NEWS 
AND
NOTES


This page is the location where you will receive the latest information
on the course. I will use this page to advise you on assignments,
upcoming examinations, or other news and information.






CURRENT READING ASSIGNMENT


The reading assignment for the week of April 7 is VI, #1
The lecture links for Thursdayef is"Progressive Churches"
The web reading link for Thursday is "Progressive Churches"
The third exam will be given in the second half of class

The reading assignment for the week of April 14 is VI, #2
The lecture links for Thursday is"Progressive Churches" and "Integrative Churches," and "Promise Keepers"
The web reading link for Thursday is "Progressive Churches" and "Integrative Churches"

The reading assignment for the week of April 21 is VI, #3
The lecture links for Thursday are"Restorative Churches" and "Conservative Religion"
The web reading link for Thursday is "Restorative Churches"

There is no reading assignment for the week of April 28
The lecture link for Thursday is "Secularization Theory"




COURSE NEWS

The date for the fourth exam will be Thursday, May 8 at 4 P.M.


Hints for the fourth exam

1. The fourth exam will cover progressive, integrative, and restorative churches and the process of secularization.

2. Be sure to review the web readings for progressive, integrative, and restorative churches and know how the readings illustrate the kinds of developments occurring in those churches. Also be sure to review any notes you have on the video clips shown in class.

3. Be sure to know the characteristics or progressive, integrative, and restorative churches, which churches are in each category, the socioeconomic characteristics of each type, how churches in each type have adjusted myth and ritual to work in their social locations, and examples of the reactions to contractualism or covenantalism that are typical of each type.

4. Read the web resource material on progressive, integrative, and restorative churches carefully. There will be questions on the kinds of organizational forms and changes in form that are characteristic of each type. There will also be questions about the kinds of controversies facing these churches and the positions that they have taken in response to these controversies

5. Know the musical groups and types of music associated with progressive, integrative, and restorative churches.

6. Know the movements that have occurred in the different types of churches (charismatic movement, megachurches, Promise Keepers) and what the goals of these movements are.

7. For the restorative churches, know the conflicts that have occurred in the Southern Baptist Convention, which factions have been successful, and what the responses of the losing factions have been.

8. For the restorative churches, know the initiatives taken by religious conservatives to insert religion back into public life as reflected in controversies over teaching the Bible, the pledge of allegiance, In God We Trust, prayer in school, and Ten Commandment displays.

9. Know the controversy over homosexuality, both concerning ordination and gay marriage, as it has affected the major denominations. Know which denominations have supported and opposed rights for gays and what form the opposition has taken in various denominations.

10. Know the major theorists and theories of secularization and the primary argument of each theory. Know how these different perspectives agree or disagree with one another. Know the conclusions reached in lecture about the nature and direction of secularization



BUMPER STICKERS, CHURCH SIGNS,
URBAN LEGENDS OF THE WEEK



God made us sisters; Prozac made us friends.

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That was Zen. This is Tao!

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Buddha is my OM boy


QUOTES/STORIES OF THE WEEK



WHY GOD NEVER RECEIVED TENURE AT ANY UNIVERSITY

1. He had only one major publication.
2. It was in Hebrew.
3. It had no references.
4. It wasn't published in a refereed journal.
5. Some even doubt he wrote it himself.
6. It may be true that he created the world, but what has he done since then?
7. His cooperative efforts have been quite limited.
8. The scientific community has had a hard time replicating his results.
9. He never applied to the Ethics Board for permission to use human subjects.
10. When one experiment went awry, he tried to cover it up by drowning subjects.
11. When subjects didn't behave as predicted, he deleted them from the sample.
12. He rarely came to class, just told students to read the Book.
13. Some say he had his son teach the class.
14. He expelled his first two students for learning.
15. Although there were only ten requirements, most students failed his tests.
16. His office hours were infrequent and usually held on a mountaintop.