Fall Courses at Princeton Seminary
September 23, 2007
After some adding and dropping - I think I finally have the classes I’ll be sticking with for the rest of the semester. For those who are interested, here is what I’ll be taking:
- Calvin and the Renewal of the Church with Stacy Johnson
I’m not all that excited to read Calvin, actually, but I think it will probably be good for me to learn Calvin better, especially as I will be needing to go before my Presbytery in a few months for my Final Assessment. I took a class with Stacy two years ago, and I really enjoyed it. We’re basically reading Calvin’s Institutes and taking an exam. That’s it. - Forgiveness and Reconciliation with Bo Karen Lee
A good topic, and not too much reading. We’re looking at Miroslav Volf’s “Free of Charge” as well as Anselm and Dostoevsky. - The Self and the System with Bob Dykstra
I’m looking forward to this class most. This is a pastoral care class and we’ll be looking a lot at the tension between the individual and the community/system in counseling, clinical pastoral work and in Christian theology. We are reading some really good books, books that Dykstra says have changed lives before. One classic we’re reading is Carl Rogers’ “On Becoming a Person” and we’re also reading some of the only porn we may get to read in seminary. Dykstra has a very laidback (but carefully thought out) style of teaching, and I’m looking forward to that. - Poetry and the Care of Souls with Donald Capps
Apparently, this is my “easy A” course for the semester, which I don’t mind at all. I’ve heard mixed reviews of Capps’ lectures, but we’re reading some good poetry: Billy Collins, Stephen Dunn, Louise Gluck, Jane Kenyon, Yusef Komunyakaa, Stanley Kunitz, Li-Young Lee, Denise Levertov and William Stafford. The thing is, I don’t normally get or enjoy poetry. I just want to be the kind of guy who does get it. So…that’s the goal this semester. Wish me luck. - Senior Thesis with Kenda Creasy Dean
I still need to find a topic, but it’s going to be something with youth ministry, Emergent, Presbymergent…any suggestions? What do you all want to read 30-40+ pages on?
Between that and all of my Cleave Design work, Presbymergent stuff and everything else, it should be a pretty busy semester.
Tags: Academics, Classes, Emergent, Princeton-Seminary, Theology
Posted in General
Adam Walker Cleaveland: I am a 28 yr old 
September 23rd, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Can you send me Dykstra’s reading list? He picks some obscure (and GOOD) books.
September 24th, 2007 at 12:53 am
Why are you not excited about reading Calvin? I would be pretty interested in diving into the theology at the historical roots of my denomination with a professor that really understood it. Unfortunately the Restoration History class filled every semester and I was wait-listed.
September 24th, 2007 at 11:14 am
i just got capp’s The Poet’s Gift because joe kramp recommended it to me. i hope the class is great.
September 24th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I had no less than four classes with Johnson at PTS - TH221/222, a Calvin course (but different than the one you’re taking), and a course called simply “The Church.” I liked Johnson alot - he knows his Calvin inside and out, and although I think we know what his position is on the major issues in the PCUSA, I always felt he gave a very fair and balanced presentation of all sides. I hope I’m as gracious towards people with whom I disagree as he is. He really seems to try to understand all points of view. Plus he has lots of great stories.
I’m kinda jealous - I wish I was back there!
September 25th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Nice. Kendra Creasy Dean’s “Godbearing” is a good read.
September 25th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
If you don’t “get” or “understand” poetry, how do you know if it’s “good”?
October 29th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
I took his class on postmodernity and the Holocaust (forget the actual title of it). My memory was a curious dialogue. We were waiting in line to grab lunch to discuss theology with him. He said, “Let’s all meet upstairs where it’s probably a little more private.” Tongue in cheek I replied, “A bit closer to the wisdom of God eh?” His reply, “I don’t really know where God is.”
So much for humour. Although his presentation of Derrida and Mark C. Taylor were very clear as I recall. So I guess I more remember his reading selection than the actual class… Hmmm.