The Bible & Theology in Color
PROFESSOR:
REV. ESAU McCAULLEY, PhD
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Bible & Theology in Color begins with the basic Christian assumption that the kingdom of God will consist of people of every tribe, tongue, and nation offering their gifts to the one true God and king (Rev 7:9). One aspect of these gifts will be the unique testimony each culture and ethnic group gives to the work of God in their midst. Telling that story need not wait for the eschaton. Part of our life together involves appreciating how the triune God moves among the peoples of the world as they encounter him in word and sacrament. We cannot value this story unless we are familiar with it. Therefore, this class has as its aim to introduce students to the unique contributions of African American, Asian American, and Latino/a American Christians to the body of Christ.
Regardless of our ethnic backgrounds, orthodox Christians live under the authority of God and the revelation of his will for us in the Old and New Testaments. Nonetheless, the experiences, history, and cultures from which we arise impact the ways in which we read Scriptures including the kinds of questions we ask and the ways in which we respond to the answers that the Scriptures give to our questions. In other words, we are all influenced by our experiences, but this does not make truth relative nor does it fill us with despair. Instead, it means that the church needs the whole body of Christ from every tribe, tongue, and nation reading the Bible and doing theology together so that we might fill in each other’s blind spots and together discern the mind of Christ.
The goal of this course, then, is information that leads to spiritual formation that ends in doxology.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course you will:
- Develop a biblical theology of multi-ethnicity and culture.
- Explore the history, development, and unique theological insights of Asian American Churches and individual Christians in the United States.
- Explore the history, development, and unique theological insights of Latino/a American churches and individual Christians in the United States.
- Appreciate how each of these traditions transcend their particularity and speak important words to the entire church.
RECOMMENDED TEXTS
Gonzáles, Justo L. Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1990. ISBN: 9780687230679.
Lincoln, C. Eric and Lawrence H. Mamiya. The Black Church in the African American Experience. Durham: Duke University Press, 1990. ISBN: 0822310732.
Roberts, J. Doetis. Liberation and Reconciliation: A Black Theology, 2nd Edition. Louisville: Westminster Knox Press, 2005. ISBN: 0664229654.
Romero, Robert Chao. Brown Church: Five centuries of Latino/a social justice, theology, and Identity. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2020. ISBN: 9780830852857.
Tan, Jonathan Y. Introducing Asian American Theologies. New York: Orbis Books, 2008. ISBN: 9781570757686.
Lee, Hak Joon. Intersecting Realities: Race, Identity, and Culture in the Spiritual-Moral life of Young Asian Americans. Eugene: Cascade Books, 2018. ISBN: 1532616236.
Lessons
Is The Bible & Theology in Color course really free?
Yes! Courses like these are provided free by generous donors. If you would like to make a gift to support these and future online courses, you may do so here.
How long will The Bible & Theology in Color be available?
There's also no need to worry about losing access to the material. Because the course is pre-recorded, you can watch the lectures and complete the reading and other assignments at a time that works for you, and you will never be late to class!
How do I access the The Bible & Theology in Color?
For the best experience, we recommend signing up by clicking here. After you sign up, we will send you an email confirming your place in the class. The email usually takes a few minutes to arrive. If you have not received it after ten minutes, please check your spam folder.
You will then receive a lesson email each week prompting you to continue your studies.
Do I need to download any specific programs or technology prior to the beginning of this course?
You will be able to access all of the course materials using a standard web browser on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. The course materials will be provided through The Chapter, and a free Chapter Membership is required. If you haven't done so already, sign up today by clicking here.
What materials will be provided for the course?
By choosing to participate in The Bible & Theology in Color, you will have access to:
- Full-length video lectures featuring The Rev. Esau McCaulley, PhD
- Course Syllabus
- Suggested reading lists
- Lesson summaries
- Discussion questions
- Quizzes
You are free to study in a manner that suits your learning style and your schedule. We will send you weekly emails to help you pace your studies.
Can I take this course with a group of people?
Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it. You are welcome to use and share the content of this course with friends and fellow parishioners. We hope that The Bible & Theology in Color will spark fruitful discussions across our nation. For the best experience, we suggest that each participant sign up so they can have access to all available materials.
Is this course section accredited?
No, this course section is not accredited at Nashotah House or any other institution. However, it is closely adapted from the accredited course taught at Nashotah House. If you are interested in becoming a student at Nashotah House, please contact Dr. Jim Watkins, our Senior Advancement Officer, at jwatkins@nashotah.edu.
This course is sponsored by
"My head is spinning and my heart is aching. I am experiencing that feeling of profound disequilibrium that comes from encountering ideas and thoughts that stir up and challenge old perspectives and settled world views. It’s not that what I’m learning from Esau is in conflict with my theology or beliefs, it’s that it’s engaging them on an entirely different plane. I am profoundly grateful, not just for his giftedness in being able to translate these fundamental truths from one cultural perspective to another, but for his willingness to do so. I promise this is not hyperbole, this experience is marking a sea change for me. It’s not just information to process, it’s that the processor itself is being transformed!
Thank you Esau, thank you Nashotah, and thanks be to God."