MH689/789/889 Issues
In Mission History (4 units)
Wilbert Shenk, Professor of
Mission History and Contemporary Culture
Fall 2003 Pasadena
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
This seminar will introduce students to the study of
mission history at an advanced level.
The focus will be on important conceptual developments of the past
twenty years, including theories and methods of historical research. The student will be introduced to research
resources.
LEARNING
OUTCOMES
l Knowledge of
leading theories and approaches to historical research and writing.
l Familiarity with
types of resources appropriate to the research the student intends to pursue.
l Initial survey
of materials relevant to student’s intended program of study.
CLASS
FORMAT
As
a seminar, each student is expected to participate actively. Students will read a range of materials,
submit brief reports on reading, and do a research project.
REQUIRED
READING
G. Barraclough, Main Trends in History. Holmes and Meier, 1991, rev. ed.
D. W. Bebbington, Patterns in History. IVP/Baker, 1990.
M. Bloch, The Historian’s Craft. Manchester U. Press 1953.
J. E. Bradley and R. A.
Muller, Church History: An Introduction
to Research,
Reference Works, and Methods. Eerdmans, 1995.
E. H. Carr, What Is History? Vintage, 1961.
W. R. Shenk, ed., Enlarging the Story. Orbis Books, 2002.
J. Vansina, Oral Tradition as History. U. of Wisconsin, 1985.
F. Walls, The Missionary Movement in Christian History. Orbis Books, 1996.
RECOMMENDED
READING
J. Barzun and H. F. Graff, The Modern Researcher. Harcourt, 1992.
T. J. Wengert and C. W.
Brockwell, Jr., Telling the Churches’
Stories. Eerdmans, 1995.
R. W. Winks, ed., The Historian as Detective: Essays on
Evidence. Harper, 1969.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Read a total
of 1,500 pages from the Required and Recommended Reading lists. The student
will write a half-page summary of each book or article read for each week and
present this to the seminar.
2. Actively participate in the seminar
sessions.
3. Write a 20-page (5,000 word)
research paper on an issue associated with the history of the expansion of
Christianity in the twentieth century.
PREREQUISITE: The
student must be enrolled in either a Th.M., D.Miss., or Ph.D. program.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
Elective
FINAL EXMINATION: None
Last Date Edited: July 22, 2003