Theology and History of Lutheranism

Religion 450

Theology and History of Lutheranism

Syllabus and Course Outline

David C. Ratke, Instructor

Office: Russell House 3

Tel. x7183

Office Hours
In general, I'm on campus and in my office every day between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The exceptions to these hours are when I'm teaching, meetings, and Friday afternoons. If I'm in my office, I'm available for consultation. You may also arrange an appointment with me.

Catalogue Description
A survey of the history and theology of Lutheranism with particular attention to the Lutheran confessions and the heritage and history of the Lutheran church in its global context. Three credits.

Purpose & Objectives
The purpose of this course is:

- to acquaint the student with the history and theology of Lutheranism

The objectives are that the student:

- should be able to discuss and write intelligently concerning Lutheran theology

- should be able to use the Lutheran theology and history as a resource for contemporary questions of faith and life

- research, describe, and analyze a Christian doctrine (or other issue) addressed in the Lutheran tradition and apply it creatively and constructively to an issue of contemporary import.

Texts

	Gassmann, Günther, and Scott Hendrix. Fortress Introduction to the Lutheran Confessions. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1999.		Gritsch, Eric W. Fortress Introduction to Lutheranism. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1994.
	Kolb, Robert and Timothy J. Wengert, eds. The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2000.		Johnson, Donald W. Praying the Catechism. Winnipeg, Canada: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, 1997.

Recommended:
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 6th ed. University of Chicago Press, 1996.

Assignments and Evaluation

Research Paper	20%
Response Papers	30%
Quizzes & other assignments	20%
Final Examination	20%
Journal	10%

You are expected to keep a journal in which you reflect on the daily devotions in Praying the Catechism. An integral part of the Christian life is prayer, meditation and reading the scriptures. In order to understand a tradition is to understand it from the "inside". My purpose here is not that you become converted to Lutheranism (or even necessarily Christianity) but that you understand the theology of the Lutheran tradition from the inside out.

There will be occasional quizzes and other sundry homework assignments which will account for 20% of the final grade. These quizzes and assignments will be based on the readings and will include, but are not restricted to, testing for comprehension of texts (i.e. questions of historical facts) and summaries of readings.

Students will prepare a research project on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with the instructor. A topic should be chosen and approved by January 27. The instructor will be happy to suggest topics and avenues of approach. The instructor will be available for consultation and advice at all stages of the process including reading of preliminary drafts and outlines. A preliminary draft shall be submitted by March 12 and projects in their final form are due April 11. These projects will be presented for the edification and education of other students.

All written assignments (i.e. the research paper, summaries, any take home tests, or any other work done outside the classroom and handed in) are to be typewritten. Handwritten assignments will not be accepted. Spelling and grammar do matter. It is this instructor's opinion that good spelling and grammar contribute to a paper, while poor spelling and grammar detract from it.

The grading scale is as follows:

A = 94–100	B+ = 87–89	C+ = 77–79	D+ = 67–69
A- = 90–93	B = 83–86	C = 74–76	D = 64–66
	B- = 80–82	C- = 70–72	D- = 60–63
			F = below 60

Finally, be sure to keep all papers, tests, and other graded assignments until after you've received your final grade at the end of the semester. Should there be a discrepancy between the grade you think you earned and the grade assigned to you, then you can easily correct it. Also be sure to check your grades on Blackboard after every assignment to see that your grade has been recorded.

Attendance
Regular attendance is expected of all member of the class. Students with a legitimate excuse for absence should present it immediately on return to class (not at the end of the semester). Attention is called to the General Catalog: "Students are expected to attend classes … No allowed number of absences is automatically granted to a student. Ordinarily, a student will not receive credit if 25% of the scheduled class meetings are missed" (General Catalog).

Procedure
The student should expect to participate in class discussions to be led by the instructor. Be prepared to ask questions and respond to questions concerning the relevance, significance and importance of the readings.

