How to Read Theology for All Its Worth

How to Read Theology for All Its Worth

Taught by Karin Spiecker Stetina

In the How to Read Theology for All Its Worth course, featuring professor and author Karin Stetina, students learn the basic skills for reading theological works with confidence and understanding.

Course Details

  • 12 Units

  • Self-paced

  • 3 hours of video

  • Beginner

  • How to Read Theology for All Its Worth

12 Month Access
$119.99 USD

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Course Description

Too many Christians avoid reading theology for fear they won't understand it or out of a misconception that it's only meant for the academic elite. Similarly, students in introductory theology classes can feel overwhelmed by the concepts and terminology they encounter.

Yet theology can be read with enjoyment and discernment. In the How to Read Theology for All Its Worth online course, professor, author, and devoted reader Karin Stetina introduces learners to the basic skills of intelligent reading, applied especially to theological works. Anyone who would like to read theology well, whether a formal student or an interested layperson, will benefit from the simple steps that Stetina teaches.

Steps include:

  • Identifying genre
  • Becoming acquainted with the author and the context out of which he or she wrote
  • Determining a thesis and main arguments

How to Read Theology for All Its Worth will equip readers not only to understand theology but also to insightfully engage authors' ideas. With the basic tools in hand, everyone can read with confidence and enjoy "conversations" with theological works.

By completing this course, you’ll gain:

  • Greater familiarity with the basic structure, layout, and components of a theological work
  • Insight into basics steps to take while reading theology in order to properly understand and engage with the work as a whole
  • A deeper understanding of how to apply God’s Word to your own life today
  • Confidence in your growing knowledge through personalized review sessions and unit assessments

Meet Your Instructors

Karin Spiecker Stetina

Ph.D., Marquette University

Karin Spiecker Stetina is associate professor of biblical and theological studies at Biola University. She is the author of Jonathan Edwards’ Early Understanding of Religious Experience and The Fatherhood of God in John Calvin’s Thought.

Table of Contents

  • Introduction: Becoming a Student of Theology

  • Overview: Getting Acquainted with the Tools of the Discerning Reader

  • Preparing for Reading Theology for All Its Worth: Being Steeped in Prayer and Scripture

  • First Steps: Examining Textual Features and Publication Information

  • Identifying the Context: Getting Better Acquainted with the Theologian

  • Discerning Theological Frameworks: Identifying the Theme of the Work and How It Is Conveyed

    MIDTERM EXAM



  • Discovering the Sources: Identifying the Foundations of a Work

  • Discerning the Theologian’s View: Listening for the Main Contention, Key Points, and Key Terms

  • Assessing: Evaluating and Applying the Theological Work

  • Equipping Others to Read Theology for All Its Worth

  • How to Dialogue with a Theological Work and Participate in a Theological Discussion

  • How to Lead a Theological Discussion and Theological Discussion Questions on Cyprian’s On the Unity of the Church

    FINAL EXAM

 


BibleMesh is now offering an integrated reading experience for our new book-based courses. As before, students will be guided through their reading with book excerpts embedded within the course. This allows for an improved reading experience within the course. Students will also be able to pop out the book reader into a full-screen, fully-featured web-based reading platform where they will be able to see the wider context of each excerpt and access the complete book.

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