Friday, June 26, 2015

New DMin course at South University on world and new religions

I am pleased to recommend a new online DMin course through South University College of Theology on world religions. I was asked to design this 11 week course, and it covers definitions of religion and methods in the study of religion and world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, an introduction to new religious movements, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, popular expressions of the Western esoteric tradition ("New Age" and Gnosticism), Paganism, and thoughts on a Christian study and engagement with religions. The course interacts with the best Christian and secular scholarship on world and new religions, brings critical thought to popular Christian assumptions and methods of engagement, gives students interaction with adherents of other religions, and is grounded in a theology of love of neighbor. Learn more at https://www.southuniversity.edu/online/Areas-Of-Study/Theology/Ministry-Doctor-of-Ministry-DMin/Courses. My thanks to Robb Redman​ for the opportunity to put together the course, and Paul Louis Metzger​ for recommending me.

Thursday, January 08, 2015

The NAE and "Top Theological Issues for Seminaries"


Today in my email inbox I received a copy of NAE Insight: The Newsletter of the National Association of Evangelicals (Winter 2014/15). It included a feature titled "Top Theological Issues for Seminaries" which can be read at this link. This feature is composed of statements by Evangelical seminary presidents who are members of NAE where they share their thoughts on the theological priorities for their students. Unfortunately, the issues of multi-faith engagement and peacemaking are not specifically mentioned as theological priorities. There are statements about addressing pluralism and "competing worldviews," but no mention of the need for seminary students to wrestle with the practical realities of a neighborhood theology of multi-faith engagement.

How do we encourage organizations like NAE, and Evangelical seminaries, to include multi-faith engagement and peacemaking as theological priorities in our post-9/11 age frequently characterized by religious friction in the public square and violence around the world?