TH 409 Syllabus

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Note: This is a preliminary syllabus. This course uses the website www.nopartiality.net as the basic structure, process and content of the course. Therefore, students must have unrestricted access to the Internet.

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DESCRIPTION:

This course examines the origins and development of race and racism in our contemporary situation, analyzing both the objective and subjective dimensions of a context in which race matters and racism constitutes a worldview. In addition, the course examines and engages the resources of Christian faith and the biblical teaching on reconciliation in order to lead more intentionally in the struggle to overcome racism in church and society.

OBJECTIVES:

1.    Develop critical discernment and understanding of the nature and extent of racism

2.   Identify the influence of race and the patterns and practices of racism in sociocultural environments

3.    Explore the attitudes, feelings and perceptions of one another and their differences, addressing the stereotypes and misconceptions that limit mutual understanding and support

4.    Learn from and challenge each other across social, cultural and racial boundaries

5.    Develop the ability to work critically and constructively with Scripture in the formulation of an integral Christian response to racism, to act differently in relation to others who are different, and to advocate for reconciliation in faith communities

REQUIRED READING:

The following text is required reading for all participants.

Sharp, Douglas R. No Partiality: The Idolatry of Race and The New Humanity. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1.        Students are expected to follow the process indicated in the website Study Guide and submit ("post") their written work to the Discussion Board page located at the Blackboard course site on the Internet (click on the TH 409 Interaction button to go to that site). The writing assignments are listed on the web site in each session, and the written work must be posted no later than 5:00 PM on Saturdays each week (see Schedule below).

2.       Each student will read the posted work of one other student each week, and post a written response to the Discussion Board page at Blackboard. Students will respond to a different student each week.

3.       Each student must read and write a 4-6 page critical review on any three of the books listed in the bibliography below. Each review should address (1) your personal response to the author's work, (2) an assessment of the book's strengths and weaknesses, (3) a brief discussion of the issues and subjects that were not discussed but which you think should have been, and (4) your specific comments on  how the book can help you in overcoming racism in church and society.

4.       Develop a personal strategy, outlining "next steps" for your continuing education and action in working against racism and toward reconciliation. This strategy will be shared with the class at the last Saturday session.

5.       Receive and attend to the evaluation of the other participants.

STUDENT ASSESSMENT:

This course relies heavily on self-reflection and evaluation, personal interaction, and the formation of patterns of discipleship for personal and social change. Thus students will be invited to put themselves at some risk. As co-disciples, students and instructor will share their own lives and their cultural and ethnic context, opening themselves to honesty and transparency with others. In this way participants agree to engage in the study of the personal and social dimensions of racism. Accordingly, students will be evaluated on the basis of their personal-theological growth and understanding as evidenced in the areas listed under Course Requirements. Some time during the last class session will be spent in self-evaluation and the evaluation of the other members in the class as well as the instructor.

SCHEDULE OF “SESSIONS”

The following schedule indicates two items of information: (1) The web site Study Guide session (SG Session) to follow in preparation for the class session, and (2) the date the written work from that session is to be posted to the Discussion Board at Blackboard.

September 26 -- Introduction/Orientation to the course and website, and SG Session 1. No advanced preparation required

October 3 – SG Session 2 – posting due Sunday, September 30

October 10 – SG Session 3 – posting due Sunday, October 7

October 17 – SG Session 4 – posting due Sunday, October 14

October 24 – SG Session 5 – posting due Sunday, October 21

October 31 – SG Session 6 – posting due Sunday, October 28

November 7 – SG Session 7 – posting due Sunday, November 4

November 14 – SG Session 8 – posting due Sunday, November 11

November 21 – No class/Thanksgiving recess

November 28 – SG Session 9 – posting due Sunday, November 25

December 5 – SG Session 10 – bring your written work to class, with enough copies to distribute to all

Friday, December 8 — Book Reviews due!

BOOK REVIEWS BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Campolo, Tony and Michael Battle. The Church Enslaved: A Spirituality of Racial Reconciliation. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005.

Cohen, Mark Nathan. Culture of Intolerance: Chauvinism, Class, and Racism in the United States. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1998.

Correspondents of the New York Times. How Race is Lived In America. New York: Time Books, 2001.

Dalton, Harlon L. Racial Healing: Confronting the Fear Between Blacks and Whites. New York: Anchor Books, 1995.

DeMott, Benjamin. The Trouble With Friendship: Why Americans Can't Think Straight About Race. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1998.

Dyson, Michael Eric. Race Rules: Navigating the Color Line. New York: Vintage Books, 1996.

Emerson, Michael and Christian Smith. Divided By Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Feagin, Joe R. Racist America: Roots, Current Realities, and Future Reparations. New York: Routledge, 2000.

Graves, Joseph L. The Race Myth: Why We Pretend Race Exists in America. New York: Dutton/Penguin, 2004.

Griffin, Paul R. Seeds of Racism in the Soul of America. Cleveland, OH.: Pilgrim Press, 1999.

Harris, Paula and Doug Schaupp. Being White: Finding Our Place in a Multiethnic World. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004.

Jordan, Winthrop D. The White Man's Burden: Historical Origins of Racism in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press, 1974.

Montagu, Ashley. Man's Most Dangerous Myth: The Fallacy of Race. Sixth ed.  Walnut Creek: AltaMira Press, 1997.

Payne, Richard J. Getting Beyond Race: The Changing American Culture. Boulder: Westview Press, 1998.

Schreiter, Robert J. Reconciliation: Mission & Ministry in a Changing Social Order. The Boston Theological Institute Series, Three. Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1992.

Sniderman, Paul M. and Thomas Piazza. Black Pride and Black Prejudice. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2002.

Tatum, Beverly Daniel. "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" And Other Conversations About Race. Rev ed.  New York: Basic Books, 1999.

Thandeka. Learning To Be White: Money, Race, and God in America. New York: Continuum, 1999.

Waller, James. Face to Face: The Changing State of Racism Across America. New York: Insight Books, 1998.

Yancey, George. Beyond Racial Gridlock: Embracing Mutual Responsibility. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.

Zack, Naomi. Thinking About Race. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Co., 1998.