This course examines the globalization phenomenon and its wide-ranging implications for the contemporary church. It is divided into two parts. Part one provides a detailed assessment of the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of globalization with a view to unraveling myth and reality and applying biblical lenses. Part two examines, among other things, the role of Christianity as a globalizing force, emerging initiatives, models, and strategies of Christian missionary engagement, and plausible responses of the church to the problems, perils, and opportunities of the processes of globalization. Issues to be spotlighted include a theology of the body, spirituality and technology, global processes and localized resistance, missions and money, religious movement and economic development, modernity and religious commitment, migration and mission.
Learning
Outcomes:
• Gain an understanding of globalization
as a powerful transformative force that is multidirectional and profoundly
paradoxical.
• Develop an
awareness of the trends and issues facing the contemporary
Christianity(ies).
• Gain
insights into the nature and possible impact of recent transformations in global
Christianity.
Course
Format:
Class meets twice a week for a
period of three hours each session. At least forty minutes of each session will
be devoted to class discussion of recommended readings and/or student
presentations.
Required
Reading:
Brubaker, Pamela
K., Globalization at What Price? The Pilgrim Press, 2001.
Drane, John,
The McDonaldization of the Church. Smyth & Helwys, 2001.
Held, D.,
et al, Global Transformation: Politics, Economics and Culture.
Stanford University Press, 1999.
Jenkins, Philip, The Next Christendom:
The Coming of global Christianity. Oxford, 2002.
Mittleman, James H., The Globalization Syndrome. Princeton,
2000.
Recommended
Reading:
Bonk, Jonathan,
Missions and Money. Orbis, 1999.
Engel J. F. & Dyrness, W. A., Changing the Mind of Missions.
InterVarsity Press, 2000.
Huntington, Samuel, The Clash of
Civilizations. Simon & Shuster, 1997.
Hertz, Noreena, The Silent
Takeover: Global Capitalism and the Death of Democracy. The Free Press,
2001.
O’Meara, et al., (eds.), Globalization and the Challenges of
a New Century. Indiana Univ., 2000.
Ramachandra, Vinoth, Faiths in
Conflict: Christian Integrity in a Multicultural World. IVP,
1999.
Sardar, Z. & Davies M. W., Why Do People Hate America? The
Disinformation Company, 2002.
Sine, Tom, Mustard Seed versus McWorld.
Baker Books, 1999.
Tiplady, Richard, ed, One World or Many? The Impact of
Globalisation on Mission. William Carey Library, 2003.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Write
and submit two reflection papers (three to four pages long) by stipulated
deadlines. Provide a one-page response paper (based on the weekly reading list)
for class discussion and interaction. 1,450 pages of reading expected. Research
and write a 20-page paper (excluding bibliography) that does one of the
following: i) evaluates a local church or Christian institution and its
response(s) to specific challenges of globalization in terms of fashioning new
models of ministry; or ii) provides a detailed discussion of one dimension of
globalization and explores a meaningful Christian perspective; or iii) examines
contemporary mission trends in the light of specific global transformations. Th.M students will be required
to submit
a book review
(in addition to the two reflection papers) and write a 5,000-word paper
demonstrating greater intellectual critique and analytical
depth.
PREREQUISITES: None
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets globalization requirement for MAT
program. Elective in SIS.
FINAL EXAM:
None