Listen to the following, posted on Blackboard:
• On Being, “The Equation of Change”
Then, write a thesis-based, three-page essay responding theologically and critically to any theme or idea expressed in the interview that especially interests you.
Your essay must:
• Clearly articulate a theological thesis of your OWN.
• Offer a well-argued, focused, logically organized argument to support your thesis.
• Substantively engage with—that is, not merely quote or report on—ideas found in
At least three of the following:
• Tilley, “Living Faith”
• Pauw, “Attending to the Gaps between Beliefs and Practices”
•Paulsell, “Honoring the Body”
• Beaudoin, “A Divine Economy”
And at least one of the following:
• Simon Critchley and Jamieson Webster, “The Gospel According to ‘Me’ ”
• Giles Fraser, “If You’re ‘True to Yourself’, You Might End Up Finding No Real Self to Be True To”
• Alan Miller, “My Take: ‘I’m Spiritual But Not Religious’ Is a Cop-Out”
• D. Ashley Campbell, “To Be or Not to Be: My Take on the ‘Spiritual But Not Religious’ Choice”
• Elizabeth Drescher, “No to Church, Yes to Jesus?”
• Use no additional sources without prior approval of the instructor
CONSIDERATIONS
• Your theological engagement with the authors of your source texts does not require you to agree with them
•on the one hand or to disagree with them on the other. As critical thinkers, you are free to agree, disagree, or agree with parts and disagree with other parts of any and all of them—as long as your arguments are logical, respectful, and properly reflective of your authors’ own positions.
• As before, the vast bulk of your time on this assignment should be spent on preparing your thoughts. You have three pages to make your case. You cannot write in order to figure out what you think! There’s not space for that! You have to know what your position is, what you’re going to say, and how you’re going to say it before you begin to write. Spend a good, long while mulling over the material, deciding what you think about the topic, formulating a clear and precise response, and outlining a logical argument to support it. Then start writing. You’ll be surprised how much easier it will flow if you are crystal clear on what you’re going to say before you try to say it.
• Feel free to bounce ideas off a conversation partner when thinking through your position. However, do not offer the same theses; use the same sources to make the same points, etc. Each person’s paper ought to be unique.
• Do not parrot what you think I want to hear. Do not merely regurgitate texts or class discussions.
• Be a good scholar (that is, show that you can engage others’ ideas substantively and in a way that does those ideas justice as you articulate your own views). Be thoughtful. Be critical. Be creative!
