REL 212 Syllabus

It is not so very important for a person to learn facts. For that he does not really need a college. He can learn them from books. The value of an education in a liberal arts college is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think something that cannot be learned from textbooks.
(Albert Einstein, 1921, in response to Thomas Edison’s opinion that a college education is useless)

In much wisdom is much vexation, and those who increase knowledge increase in sorrow.
(Ecclesiastes 1.18)

Requirements and evaluation for the course

Evaluation

For my criteria for evaluation of your work go to Evaluation and read the information carefully.

NB: If you have any questions regarding any assignment, please 1) ask in class for the benefit of others or 2) make an appointment to see me.

Assigned

readings

The readings are essential and should be completed before each class. Keeping notes on the readings is highly recommended. Keeping notes on the readings is highly recommended. Occasionally I may assign additional readings, but these will ordinarily be short. You are required to come to class with written questions or comments you have about the readings (see Participation).

Ordinarily you will be asked to read and expound the written questions or comments that are the most interesting or problematic to you. As you share your thoughts with the class, others will be invited to respond or share their own set of questions or comments. You're expected to have read the text(s) carefully and be able to share the penetrating questions or issues in the readings that you dealt with in your reading, preparation, or even further research. You written questions or comments, and the way you expound them will constitute a significant part of the final participation grade.

NB: you don't necessarily have to understand everything before class, but you should demonstrate that you prepared and are familiar with the major issues in the text(s). Remember also that questions are more valuable than answers. You should include or suggest challenges, discoveries, insights, questions, etc. for class discussion.

Bulletin
comparison

You will submit a bulletin comparison. Collect church bulletins from 3 Presbyterian or Reformed churches and 3 non-Reformed churches (e.g., Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Orthodox, "non-denominational," Pentecostal). NB: You don't have to attend any worship service (you may request them by phone or letter). Write a 3–4 page comparative report that analyzes the contents and order of the contents of the actual worship service from the very first act of worship to the last. Focus only on the very significant issues. Consider also what information is printed on the front of the bulletin and on the first page of the order of worship as well as what information is not printed there.

Worship
critique

presentation

You will take part in a group presentation of a worship critique that analyzes (= criticizes) a worship service you attend. Document a worship experience in a Presbyterian or other Reformed church, providing a commentary and critique of every part of the worship service, including the order of worship (= bulletin) with respect to Reformed theology. Provide a copy of the order of worship.

•	Describe the physical surroundings (e.g., worship space, seating arrangement).
•	Provide a list or description of every part of the worship service.
•	You may, if you wish, interview the pastor(s) or worship committee members of the church you attend for this assignment.
•	Use PowerPoint.
•	Follow all the instructions given on my Evaluation page under Presentations.

Research

Paper

You will write a 6–8 page paper on one of the topics below. Show your understanding of the Reformed perspective with regard to your chosen topic. Include at least Calvin's Institutes and the Leith texts in your paper. If you wish to choose another topic, please consult the instructor.

•	Baptism	•	Grace (prevenient)
•	Bible (authority of scripture)	•	Lord's Supper
•	Christian Freedom	•	Pneumatology
•	Christology	•	Predestination (3.21–24)
•	Creation	•	Providence
•	Ecclesiology	•	Sacraments

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You must make an appointment with me to submit and discuss the following two preliminary assignments (see due dates below), the quality of which may affect your final paper grade. Make an appointment as early as you can for a consultation.

1) Proposal: Submit in one file

1.1) a paragraph stating your research interest, including which topic—which can be a person, e.g., John Knox—you propose to research and

1.2) a bibliography that includes at least 10 secondary sources (besides course textbooks or reference books) you found to be promising for your paper, including 5 journal articles related to the topic. You may use Web sources for your research, but they will not count among the 10 sources required for this assignment. NB: Electronic sources count only if you provide evidence that they also exist in print form.

Submit your proposal as early as possible in the semester, so that it can be approved for you to begin your work.

2) Draft: Submit in one file

2.1) a clear introductory paragraph stating the thesis of your paper and

2.2) 2 good sample paragraphs and your revised bibliography (or works cited).

