First list of assignments - holy fuck

Prior to our first class on September 19, please complete the following:

• Read over the syllabus and familiarize yourself with the course Canvas page.
• done
• Read the first half of Caputo’s What to Believe?
• Watch my opening lecture (you can find the link on Canvas—or just click here). Our wonderful TA, Ryan, is preparing handouts to accompany my lectures, including my first lecture (also attached and uploaded to Canvas). These handouts are immensely useful. I recommend reading them during and after my lectures.
  
• I am doing this now. 
• Submit your first post to Canvas by noon on September 19. Weekly Canvas posts should include an important quote from the reading as well as a pressing question for us to discuss as a class (see the syllabus for more information). For the first week as well as ensuing weeks, be sure to post in the synchronous discussion forums (not the asynchronous discussion forums).

Third, be sure to obtain the required course texts as soon as possible. Many United course texts—including most of the required texts for this course—are accessible to students online at no cost through the Spencer Library and the Digital Theological Library 2(DTL2). However, I’d strongly encourage you to purchase your own copies. Most of these are books you’ll return to again and again. Please note that the PDFs of all of the additional readings (the ones marked with an asterisk on the syllabus) have been uploaded to Canvas.

 done.

Fourth, and finally, the first paper—your theological self-understanding statement—is due on Sunday, September 29. This is a very short personal statement on how you understand theology and your own motivations for studying it. Read the assignment prompt on the syllabus and start thinking about the paper over the next couple of weeks.

From Syllabus:

Your Theological Self-Understanding Statement should be 2 to 3 double-spaced pages (500 to 750 words) and respond to the following questions:

• What, in your view, does it mean to study theology? Why does theology matter in the world today?

• What does your religious tradition(s) say about theology, theologians, and the practice of theological study?

• Who are your primary audiences as a theologian, and what kinds of theological evidence and sources of truth do members of those communities find compelling?

• Why are you studying theology here and now?

This assignment is due on Sunday, September 29, by midnight and will be assessed according to the grading rubric specified in Appendix B at the end of the syllabus.

Grading:

What does it mean to study theology, and why does it matter?	The essay makes a clear claim about what it means to study theology and why it is important
What does your religious tradition say about theology, theologians, and theological study?	The essay identifies one or more religious traditions and clearly describes how it/they understand theology and theologians
Who are your theological audiences and what kinds of theological evidence and sources of truth do they find compelling?	The essay identifies one or more theological audiences and thoughtfully reflects on the kinds of evidence and sources of truth that they find compelling
Why are you studying theology here and now?	The essay clearly articulates reasons for studying theology in this time and place