RLGN 205 Catholic Imagination: Global Perspectives

RLGN 205: Catholic Imagination: Global Perspectives

FALL SEMESTER 2015
Tue/Thu 11:30 am - 12:45 pm
Room: Tomlinson 243

INSTRUCTOR
Prof. Jonathan Tan
Office: Tomlinson 243-G
Phone: (216) 368-6446
Email: jonathan.tan@case.edu
Web: www.jonathantan.org

PDF

Course Syllabus

USEFUL LINKS
• CWRU Religious Studies Dept
• CWRU KSL Library
• Religion Databases (KSL)
• CWRU Writing Center
• CWU Academic Integrity Policy

• All Things Religion Blog
• Religion Web Resources
• Religion Links
• Academic Research Resources

RETURN TO:
• Prof. Tan's Course Websites

This course introduces students to the diversity and plurality within the Catholic tradition, focusing attention on the global perspectives of Catholicism in recognition of the fact that more than two-thirds of the world’s Catholic population today are from the Majority World, the so-called "Global South." Students will have the opportunity to explore the challenges posed by, and the possibilities offered by studying the Catholic imagination from transnational and global perspectives, as expressed in diverse and pluralistic forms through both historical experiences and contemporary developments, with a particular focus on the following topics:

African Approaches to Catholic Imagination: Faith, Culture & Inculturation
Catholic Imagination meets Environmental & Ecological Concerns: Reading Pope Francis' Encyclical Letter "Laudato Si'"
Chinese Approaches to Catholic Imagination: The Case of Chinese Marian Devotions
African American Catholic Imagination: Negotiating Faith, Race & Identity

PDF Course Syllabus

NEW PDF List of Presenters

Required Books

The following books are required for this course. For your convenience, the links to these books below open to their respective Amazon pages. As these books are not available at the campus bookstore, please order them through these Amazon links or other online or brick-and-mortar sources:

Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, Theology Brewed in an African Pot (Orbis Books, 2008)

Jeremy Clarke, The Virgin Mary and Catholic Identities in Chinese History (Hong Kong University Press, 2013)

Bryan N. Massingale, Racial Justice and the Catholic Church (Orbis Books, 2010)

New Resources

Laudato Si

Required Online Readings

Jeremy Zipple, "Global Catholicism: The Church is Changing, But Not How We Might Think" (The Jesuit Post, 24 February 2014)

NEW Orobator, Theology Brewed in an African Pot, Chapter 1

Joshua J. McElwee, "African theologians, bishops cry out for more expansive synod discussion" (National Catholic Reporter, 11 August 2015)

Pope Francis, Encyclical Letter "Laudato Si'" (Vatican City, 2015)

Thomas Reese, A Reader’s Guide to Laudato Si' (National Catholic Reporter, June 26, 2015)

Bryan N. Massingale, "The Systemic Erasure of the Black/Dark-Skinned Body in Catholic Ethics." In Catholic Theological Ethics Past, Present, and Future: The Trento Conference, ed. James F. Keenan (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2011), 116-124

M. Shawn Copeland, "Revisiting Racism: Black Theology and a legacy of oppression" (America Magazine, 7-14 July 2014)

M. Shawn Copeland, "Overcoming Christianity's Lingering Complicity" (Syndicate Theology, 20 July 2015)

Recommended Resources

Peter C. Phan, "World Christianity: Its Implications for History, Religious Studies, and Theology" (Burke Lectureship on Religion & Society, University of California San Diego, October 13, 2011). Alternate Link (Youtube).

Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, "Global Christianity: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Christian Population" (2011)

Questions? Please email Professor Tan: jonathan.tan@case.edu

Revision 1.003. Originally created: 6 January 2015. Last updated: 13 September 2015.