Introduction to Christianity B
| Course Purpose |
|---|
| Kwansei Gakuin was founded in 1889 by Rev. Walter Russell Lambuth, a missionary of the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. Ever since its founding, Kwansei Gakuin has educated the young based on the principles of Christianity. Throughout its history, the introductory courses in Christianity form the basis of our education. The main purpose of “an introduction to Christianity A” is therefore, to provide students, specifically for students with little or no exposure to Christianity, with the world view and the value system of Christianity through studying the Bible and the history of Christianity. Also, this course explores the spirit and ideals of establishing Kwansei Gakuin and its history. |
| Learning Goals |
| (1) Students acquire the comprehensive knowledge of Christianity, especially its Scripture, history, world view and value-system. (2) Students explain the spirit and ideals of Kwansei Gakuin and discuss what Kwansei Gakuin should be in the present and in the future. (3) Students analyze and discuss the moral and social issues of today on the basis of their comprehensive knowledge of Christianity. |
| Topic | |
|---|---|
| Session 1 | 【Purpose】 1) Confirm the purpose and goals of this lecture. 2) Learn about Christianity in the Middle Ages. 【Learning Goals】 1) Understand and explain the purpose and goals of this lecture. 2) To be able to explain the characteristics of medieval Christianity. |
| Session 2 | 【Purpose】 1) Learn about the Reformation. 【Learning Goals】 1) Explain the thought and significance of the Reformation. 2) To be able to explain the characteristics of the Church of England. |
| Session 3 | 【Purpose】 1) Learn the situation of Christianity in modern times. 【Learning Goals】 1) To be able to explain the situation of Christianity in modern times. 2) Be able to explain the social activities that the church has done. |
| Session 4 | 【Purpose】 1) Learn about the story of creation in the Old Testament. 2) Learn about human creation. 【Learning Goals】 1) To be able to explain the outline of the creation story. 2) Be able to explain the human view in Genesis. |
| Session 5 | 【Purpose】 1) Learn about the Primordial Story in Genesis. 2) Learn episodes about the Garden of Eden. 3) Learn about Noah's flood story. 4) Learn about the Tower of Babel Story. 【Learning Goals】 1) To describe the story of Adam and Eve. 2) To be able to explain the outline and significance of the flood story. 3) Explain the significance of the story of the Tower of Babel. |
| Session 6 | 【Purpose】 1) Learn about chieftain stories. 2) Learn about the idea of a covenant with God. 【Learning Goals】 1) To be able to explain the outline of the patriarchal story. 2) To be able to explain the Abrahamic covenant. |
| Session 7 | 【Purpose】 1) Learn about the Exodus and the Sinai Covenant. 【Learning Goals】 1) Explain the outline and significance of the Exodus story. 2) Be able to describe Moses. 3) To be able to explain the Ten Commandments. |
| Session 8 | 【Purpose】 1) Learn about the history of ancient Israel.(1) 【Learning Goals】 1) To be able to explain the outline of ancient israel history. 2) Be able to describe the main characters. |
| Session 9 | 【Purpose】 1) Learn about the history of ancient Israel.(2) 【Learning Goals】 1) To be able to explain the outline of ancient israel history. 2) Be able to describe the main characters. |
| Session 10 | 【Purpose】 1) Learn about Advent. 2) Learn about the prophets of ancient Israel. 【Learning Goals】 1) Be able to explain the background of the long-awaited Messiah. 2) Be able to explain about prophets. |
| Session 11 | 【Purpose】 1) Learn about the outline of the Christmas story. 2) Learn about the differences in the stories in Matthew and Luke. 【Learning Goals】 1) Be able to explain the Christmas story based on the Bible. 2) Be able to explain the narrative differences between the Gospels and their reasons. |
| Session 12 | 【Purpose】 1) Learn about eschatology in Judaism and Christianity. 【Learning Goals】 1) To be able to explain the outline of the eschatology of Judaism and Christianity. 2) To be able to explain the concept of life after death in Christianity. |
| Session 13 | In-class exam (taken during class time) |
| Session 14 | 【Purpose】 1) Learn more academic content about specific themes related to Christianity. 2) Know how Christian studies are conducted. 【Learning Goals】 1) To be able to give more specialized explanations about the themes dealt with in the lectures. 2) To be able to give an overview of Christian research methods. |