Posts Tagged 'UNBC'

For those of you who have been following the development of the Certificate of Christian Studies at UNBC the last couple of years, you may be interested in knowing about the future.  No, not the whole “future”, just the future of Christian Studies.    The course offering will be expanding from six courses to seven, which will reflect a modification to the Church History course(s) and the Old/New Testament courses, and the addition of a new course called

A few of you have been inquiring about the reading requirements for the Christian Spirituality course at UNBC this September.  Well it is your lucky day – the course textbooks are listed here, and the weekly readings are listed below.

For those of you who like to plan in advance … the University of Northern British Columbia has recently announced the next two classes in the Certificate in Christian Studies program:  Christian Spirituality, starting in September 2009, and Life and Teachings of Jesus, starting in January 2010 (I will be teaching both).

More information and details about how to register for either class can be found here, and any questions about the course content can be directed to me.  Thanks!

For those of you who are interested in the current state of religion and spirituality in Canada, check out these statistics and commentaries:

• Who’s Religious? (Statistics Canada)
• Canadian Weekly Religious Service Attendance (Statistics Canada)
• The Comeback of Organized Religion in Canada (Reginald Bibby)

It takes a while to read through the numbers and analysis, but it seems that the general Canadian “shift” is not away from religion per se, but rather is a change in how religious beliefs and values are expressed (via personal participation).

Also, in general, experience seems to indicate that

These two posters are “hot off the press” (I wonder what the digital equivalent of that saying is?).  One is for the Fall 2008 course at UNBC, and the other is for the Winter 2009 courses.  Feel free to distribute them! 

This fall, I will be teaching an introductory course on Christian Spirituality at UNBC.  Here is some information about the course, taken from the syllabus:

“Description and Scope – Christian spirituality is a popular concept that stems from ancient roots. This introductory course will invite students to explore the nature of their own spiritual formation as well as introduce beliefs and practices of formation and community from Christian traditions of spirituality, from a Christian perspective. Participants will discover and participate in a variety of Christian spiritual practices that encourage a Biblical and holistic approach to life.

Objectives – Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Articulate a Biblical theology of personal spiritual growth.
2. Thoughtfully answer the question, “What does it mean to live a Christian life?”.
3. Describe and evaluate the various principles, methods and teachings used to help people grow spiritually, in light of the Old and New Testaments.
4. Explore and practice the Biblical, theological and historical elements of Christian spirituality.”

In addition to the Bible, the textbooks that we use throughout the course are:

• Foster, Richard J., and James Bryan Smith. Devotional Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups. Rev. and expanded ed. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2005.
• Scorgie, Glen G. A Little Guide to Christian Spirituality: Three Dimensions of a Life Lived with God. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 2007.
• Sittser, Gerald Lawson. Water from a Deep Well: Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2007.

Another undergraduate course that I have taught in various contexts is Introduction to the New Testament.

“Description and Scope – The New Testament consists of numerous types of literature, and reflects the viewpoints of Jesus and his followers. As a detailed exploration of the historical context, literary styles and theological themes of each of the books of the New Testament, this “hand’s on” course serves as an overview of current New Testament studies. This course is also as a launching pad for further study of both Jesus and the first Christians. We will explore the text from historical-critical, literary and canonical perspectives, observing the strengths and weakness of each approach.

Objectives - Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Describe the cultural, political and religious background of each New Testament book,
2. Describe the historical development and intended purpose of each book,
3. Identify and assess the various critical approaches to studying the New Testament,
4. Identify and explain the central themes of each book as well as the themes running through the New Testament as a whole, and
5. Discuss the influence of the New Testament in both the early and modern Church.”

In addition to the New Testament, we all use the following textbooks:

• Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas K. Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 3rd ed
• Metzger, Bruce Manning. The New Testament: Its Background, Growth, and Content. 3rd ed. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.

Researching and writing an academic paper can be both a challenging and a rewarding process.  And often, the hardest part is knowing how to start the process.  To help you start … here are three recommended web sites that provide some practical advice on preparing for and writing a university paper:

• The UVic Writer’s Guide
• The Writing Process (Cleveland State University)
• Writing the Religion Paper (Dartmouth College)

This is my favourite course to teach (I have taught it in both churches and universities)!  Taken directly from the course syllabus:

“Description and Scope – The text of the Bible is best read and understood as a complete work of ancient literature, and this course is an introductory exploration of the historical context and literary styles of the Old and New Testaments. We will explore such topics as the original languages, modern translations, narratives, poetry, wisdom, law, prophecy, gospels, parables, letters, and the apocalypse, in order to learn to thoughtfully read the Bible for ourselves.

No other book in the history of Western civilization has had a more profound affect than the Bible. Western cultures, traditions, laws and beliefs have all been influenced by the Bible and its many interpretations. Unfortunately however, this same Bible has also been intimidating and confusing for some readers, and as a result, many never pick it up and explore its riches and depth. In this course, you will develop a greater understanding and appreciation of the historical and literary value of both the Old and New Testaments. You will discover how to explore the Bible for yourself and develop your own careful and thoughtful opinions about its meaning. This course both stands by itself and serves as a reliable foundation for further study of Judaism, Christianity and the Bible.

Objectives – Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Interpret each of the various sections of the Bible independently, without the aid of commentaries, dictionaries, etc,
2. Articulate and critique various contemporary methods of exegeting (understanding) a Biblical text,
3. Describe the history and transmission of the original language manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments, and
4. Evaluate and assess the numerous English translations available today.”

In addition to the Bible itself, the textbooks that we use throughout the course are:

• Duvall, J. Scott, and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-on Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible. 2nd ed.
• Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas K. Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 3rd ed.
• Gabel, John B. The Bible as Literature: An Introduction. 5th ed.
• Lawrence, Paul, and A. R. Millard. The IVP Atlas of Bible History.

In 2007, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) approved the creation and implementation of a new Certificate in Christian Studies, managed through the Continuing Studies department.  It was a pretty exciting development, as it has been well received by both the student body and the local community.  The five specific courses that we identified, and that are being taught, are:

• History and Literature of the Bible
• Introduction to the New Testament
• Christian Spirituality
• History of the Christian Church
• Jesus and the Gospels

It is going to be exciting to see how the Certificate develops, as there is nothing else like it in the region!