Summer Session II (2013)

MoTuWeTh 9:45-11:20

INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY
THEO 1001 (sec. 102)
Course Objectives and Description
We have roughly six weeks to survey material that many have spent lifetimes
contemplating, so it is important for us to be reasonable with the goals we set.
From the Marquette University Core of Common Studies (available online), the
objectives for all courses in the theology knowledge area are as follows:

Describe theologically the basic content of the Catholic faith in relation to

other Christian and religious traditions as well as other worldviews.
Interpret theological texts and frameworks in their historical contexts.
Articulate implications of Christian faith for growth in holiness and the
promotion of justice in the contemporary world.

This course is not designed to cover every facet of Christian theology or to instill
an expert-level knowledge of theological concepts. Instead, its focus is on
establishing theological literacy, a basic proficiency in some of the issues related to
the study and practice of the Christian faith. Our fundamental goal is not a
conversion experience or a deepening of faith, but the ability to think theologically.
We will spend the next six weeks figuring out what this means.

Assessment
Grades will be determined by the following:

Two Essays (50%) The first (worth 20%) is a short (3-4 page) essay on a
biblical passage (I will provide a list for you to choose from). The second
(worth 30%) is a slightly longer (4-6 page) essay on a topic to be chosen in
consultation with me. Grading is based on your adherence to the
guidelines I will provide as well the clarity with which you articulate and
argue your thesis (including attention to matters of grammar and style).
Three Exams (30%) There are three units in this course, and each will
culminate in a short-answer/multiple-choice exam. Each exam is worth
10% of your final grade, and each will address material relevant to the unit
it covers. The exams are not cumulative.
Participation (20%) We learn most effectively when we learn from one
another. While every class will involve some lecturing on my part, I
anticipate that you will engage my lectures and the readings they will cover
by venturing to speak up. Ask questions! Generate discussion!

THEO 1001, sec. 102 | Summer II | Vanden Eykel

Instructor: Mr. Eric Vanden Eykel

E-Mail: eric.vandeneykel@marquette.edu
Office: Coughlin Hall 112
Office Hours: Fridays from 9:45-11:20

Materials
There are two required texts for this
course:
James Martin, S.J., The Jesuit
Guide to (Almost) Everything: A
Spirituality for Real Life
A Bible I do not care which
version/translation of the
Bible that you use, but I
would recommend that you at
least have access to a study
Bible, as the notes will be
helpful as you make your way
through the assigned material.
If you need recommendations
for a good study Bible, Im
happy to provide one. If you
are interested in consulting a
study Bible but dont want to
purchase one, they are readily
available in Raynor Library.

Dates of Note

7/11 (Thursday) Exam 1

7/15 (Monday) Essay 1 Due

7/25 (Thursday) Exam 2

8/5 (Monday) Essay 2 Due

8/8 (Thursday) Exam 3

Course Outline (subject to revision if necessary)

#

DATE

7/1 (Mon)

7/2 (Tues)

7/3 (Wed)

7/4 (Thurs)

7/8 (Mon)

7/9 (Tues)

7/10 (Wed)

READINGS/ASSIGNMENTS
Introductions and Overview of Syllabus
Lecture: What is Theology and, More Importantly, Why are You in this Class?
Lecture: In the Beginning: Creation, the Flood, and the Covenant with Humanity
Readings for Today: Genesis, Book of (D2L); Genesis 1-3, 6-9 (Bible)
Lecture: A Great Nation: Abraham and the Covenant of Circumcision
Readings for Today: Genesis 12-13, 15-17, 21-22 (Bible); Martin 1-28 (ch.1)
INDEPENDENCE DAY NO CLASS
Lecture: The Way Out: Egypt, the Promise, and the Mosaic Covenant
Readings for Today: Exodus, Book of (D2L); Exodus 1-12, 19-20 (Bible); Martin 29-56 (ch.2)
Lecture: Thus Saith the Lord: Prophets and Prophecy in Ancient Israel
Readings for Today: Prophecy in the Bible (D2L); Isaiah 5-8; Hosea 1 (Bible); Martin 57-85 (ch. 3)
Lecture: A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush: Wisdom Literature
Readings for Today: Wisdom in the Bible (D2L); Proverbs 1-8; Ecclesiastes 1-4 (Bible); Martin 86-102 (ch. 4)

EXAM I (first hour)

8

7/11 (Thurs)

Lecture (10:50-11:20): Introducing the New Testament

Readings for Today: None

ESSAY I DUE
9

7/15 (Mon)

Lecture: The Gospel of Mark and the Beginning of a Genre

Readings for Today: Mark, Gospel According to (D2L); Mark 1-4, 8-10 (Bible)

10

7/16 (Tues)

11

7/17 (Wed)

12

7/18 (Thurs)

Lecture: Synoptic Problems?

