None

The student:

can describe the multi-cultural and multi-religious character of the world we live in (LOQ 1,2,3,5);

can apply the principles and methods for doing theology in the Reformed tradition in a global world, as used in this module (LOQ 1,2,3,5);

can map and analyse processes of contextualization and appropriation of theological concepts and ideas with the help of the models offered in the module (LOQ 2,3,6,7);

can apply principles of intercultural appropriation of Reformed theology in and for her/his own socio-religious and cultural context (LOQ 3,4,5,6,7);

can reflect on his / her positionality in the intercultural communication process (LOQ 6,7,8).

This course introduces ‘Doing Reformed theology interculturally’. The goal of this course is to reflect on the praxis and pitfalls of the intercultural appropriation of Reformed theology and theological concepts in different socio-religious contexts. We will study the process of appropriation of themes and practices from the Reformed and Neo-Calvinist tradition in and for various contexts. Relevant concepts and methods from anthropology, sociology and ethnography will be introduced and used as well.

Students will actively practice intercultural theology through the interaction with fellow students from different cultural and religious contexts. This will be done through group discussions and by presenting reflections on the reading materials to the group.

Students prepare for each lecture by reading the required literature and by sending a reading report the day before the lecture (see below). Students will also actively reflect on their readings, intercultural experience and learning by sending a weekly blog to the MIRT-coordinator.

6 lectures (6 x 3 hours)

3 lectures with a professor from a Non-Western context (3 x 3 hours) (at a later moment)

presentations + discussion (6 hours);

Independent study + paper

Study Load – 168 hours

Contact hours: 33 hours Lecture preparation: 40 hours

Independent study + paper: 95 hours

Written paper (approx. 5000 words) with selected literature, on a theological topic that is relevant for the context of the student (30 hours of reading). The paper is also presented to fellow students and the teacher.

The evaluation criteria will be derived from the learning goals of the module. Special attention will be given to:

The quality and depth with which the (lack of) appropriation an aspect of theology and religious practices in and for the context of the student is described, analysed and discussed;

• Adequate use of the content of the lectures (concepts, models) and the required literature;
• Creativity, independence, level of difficulty of the theme that was dealt with;

Methodological soundness and correct use of language, references etc.