NB: You are responsible for scheduling an appointment to bring a hard copy of these two written assignments to discuss them with me (after submitting them on the R-drive). See the schedule below for the last possible dates for them and make an appointment as soon as possible.

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The paper should represeqnt original work (i.e., your own thoughts), not a mere digest of other people’s opinions. Your own reading and re-reading of the relevant texts, as well as review of other materials, are fundamental to the task. I want to know what you discover in your engagement with the text(s)—a "text" can be written works, art works, music, plays, movies, interview, research results, poll data etc.—whether or not you agree with the authors or the opinions presented in class, including mine.

Focus on honing your ability to argue for your opinions and conclusions by supporting them with evidence from texts (especially primary sources) and other relevant sources.

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Your final bibliography (or works cited) must contain at least 8 sources, including 4 journal articles used in your paper.

Use only printed sources in your paper, even if you used Web sources during your research. NB: Electronic sources count only if you provide evidence that they also exist in print form. Use footnotes to document your sources.

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Follow all the instructions given on my Evaluation page under Written assignments.

NB: You may be given the chance to revise your paper after the initial evaluation. Should you choose to do so, your revision will be evaluated and the final grade will be the average of the two.

Terms

Throughout the semester, you’ll be responsible for learning significant terms covered in our texts or in class. You will be responsible for the definitions. Use 1) the course texts (e.g., index), 2) the resources listed in Resources to consider below, or 3) the “terms” file on the R-drive, where the terms to be covered on quizzes and exams will be highlighted and updated.

Quizzes

exams

There will be a midterm exam (ca. 30 mins.) covering all the materials in the course, including the reading assignments and terms we will have covered by the time of the exam. The final exam, which will be an oral exam, will cover the entire sweep of the course. See my Evaluation page under Quizzes and examinations. There may be pop quizzes, the results of which will affect the evaluation of your participation.

Grades

Grades will be assigned as fairly as possible. See my Evaluation page under Grades for more information. The final grade for the course will consist of the following:

•

paper

40%

NB: participation is a significant part of this course.

See my Evaluation page under Participation for more information and instructions.

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final examination

15%

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midterm examination

15%

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participation

15%

•

worship critique presentation

15%

NB: If you have any questions about how you're doing in the course, please make an appointment to see me.

Extra

credit

You may earn extra credit any time during the semester.

•	Submit a 2–3 page worship critique of a non-Reformed church. Write a comparative commentary and critique of the parts of the worship service that represent the most significant contrasts to the perspectives of Reformed theology.
•	Submit a 2–3 page reflection paper relating something from popular culture (e.g., movie, play, TV show, book, any performance) to a particular course topic (consult the instructor). It should be mostly critique and not merely a plot summary.
•	Do other extra credit assignments described in the file on the R-drive.

Caveat: The instructor reserves the right to make the final determination concerning any extra credit. You can earn a maximum of 5% towards the final grade. You may write more than one, if you wish, but you won't receive more than 5% total in extra credit.

Required books
•	Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Translated by Ford Lewis Battles and edited by John T. McNeill. The Library of Christian Clasics, vol. 20. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1960. (different, older on-line translation)
•	Leith, John. Basic Christian Doctrine. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993.
•	Leith, John. Introduction to the Reformed Tradition. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1981.

Resources to consider
	CRTA (Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics).
	Reformed distinctives ("Essential Tenets and Reformed Distinctives")
	See my Resources page for McGill, AV, & Web resources.
	R-drive: for helpful materials, check not only the course folder but also the "Religion" folder.

Westminster College
REL 212: Reformed / Presbyterian Theology and Worship
Fall Semester • 2006

Keeping in touch
During the semester check your e-mail regularly for the latest messages from me regarding course matters (e.g., changes in the syllabus). Also visit this page for updates to the syllabus, as well as my home page for other information and resources related to the course. Please feel free to make an appointment any time about any course matters.

Tips from former students
For some practical advice from former students, see the tips page.