Readings for Today: Matt 1-2; 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; Luke 1-2; 15 (Bible); Martin 103-114 (ch. 5)
Lecture: Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection
Readings for Today: Matthew 26-28; Mark 14-16; Luke 22-24; John 18-21 (Bible); Martin 115-142 (ch. 6)
Lecture: Introducing Paul
Readings for Today: 1 Corinthians 10-16 (Bible); Martin 143-173 (ch. 7)

THEO 1001, sec. 102 | Summer II | Vanden Eykel

13

7/22 (Mon)

14

7/23 (Tues)

15

7/24 (Wed)

Lecture: Who are the Galatians and Why are they Foolish?
Readings for Today: Galatians (Bible); James 1-2 (Bible); Martin 174-212 (ch. 8)

Lecture: The Gospel According to Paul

Readings for Today: Romans 1-5, 9-11 (Bible); Martin 213-230 (ch. 9)
Lecture: The End of the World as We Know It?
Readings for Today: Revelation, Book of (D2L); Revelation 1-6, 12, 21 (Bible)

EXAM II (first hour)

16

7/25 (Thurs)

Lecture (10:50-11:20): Post-New Testament Developments

Readings for Today: None

17

7/29 (Mon)

18

7/30 (Tues)

19

7/31 (Wed)

20

8/1 (Thurs)

Lecture: Councils, Creeds, and the Heretics Issues that Prompt Them
Readings for Today: Arianism (D2L); Creeds Handout (D2L); Martin 231-265 (ch. 10)
Lecture: St. Augustine, but Not the One in Florida
Readings for Today: Augustine, Confessions, Book 8 (D2L)

Lecture: Angels Dancing on the Head of a Pin: Theology in the Middle Ages
Readings for Today: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (Selections D2L); Martin 266-304 (ch. 11)
Lecture: Nobody Expects the Protestant Reformation or Do They?
Readings for Today: Martin Luther, Preface to the Romans (D2L); Martin 305-338 (ch. 12)

ESSAY II DUE
21

8/5 (Mon)

22

8/6 (Tues)

23

8/7 (Wed)

24

8/8 (Thurs)

Lecture: Theological Anthropology

Readings for Today: NONE In place of a reading assignment, please reflect on the question, What
makes a human a human?

Lecture: Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Catholic Social Thought
Readings for Today: Social Thought, Catholic (D2L); Martin 339-388 (ch. 13)
Lecture: The Church, the Modern World, and the Second Vatican Council
Readings for Today: Gaudium et Spes (Selections D2L); Martin 389-397 (ch. 14)

EXAM III
Readings for Today: None

THEO 1001, sec. 102 | Summer II | Vanden Eykel

Statement on Academic Dishonesty

The Marquette University Undergraduate Bulletin lists the following as instances of academic dishonesty: copying from others
during an examination; using unauthorized materials during an examination; stealing or attempting to steal an examination or
answer key from the instructor; allowing another student to copy off ones own work during a test; stealing or passing of as ones
own the ideas or words, images, or other creative works of another; and using a creative production without crediting the source
(complete list at http://bulletin.marquette.edu/undergrad/academicregulations).
Whatever form it may assume, academic dishonesty is an offense I take seriously. While I do not anticipate that we will have to
address any of these issues, any instances of academic dishonesty will be dealt with in accordance with the procedures stipulated in
the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Attendance and Tardiness Policy

Attendance is a portion of your grade insofar as you cannot participate when you are not present. You are allowed up to two
absences without penalty. After this point, each absence will impact your participation grade by ten points. Note that except in
instances of legal obligation or university sanctioned activities and related travel, Marquette does not distinguish between
excused and unexcused absences. If you know in advance that you are going to miss class, then please notify me of this. If you
are absent for one of the in-class exams, you will need to provide documentation as to why you were absent in order to qualify for a
makeup exam. As the Undergraduate Bulletin states, the opportunity to make up work is considered a privilege, not a right.
Tardiness conveys a lack of consideration for your colleagues, so please make every effort to arrive on time for each class period.
Attendance will be taken at the start of each class. If you arrive after I have taken attendance, you will be counted as absent for the day.

Grades
Exams, essays, and participation are evaluated on a 100-point scale. The overall grade for the course will be determined as follows:
93+ = A | 87-92 = AB | 82-86 = B | 76-81 = BC | 70-75 = C | 65-69 = CD | 60-64 = D | 59 or below = F
For exams, I will indicate how much each question is worth. Multiple-choice questions are either right or wrong, but partial credit is
available on short-answer questions. If a significant portion of the class answers a question incorrectly, I may judge that question to
be bad, in which case I will credit all students with the appropriate number of points. So, if you answered such a question
incorrectly, it would not count against you, but if you answered it correctly, it would count as a bonus of sorts.
For essays, I will provide a rubric to indicate how points are assigned (e.g., X points for a clear thesis statement, X points for
grammar and style). Scores in the AB-A range are reserved for essays 1) that are generally free of grammatical and stylistic errors,
and 2) that display careful and thoughtful insight into the assigned passage or topic. If you have a question about the grade you
received on an essay, do not hesitate to speak with me about it.
Participation scores reflect a number of factors, including attendance, generating and contributing to in-class discussions, and
volunteering to read in class. What I am looking for here is evidence of active engagement with the subject matter, with the goal of
fostering a livelier and more productive classroom experience for all involved. For those that may be uncomfortable speaking in
class, e-mail correspondence and visiting me during office hours also count as participation.

Special Accommodations and Late Work

If you require special accommodations (e.g., more time on exams) because of a disability, contact me ahead of time to make
arrangements. Essays are due, in class and by Turnitin, on the days indicated above. Please see the instructions (on D2L) for setting
up a Turnitin account and adding our class. Failure to submit essays on time will result in a penalty of five points per day off the
final score. Should you encounter technical difficulties (illness, car trouble, printer explosion, hard drive meltdown, dog/cat/fish
eats your essay) on the day an essay is due, you may send it to me by e-mail by the end of the due day with no penalty.

THEO 1001, sec. 102 | Summer II | Vanden Eykel