This episode has two segments: segment 1 is entitled “Teaching Theology Today” where I discuss with Brother Maurice Smith of Phi Beta Sigma, the ideas and concepts I have for the course. He challenged some of the courses description which I debunked. Segment two is entitled: WHYY’s News on Delaware Students’ Academic proficiency Uses Bad Data. In segment two I provide a commentary on the article ‘Tough couple of years’: Delaware students’ academic proficiency far below pre-pandemic levels. Going back to segment 1, we begin by reviewing The 2021 COURSE Description states that: This course is a study of the background and development of current theological thinking with an emphasis on modern and post-modern theological trends in the Christian community. The course will briefly survey theological developments up until the mid-20th century and then devote sustained attention to trends that largely have their genesis in theological ideals from the 1960s. However, I will go further in this episode to look at some more concepts and update the driving force or goal of the course which is to exploring and responding to the question: How does your theology speak to the issues and challenges of today… what solution does your theology provide?
What challenges are we faced with today? Mr. Smith critiques that the course is outdated and too historical if theology today. However, I suggested that we have to look at what was before we look at what is. He agrees. We briefly discuss what theology is and the application of it. We contended with the question: is there a Caribbean theology? Mr. Smith said no but I challenged and debunked that saying that by understanding what theology is will correct one’s idea about a Caribbean or regional theology, “theology is practical and therefore speaks to context and is colored by context….etc. A few questions to consider and topics to explore for the semester:
1. What is theology?
2. How does your theology speak to the issues and challenges of today… what solution does your theology provide?
What challenges are we faced with today?
3. Is there a Caribbean theology and how has it evolved and
4. what relevance does it hold for us today?
5. Kirk Lougheed (ed.), Four Views on the Axiology of Theism: What Difference Does God Make?
6. What are the challenges to developing a theology today?
(Temple sex gender and society)
7. The Destruction of the Canaanites: God, Genocide, and Biblical Interpretation
8. Ecclesiology for a Digital Church: Theological Reflections on a New Normal
9. Period Poverty and The Dark Womb: Re-Conceiving Theology through Reproductive Loss
10. Critical Thinking and The Priority of Mind
11. Robert C. Roberts, Recovering Christian Character: The Psychological Wisdom of Søren Kierkegaard
12. D. Bruce Hindmarsh, The Spirit of Early Evangelicalism: True Religion in a Modern World
13. Resurgence of African theology and philosophy in 20th century practices: Kametic Spirituality and Ubuntu
14. Renaldo McKenzie’s, Neoliberalism, Globalization Income Inequality Poverty And Resistance
15. (Secrets to unlocking) Divine Intervention. In segment two: I critique Cris Barrish article in WHYY news which available on 90.8 on the FM dial. The story is also on their website at https://whyy.org/articles/delaware-student-testing-scores-pandemic-learning-loss/ According to Criss, “while almost all Delaware K-12 students were back in the classroom last school year — albeit with periodic pandemic quarantines and closures — statewide testing scores remained well below the achievement levels of five years ago.” But that’s not true and the comparative range is deceptive, skipping 2018-2019, which shows that performance was falling after 2017 well before COVID started and schools were closed. However the study failed to reference that. Follow and subscribe to us for updates on new shows and to follow this lecture series/ course. You can donate to us at https://anchor.fm/theneoliberal/support.