Take notes. Pay attention. Be prepared. Be prepared to ask (and respond to) questions like: What is the significance of Art. 7 of the Augustana? Why does the doctrine of justification matter? What are these texts saying? Why do they matter? What are the issues at stake? While I do not expect students to provide detailed and scholarly responses to such questions, I do expect them to demonstrate that they have wrestled with such questions.

Class Schedule

Apol	= Apology of the Augsburg Confession
BC	= The Book of Concord
CA	= Confessio Augustana, i.e. Augsburg Confession. Numbers refer to article numbers, thus CA 11 & 12 refer to Articles 11 & 12 of the Augsburg Confession.
Epit.	= Epitome (of the Formula of Concord)
FC	= Formula of Concord
Gritsch	= Eric W. Gritsch, Fortress Introduction to Lutheranism
LC	= Large Catechism
SA	= Smalkald Articles
SC	= Small Catechism
SD	= Solid Declaration (of the Formula of Concord)
TLC	= G. Gassmann & S. Hendrix, Fortress Introduction to the Lutheran Confessions

Luther and the Reformation	Gritsch, 3–27; TLC, 1–32
Lutheranism After the Reformation	Gritsch, 28–53
Lutheranism in the New World	Gritsch, 55–94
The Lutheran Confessions: The Texts	TLC, 33–47 BC, 1–21, 27–29, 107–9, 295–6, 329–30, 345–7, 377–9, 481–5
The Norm: Scripture—Tradition—Confession	TLC, 48–55 CA 15, 21–23, 26 and Apol. 15, 22 SA III.15 FC-Epit. "Binding Summary …" (=BC 486–7) FC-SD "A General, Clear … Christian Teaching" (=BC 524–31)
The Framework: Law & Gospel	TLC, 55–64 CA 11 & 12 and Apol. 11 & 12.1–97 SA III.2–4 FC-SD 5–6
The Basis: God as Trinity	TLC, 64–74 CA 1 & 3 and Apol. 1 & 3 SC "The Creed" LC "The Creed" FC-Epit. 8; FC-SD 8
The Center: Justification	TLC 75–85 CA 3–4, 21 and Apol. 3–4, 21 SA II and III.13 FC-Epit. 3 (recommended FC-SC 3)
Sacraments: Baptism	TLC 87–100 SC and LC on Baptism CA 9 and Apol. 9 SA III.4–5
Confession and Absolution	TLC 100-8 CA 11–13, 25 and Apol. 11 & 13 SA III.3, 7–8 LC, "Brief Exhortation to Confession" (BC 476–80) and SC on "Confession" (BC 360–2)
Sacraments: Eucharist	TLC 109–22 SC and LC on the Lord's Supper (Sacrament of the Altar) CA 10, 24 and Apol. 10, 24 SA II.2 and III.6 FC-Epit. 7 & 8 (recommended SD 7 & 8)
Ministry and Church Order	TLC 122–32 CA 5, 14, 28 and Apol. 14 & 28 SA II.4 and III.9–11 Treatise on the Power and Primary of the Pope
Nature of the Church	TLC 132–9 CA 7–8; Apol. 7–8 SA III.9, 11 SC & LC, Third Article of the Creed FC-SD 10
Two Realms of God	TLC 141–9; Gritsch 107–11 CA 16, 27; Apol. 16, 27 LC Fourth Commandment and Lord's Prayer, Second Petition
Sin, Free Will, Election	TLC 149–63 CA 2, 18–19; and Apol. 2, 18–19 LC, Lord's Prayer, Petitions 3-7 SA III.1 FC-SD 1–2, 9
Good Works and Sanctification	TLC 163–74; Gritsch 113–20 CA 6, 20–21; Apol. 20–21 SC and LC, Preface FC-SD 3–4
Eternal Life	TLC 174–8 CA 17
Worldwide Lutheran Communion	TLC 179–92; Gritsch 127–37
Lutheran Orthodoxy	TBD
J.S. Bach
Lutheran Pietism
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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