SNU's Theology of Missions class will be divided up into groups of 4 or 5 people. Each group will select one of these questions (two groups may not use the same question) which they will research together and prepare a presentation for the entire class.
This list is not closed. That is, the group may ask for permission to deal with a variation of one of these questions or even with a question not listed here.
Group presentations in class will be enhanced by the liberal use of illustrations from the literature on the topics.
- What happens to the unevangelized heathen who die without ever having heard of Jesus? What are the various positions that have historically been taken (and by whom) on this question?
- How far can one adapt the Christian faith and it still be Christian? (Issues of contextualization versus syncretism). "Indigenous" was a word once used in connection with this issue.
- Is Jesus the only way to God and to salvation?
- Is there a theological basis for believing that God does impress some people to be missionaries?
- Can traditional non-Christian ceremonies be integrated into Christianity?
- How should Christians treat the reverence for ancestors expressed by the Chinese and other peoples?
- What is the irreducible minimum that one should consider for the gospel, that is, what should be the requirements for baptism?
- What are the main issues a person from another religion should consider in converting to Christianity?
- What about Jews? Should we try to convert them?
- What should we make of liberation theology's view that Jesus is a political hero to be imitated (as much as He is a divine figure to worship)?
- Are all religions worshiping the same god/God even though each one says different things about Him/Her/It?
- What do Jesus and Paul have to teach us in our encounters with other religions?
- What guidelines should one use in developing contextually appropriate materials and modes of Christian expression for various cultural groups?
A bibliography suggestion: The entire January 2000 issue of Missiology.
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Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University, 6729 NW 39th, Bethany, OK 73008 | Phone: 405-491-6693 - Fax: 491-6658
Copyright © 2000, 2001 - Last Updated: January 3, 2006 | URL: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/groups.htm
