Special attention is given to anthropological perspectives on religion, communication and social change with an introduction to issues of contextualization of the Christian church in its life and theology. This course traces the rediscovery by social scientists of religion's significance in everyday life and in the social construction of reality. It analyzes the religious roots of public rhetoric and ethical dimensions of current cultural struggles. Contemporary debates on the character of a good society are brought into dialogue with biblical resources for Christian reflection on social responsibility. This course explores the use of media in the congregation for education and outreach, considers marketing theory, and studies principles of effective communication and persuasion.
Students also learn to understand and critique media, including radio, video and print.
Additional credit can be earned for a hands-on lab project in production. 3 A focus on the dialogue between psychology and theology as it relates to religious experience. Various religious realities such as childhood religious experience, conversion, mysticism, adult religious experience and prayer are addressed. The academic discipline of the psychology of religion is explored for relevant insights. There is also an examination of various developmental theories with respect to their application to religious experience.