Sociological Perspectives on Christian Movements examines world
Christian movements from a social science perspective. This course is
designed both for students who anticipate working vocationally or voluntarily in
faith based organizations; and also for those who simply want to understand
contemporary Christianity more deeply. The focus of the course is
two-fold: (1) the identification of target groups for in-depth social
science study (see below); and (2) an examination and evaluation of the way in
which contemporary Christianity is expressed.
.
Frank Viola and George Barna, Pagan Christianity? Exploring the Roots of
our Church Practices. Barna Books, 2008 (Available at
www.amazon.com )
Chip Brogden, The Irrestible Kingdom. (Available at
www.theschoolofchrist.org)
Charles Faupel, Building the Temple (Available online:
http://www.auburn.edu/~faupece/socy5970/socy5970read.htm)
Optional Text
Frank Viola, Reimagining Church: Pursuing the Dream of Organic Christianity.
David C. Cook, 2008 (Available at
www.amazon.com )
Note: This book will be extremely
valuable in writing Paper Type I below
Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Church Life (Available online:
http://www.auburn.edu/~faupece/socy5970/socy5970read.htm)
Required Activities
The following required activities are designed to facilitate the realization of the course objectives outlined above.
Assignment #1: Write a short, 1 page proposal describing what you intend to write your paper about.
Assignment #2: Submit an annotated bibliography with at least 10 scholarly references. The bibliography should include (1) all pertinent bibliographic information, including author, title, journal name, volume and page number (where appropriate), year of publication, and for books, place of publication; (2) a brief summary of the book or article; and (3) a brief statement of how you will be using that article in your paper.
Assignment #3: Develop a detailed paper outline, that will include (1) a brief discussion of what will be included in each section and subsection; and (2) insertion of the names of articles and books that will be used in writing each section.
Two types of papers are described below. You are to make one of these your major paper, and the other your minor paper. It is up to you to decide which you want to put the most work on. Whichever you choose as your major paper, that will be the paper for which you complete the "related paper assignments" (described above).
Paper Type I: Reimagining Church for the 21st Century
This paper will involve "stepping outside the box" of the contemporary institutional church to develop a model for what the church in the 21st century might look like. In addition to the 10 scholarly references required (see above) there is one additional reference that is required and needs to be integrated into this paper: the Bible, and particularly the New Testament. The purpose of this paper is to comprehend what God intends for His church, using the first century church as a point of departure, to be as that might look in the 21st century. Please use headings to demarcate major sections of your paper.
Paper Type II: The Challenge of People Groups
This paper will entail the examination of any major people group or demographic category (e.g., ethnic people groups, special needs categories, occupational groups, etc.). You will research this group thoroughly utilizing scholarly materials from the social sciences. For ethnic people groups, for example, you will examine things like religion, normative features of the group, language, history, means of subsistence, etc. You will, in essence, become an expert on the group that you study. Your research, however, will be directed by a specific purpose; that will be to (1) identify the unique opportunities or "bridges" provided by the social and cultural milieu of these groups to communicate the christian message, (2) identify unique obstacles that might be faced by faith-based groups in working with your targeted group; and (3) identify strategies for overcoming the obstacles. Please use headings to demarcate major sections of your paper.
Grading will be "straight scale": 90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; <60=F. Final grades will be weighted as follows:
Total............................................100%
Office hours are posted at the top of this syllabus. If you need to see me at a time other than the posted hours do not hesitate to contact me. My first priority as your professor is to enhance your learning experience. You are never imposing on my time if it can contribute to your learning experience.
E-mail availability: I can be contacted by e-mail. You may use e-mail me for most types of questions or concerns that you might have for this class. Often, it will be more productive to meet in person, and I will recommend that if it seems appropriate. Normally, I respond to e-mails within one "business day."
This course will be seminar in nature. That means that students will have major responsibility for discussing materials distributed in class. The instructor will facilitate this discussion, but students will be called upon for active input.
Tentative Class Schedule
Week 1:
Introduction to the course, discussion of logistics, and getting to know
each other.
Week 2:
Pagan Christianity (Preface, Introduction, Chapters 1,2,3)
Week 3:
Pagan Christianity (Chapters 4,5,6,7)
Week 4:
Paper proposals due; discuss papers
General discussion on Perspectives on World Christian Movement
Pagan Christianity: (Chapters 8,9,10)
Week 5
Pagan Christianity: (Chapters 11,12, Afterword)
Week 6
Irrestible Kingdom (Preface, Chapters 1-2)
Week 7
Bibliographies due; Discuss Papers;
General discussion of Perspectives on World Christian Movement
Irrestible Kingdom (Chapters 3-4
Week 8
Irrestible Kingdom
(Chapters 5-7)
Week 9
Irrestible Kingdom (Chapters 8-9)
Week 10
Irrestible Kingdom
(Chapters 10-12)
Week 11
Paper outlines due; Discuss papers
General discussion of Perspectives on World Christian Movement
Catch-up discussion
Week 12
Building the Temple (Introduction,
Chapters 1-2)
Week 13
Building the Temple
(Chapters 3-6)
Week 14
Paper Presentations
Week 15
Paper presentations
The policy on class attendance is simple: class attendance is required. Any number of mechanisms may, at the professor's discretion, be implemented to enforce this policy: attendance may be taken; announced or unannounced quizzes may be given; in all circumstances, if you miss class for whatever reason, it will be your responsibility as a student to acquire the information that you missed on your own.
If you must miss for whatever reason, including university-recognized excuses, it is mandatory that you inform the professor in advance of the class day that you will miss, except in those circumstances that absolutely prohibit such notification (e.g., that you were in an accident on the way to class). If you fail to notify the professor prior to a scheduled exam or due date on an assignment, you will not be allowed to make up this work or turn it in late. This policy is in effect for university-recognized excuses as well as other excuses not officially recognized by the university.
The student may contact the professor in advance in any of the following ways: (1) by phone (provided at the top of this syllabus; (2) by e-mail (provided at the top of the syllabus); or (3) in person. In all cases, it is the student's responsibility to be certain that the professor has received the message. If notification is by telephone, talk with the professor personally if at all possible, or at least emphasize to the secretary that it is extremely important that I get the message prior to the date and time of the class. In the case of e-mails, I will respond, acknowledging that I have received the e-mail. It is absolutely critical that you follow these steps if you are to be allowed to make up any missed work. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
CONTINGENCY PLAN
If normal class activities are disrupted due to a high number of students (or the professor) experiencing illness or an emergency or crisis situation (such as a widespread H1N1 flu outbreak), the syllabus and other course plans and assignments may be modified as stipulated below to allow completion of the course. Implementation of this contingency plan will be at the discretion of the professor.
1. If a sufficient number of class meetings must be suspended, grade weighting will be adjusted to reflect the number of meetings missed. Greater weight will be distributed to final papers and/or related paper assignments.
Auburn University expects students to pursue their academic work with honesty and integrity. Violations of this principle may include:
It is the policy of Aauburn University ro provide accessibility to its programs and activities and reasonable accommodation for persons defined as having disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
If any student has a certifiable disability, he or she should contact the Program for Students with Disabilities located in 1234 Haley Center, (334)844-2096. All reasonable accommodations will be made for students with appropriate documentation from the Program for Students with Disabilities. This documentation must be presented prior to or within the first week of class.