Course Descriptions: Intercultural Studies

MCC/MCS/MHT/MSS 639 Specialized Studies in Missions
The study of a specific area of interest in missiology.

MCC 630 Intercultural Patterns of Communication
An analysis of communication theory and the inherent problems encountered by a communicator attempting meaningful dialogue in a cross-cultural setting. Variations in basic values are seen as factors in interpersonal relations.

MCS 536 World Religions and the Uniqueness of the Christian Faith
An introductory study of the world’s major living religions from a missiological perspective. The religions are studied with a view to understanding them historically and theologically. The missiological approach to other religions for effective communication of the Gospel is emphasized.

MCS 537 Folk Religion
An exploration of differences between formal premises and everyday practices in world religions, with a focus on analyzing religious systems. Selected groups are considered to illustrate the analytical methodology. Strategies for understanding the animistic worldview in order to relate the Gospel to folk religion adherents are examined.

MCS 544 Dynamics of Cross-Cultural Adjustment
An interdisciplinary study of the challenges associated with living and functioning effectively as Christian workers in cross-cultural settings. Special attention is given to human temperament and interpersonal relationships.

MCS 545 Engaging Islam (Formerly titled Introduction to Islam)
This course provides an overview of Islam, including its beginnings and expansion, the beliefs and practices of formal and folk Islam, Islamic sects, the identity of women, Islam in the United States, global Islam today and bridges for communicating with Muslims.

MCS/PTH 548 Jewish People and the Local Faith Community
This course acquaints the participant with the modern Jewish experience and worldview by exploring the history of Jewish-Christian relations. Special emphasis is given to developing effective tools for discipling new Jewish believers within the context of the local Christian fellowship.

MCS 552 Women in Islam
This course examines the identity and role of women in historic and contemporary Islam as taught by the Quran and Hadith and throughout society, covering various cultural contexts.

MCS 553 Islam in the United States
A study of the birth of American Islam, the early waves of Muslim immigration, and the evolution of American Islam toward orthodoxy. Emphasis is placed on the implications of Islam’s rapid growth in American society and the Christian’s responsibility to address this challenge.

MCS/PTH 556 Field Education Research Project
(See PTH/MCS 556)

MCS/PCP 622 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(See PTH/THE 622)

MCS/PCP 629 Counseling Diverse Populations
(See PCP/MCS 629)

MCS 630 Missions Anthropology
A study of the principles of cultural anthropology and their application to a cross-cultural ministry context. Social structures, worldview, religion, and economics are applied to a missionary setting in order to achieve effective communication of the Gospel.

MCS 632 Area Studies Seminars
Exploration of culture, religious background, historical development, and present situations as these relate to spreading the Gospel and the development of the Church: Africa, Asia Pacific, Eurasia, Latin America and Caribbean, and contemporary Native American societies. The student may take more than one area study for credit.

MCS 634 Introduction to Judaism
An overview of the fundamental theology and orthopractics of traditional Judaism. Jewish rites of passage, religious calendar and festivals, synagogue and religious home, methods of prayer and study, Jewish mystical influences, Torah devotion, and traditional wisdom compiled in the writings of the Jewish sages such as the Talmud are viewed in context. Focusing primarily on American Judaism, the distinctives of the major Jewish denominations are considered. Participation in annual Jewish religious events is included.

MCS/MHT/PTH 643 Anthropology and Communication in Theological Perspective
(See MHT/MCS/PTH 643)

MCS/PTH 654 Pentecostal Perspectives on Justice, The Church and Society (Formerly titled Sociology of Christian Ministry)
(See PTH/MCS 654) Distance Learning (DL) option available.

MCS/HIS/PTH 659 The Social Impact of Christianity
(See HIS/MCS/PTH 659.)

MHT/BTH 501 The Mission of God in Biblical and Contemporary Contexts
(See BTH/MHT 501)

MHT/HIS/THE 502 Ancient Christianity to the Challenge of Islam
Note: This course is no longer offered.  If required, take history elective instead.

MHT 534/HIS 548 History of Jewish-Christian Relations
This course deals with the history of Jewish-Christian relations from the first century until the modern era. Unhappy seasons in the relationship are examined but the real contributions each religion has made to the other are also recognized. Particular emphasis is given to the influential teachings impacting Jewish-Christian relations over the centuries including those of Paul, Augustine, and Luther on the one hand, and Rabbinism, the Talmud, and the philosophy of “Jewish Peoplehood” on the other.

MHT/BTH/PCS 540 The Holy Spirit and Mission
This course explores Pentecostalism’s contribution to contemporary mission theology. Special
attention will be given to missiological issues relating to Pentecostal theology and praxis, the
biblical validity and relevance of spiritual power encounter, and signs and wonders.

MHT/PTH 544 The Spiritual Formation of the Leader
(See PTH/MHT 544)

MHT/MSS 545 Current Issues in Missiology
(See MSS/MHT 545)

MHT/THE 552 Power Encounter
This course focuses on the biblical validity and contemporary relevance of spiritual power
encounter in the extension of the Kingdom of God.

MHT/HIS 556 World Christianity I
(See HIS/MHT 556)

MHT/HIS 557 World Christianity II
(See HIS/MHT 557)

MHT/HIS/THE 601 Christianity to the Reformation
Note: This course is no longer offered.  If required, take history elective instead.

MHT 635 Pentecostal Theology of Leadership Development
An examination of theological issues related to indigenous church leadership development from a Pentecostal perspective with special attention to spiritual formation, moral issues, and social/organizational structures in a missional context.

MHT 637/HIS 644 Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy
An examination of the historical and theological developments of the Roman Catholic and
Eastern Orthodox Churches, focusing on the theological, liturgical, and missiological
distinctives of these traditions and their relation to each other and to other Christians.
Pentecostal perspectives on and relations with Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians will
also be considered.

MHT/MCS 642 Contextualized Theology
This course examines both the theoretical and practical missiological aspects of theological contextualization as related to the following areas: biblical interpretation, church methodologies/strategies, and leadership development.   Theological and missiological contextualization is reviewed and evaluated in terms of its bearing on the communication of the Gospel, the expression of the Christian faith, and its spread in various cultural settings.

MHT/MCS/PTH 643 Anthropology and Communication in Theological Perspective
This interdisciplinary course is designed to study from a theological/missiological perspective the principles of cultural anthropology and intercultural communication in order to facilitate the emergence of a theology which addresses the complexities of ministry in an intercultural setting.

MHT/BNT/BOT/PCS 646 Theological Studies Seminar
(See BNT/BOT/MHT/PCS 646 )

MHT/THE 649 Christian-Muslim Theological Issues
An examination of the theological challenge of Islam and Christian response. Key theological
differences will be studied with special emphasis being placed upon biblical answers. The
purpose is to develop understanding of the congruencies and divergencies between
Christianity and Islam as a tool for communicating the Gospel to Muslims.

MHT/HIS/THE 701 Christianity in the Modern and Postmodern Eras
(See HIS/MHT/THE 701)

Updated: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 1:17 PM