Introduction to Black Theology
James H. Evans, Jr.
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the theological enterprise as it has developed in the African-American Christian community. This will be a lecture and discussion course, and each student will contribute to the learning and teaching process. The course will begin with an overview of the distinctive events and themes in the emergence of black theology in the United States. It will include an examination of the major systematic motifs in black theology. The course will conclude with a discussion of current themes and emphases in black theology.
Historical and Normative Themes in Black Church Culture–Part 1
John S. Walker
This course is constructed to emphasize the major events and personalities
of the black church in America from approximately 1830
to 1940. Additionally, when necessary, discussion relative to the role
of the church as participants in movements such as civil rights and
black liberation will be included. Of importance will be profile studies
of historic figures of the black church. Also included will be some
discussions examining the various subjects of controversies, conflicts
and doctrinal disputes of the church, including denominationalism
and study of the National Baptist Convention, Incorporated. The
unity question relative to black Methodism will also be explored
Historical and Normative Themes in Black Church History - Part II
John S. Walker
This course is constructed to emphasize the major events and personalities of the black church in America from approximately 1830 to 1940. Additionally, when necessary, discussion relative to the role of the church as participants in movements such as civil rights and black liberation will be included. Of importance will be profile studies of historic figures of the black church. Also included will be some discussions examining the various subjects of controversies, conflicts and doctrinal disputes of the church, including denominationalism and study of the National Baptist Convention, Incorporated. The unity question relative to black Methodism will also be explored.
African-American Philosophy
James H. Evans, Jr.
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the major
themes, methods, and motifs in African-American Philosophy. We
will read selected texts in light of the Western philosophical tradition
and attempt to critically assess the resources that these texts may
provide for contemporary theological understanding. Special attention
will be paid to the notion of "Africa" as a central concept and to
the contribution of African-American philosophy to the development
of African-American theology. Sessions will focus on thinkers, themes
or both.
African American Biblical Hermeneutics
Gay L. Byron
This course is designed to introduce the student to a variety of exegetical approaches used by African American biblical scholars and other scholars of African descent. We will begin with an analysis of the historical-critical method and examine some of the reasons why this approach to biblical interpretation presented a “hermeneutical dilemma” for African American interpreters. The course will provide a historical framework for understanding the evolution of how people of African descent have creatively interpreted the Bible given their socio-political location and ideological concerns. Special attention will be devoted to womanist biblical hermeneutics and South African exegetical methods. The students will also have an opportunity to assess the usefulness of African American biblical hermeneutics for preaching and teaching within their respective communities of faith.
Ethnic Diversity in Early Christianity
Gay L. Byron
Early Christian writings were produced in a rich context of religious and ethnic diversity. This course will examine how ethnic diversity is represented in early Christian writings and explore the various social, political, religious and cultural factors that gave rise to such representations. Utilizing ancient ethnographic theory, the students will be given an opportunity to assess how ethnic discourse influenced the construction of the New Testament and other early Christian writings. Students will be encouraged to explore how ethnic diversity within early Christian writings raises questions about how we handle diversity in contemporary church and society.
Ascetic Dimensions of the Black Church Tradition
Gay L. Byron
This course examines different early Christian ascetic experiments as evidenced in the New Testament and other early Christian literature mostly from Alexandria and the Egyptian desert. Students will be encouraged to analyze the intersection of spirituality and politics within the writings. Special attention will be devoted to exploring the usefulness of early Christian ascetic writings for understanding African American spirituality and the "Black Church Tradition."
Reading the Bible in Global Context
Gay L. Byron
This advanced seminar provides an opportunity to interpret the Bible
from a variety of global perspectives with emphasis on assessing the
different hermeneutical assumptions that inform both traditional
and nontraditional methods of interpretation. Biblical scholars from
Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the U.S. will be examined.
Early Christianity in the Nile Valley
Gay L. Byron
Prerequisites: Open only to Middlers or Seniors
This course will explore the origins of Christianity in the Nile Valley
region of Africa. We will begin with a geographical, historical, and
cultural overview of Egypt and Ethiopia and analyze the ways in
which these places are represented in Biblical and extra-Biblical
sources. We will then survey literary and archaeological sources from
different parts of Egypt, including Alexandria and the Delta, the
Fayyum, and Thebes, as well as various areas of Ethiopia, with
special attention devoted to the Axumite Empire and the interactions
between this empire and other parts of the Greco-Roman world. By the end of the course, students will understand the development of Nile Valley Christianity and its significance within the broad historical framework of what is considered early Christianity.
Religion and African-American Literature
James H. Evans, Jr.
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of study,
which encompasses religion and literature. The course will examine
religious motifs and themes in selected 20th-century novels and
autobiographies. Emphases will include the impact of faith in the
lives of authors as they find expression in their work. Course participants
will study the works of Richard Wright, Toni Morrison,
Maya Angelou, and Ralph Ellison, among others. The objective is
to gain a deeper understanding of the interrelationship between
African-American literary and religious expression.
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