being "human" in the past, present, and future. Emphasizing contemporary scientific, philosophical, and theological sources, the course is framed around the question of how Christian thinkers today understand Homo sapiens as a species that has evolved to bear the image of their creator God.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Additional readings, a research paper, and presentation to the
class, as well as more extensive examination to reflect
additional course requirements.
Athena Title
Christian Anthropology
Prerequisite
Junior or senior standing or permission of department
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will: 1. Develop the procedural skills necessary to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate diverse educational materials critically and charitably 2. Understand the merits of a “bottom-up” approach to Christian anthropology as a valid approach to the historical, cultural, and constructive study of Christian understandings 3. Trace the historical development of anthropological doctrines and their ethical implications in response to ever- changing understandings of ourselves and our world 4. Apply course materials to personal and professional knowledge, experiences, and goals
Topical Outline
I. Historical survey A. Biblical passages B. Ancient (Greek) perspectives and interpretations C. Medieval and Reformation perspectives D. Modern perspectives E. Christian anthropology and postmodernity II. Science and the "soul" A. Science and religion: dos and don'ts B. "Giving up the ghost" (of latent ontological dualism) III. In the image and likeness of God A. Biblical text and contemporary interpretation B. The evolution of humankind in the image of God C. Trans- and posthumanism and the image of God IV. The knowledge of good and evil A. Biblical text in past and present interpretation B. Good, evil, and (original) sin V. Ethics and bearing the image of God A. Evolutionary development of ethics B. Ethics of the image in biblical interpretation C. Ethics of the (evolved and evolving) image applied: 1. Cognitive impairment 2. Human sexuality 3. Ecological crises 4. Et cetera
Syllabus