Relevant literature

• Bavinck, Herman, Bavinck’s 'Common Grace' with an Introduction of the Translator, Translated by Raymond C. van Leeuwen, Calvin Theological Journal 24, no. 1 (April 1, 1989), pp. 35–65.
• ——. The Catholicity of Christianity and the Church. Calvin Theological Journal 27 (1992), pp. 220–51.
• Bediako, Kwame, Christianity in Africa: The Renewal of a Non-Western Religion (Edinburgh; Maryknoll, N.Y.: Edinburgh University Press ; Orbis Books, 1995).
• ——. Jesus and the Gospel In Africa: History and Experience (New York: Orbis Books, 2004).
• Belt, Henk van den, Religion as Revelation? The Development of Herman Bavinck’s View from a Reformed Orthodox to a Neo-Calvinist Approach (The Bavinck Review 4, 2013), pp. 9–31.
• Bevans, Stephen B., Models of Contextual Theology, Rev Exp edition (Maryknoll, N.Y: Orbis Books, 2002).
• Bolt, John, An Opportunity Lost and Regained: Herman Bavinck on Revelation and Religion, Mid-America Journal of Theology 24 (January 1, 2013), pp. 81–96.
• Bosch, David Jacobus, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission (Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1991).
• Cook, Matthew, and Rob Haskell, eds. Local Theology for the Global Church: Principles for an Evangelical Approach to Contextualization. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2010.
• Covolo, Robert. 'Advancing a Neo-Calvinist Pneumatology of Religions: The Role of Recent Yongian Contributions.' In Revelation and Common Grace, edited by John R Bowlin, 315–34. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2011.
• Donovan, Vincent J. Christianity Rediscovered. Orbis Books, 2003.
• Flemming, Dean. 'Paul the Contextualizer.' In Local Theology for the Global Church: Principles for an Evangelical Approach to Contextualization, edited by Matthew Cook and Rob Haskell, Ch. 1. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 2010.
• Greenman, Jeffrey P, and Gene L Green. Global Theology in Evangelical Perspective: Exploring the Contextual Nature of Theology and Mission. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Academic, 2012.
• Harmon, Andrew M. 'Common Grace and Pagan Virtue: Is Kuyperian Tolerance Possible?' In Revelation and Common Grace, edited by John R Bowlin, 302–14. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2011.
• Hesselgrave, David J. Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978.
• Hesselgrave, David J., and Edward Rommen. Contextualization: Meanings, Methods, and Models. Pasadena, Calif: William Carey Library, 2013.
• Hiebert, Paul G. Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 1994.
• ——. Transforming Worldviews: An Anthropological Understanding of How People Change. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2008.
• Hiebert, Paul G., R. Daniel Shaw, and Tite Tienou. Understanding Folk Religion: A Christian Response to Popular Beliefs and Practices. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1999.
• Kaltwasser, Cambria Janae. 'Assessing the Christological Foundation of Kuyper’s Doctrine of Common Grace.' In Revelation and Common Grace, edited by John R Bowlin, 200–220. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2011.
• Kärkkäinen, Veli-Matti. An Introduction to the Theology of Religions: Biblical, Historical & Contemporary Perspectives. First Edition edition. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Academic, 2003.
• ——. 'Christology in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.' In The Blackwell Companion to Jesus, edited by Delbert Burkett, 1 edition., ch. 23. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.
• Kim, Sebastian C. H., ed. Christian Theology in Asia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.
• Kooi, Cornelis van der. 'A Theology of Culture: A Critical Appraisal of Kuyper’s Doctrine of Common Grace.' In Kuyper Reconsidered: Aspects of His Life and Work, edited by J. de Bruijn and Cornelis van der Kooi, pp. 95–101. Amsterdam: VU Uitgeverij, 1999.
• ——. 'Herman Bavinck and Karl Barth on Christian Faith and Culture. Calvin Theological Journal 45, no. 1 (April 1, 2010): 72–78.
• Mattson, Brian G. 'A Soft Spot for Paganism? Herman Bavinck and "Insider" Movements.' The Bavinck Review 4 (2013): 32–43.
• McDermott, Gerald R., and Harold A. Netland. A Trinitarian Theology of Religions: An Evangelical Proposal. 1 edition. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
• Muck, Terry C, and Frances S Adeney. Christianity Encountering World Religions. Grand Rapids, Mich.; Oxford: BakerAcademic, 2009.
• Nicholls, Bruce J. Contextualization: A Theology of Gospel and Culture. Vancouver: Regent College Publishing, 2003.
• Ott, Craig, and Harold A Netland. Globalizing Theology: Belief and Practice in an Era of World Christianity. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2006.
• Paas, Stefan. 'Religious Consciousness in a Post-Christian Culture: J.H. Bavinck’s Religious Consciousness and Christian Faith (1949), Sixty Years Later.' Journal of Reformed Theology 6, no. 1 (January 1, 2012): pp. 35–55.
• Peels, Rik. 'Sin and Human Cognition of God.' Scottish Journal of Theology 64, no. 4 (2011): pp. 390–409.
• Sanneh, Lamin. Disciples of All Nations: Pillars of World Christianity. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.
• ——. Translating the Message: The Missionary Impact on Culture. 2nd edition. Maryknoll, N.Y: Orbis Books, 2009.
• ——. Whose Religion Is Christianity?: The Gospel beyond the West. Grand Rapids, Mich: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2003.
• Schreiter, Robert J. The New Catholicity: Theology between the Global and the Local. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1997.
• Schreiter, Robert J., and Edward Schillebeeckx. Constructing Local Theologies. Maryknoll, N.Y: Orbis Books, 1985.
• Skaff, Jeffrey. 'Common Grace and the Ends of Creation in Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck.' Journal of Reformed Theology 9, no. 1 (January 1, 2015): 3–18.
• Smith, David. Mission after Christendom. London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 2003.
• Stanley, Jon. 'Restoration and Renewal: The Nature of Grace in the Theology of Herman Bavinck.' In Revelation and Common Grace, edited by John R Bowlin, 81–104. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2011.
• Tennent, Timothy C. Theology in the Context of World Christianity: How the Global Church Is Influencing the Way We Think about and Discuss Theology. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2007.
• Toren, Benno van den. 'Challenges and Possibilities of Inter-Religious and Cross-Cultural Apologetic Persuasion.' Evangelical Quarterly 82, no. 1 (2010): 42–64.
• ——. Christian Apologetics as Cross-Cultural Dialogue. 1 edition. London ; New York: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2011.
• ——. 'Growing Disciples in the Rainforest - A Contextualized Confession for Pygmy Christians.' Evangelical Review of Theology 33, no. 4 (October 2009): 306–15.
• ——. 'Intercultural Theology as a Three-Way Conversation. Beyond the Western Dominance of Intercultural Theology.' Exchange 44 (2015): pp. 123–43.
• Vanhoozer, Kevin J., '"One Rule to Rule Them All?" Theological Method in an Era of World Christianity.' In Globalizing Theology: Belief and Practice in an Era of World Christianity, edited by Craig Ott and Harold A Netland, ch. 4. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2006.
• Vanhoozer, Kevin J, Charles A Anderson, and Michael J Sleasman, Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2007.
• Walls, Andrew F., The Cross-Cultural Process in Christian History: Studies in the Transmission and Appropriation of Faith, Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2002.
• ——. The Missionary Movement in Christian History: Studies in the Transmission of Faith, Maryknoll, N.Y.; Edinburgh: Orbis Books ; T & T Clark, 1996.
• Winter, Ralph D, and Steven C Hawthorne, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library, 1981.