Seminar in Theological Research (GTHE 517)

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Seminar in Theological Research (GTHE 517)

• Dr. David Hebert
• E-mail dhebert_at_oru.edu
• (Thanks to Dr. James Tollett Sally Shelton for
  input for this presentation)

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Genesis (Beginnings)

• Introduce each other (name, where from?,
  perceived giftedness to the Body of Christ)
• Introduce Course Material
• Tour of ORU Library with Prof. Jane Malcolm
• Continue with Course Material

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Consider These Statistics! (According to The
Barna Research Group)

• Only 19 of born-again adults in America have a
  biblical worldview (6 March 2009)
• Of 601 Senior Pastors (random cross-section of
  Protestant churches), only 51 have a biblical
  worldview (12 January 2004)
• Only 15 of those who regularly attend Christian
  churches rate God as the highest priority in
  their lifecompared to 70 of pastors who think
  their congregants rate God as the highest
  priority (10 January 2006), and
• Among born-again American Christians
• 10 believe that people are reincarnated after
  death (21 OCT 2003)
• 29 believe it is possible to communicate w/the
  dead (21 OCT 2003)
• 53 believe a person can earn salvation based
  on good works (6 MAR 2009)

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Foundational Devotion

• 2 Tim 316/Prov 623 Scripture is
  God-breathed profitable for Teaching,
  Reproof, Correction, Training/Instruction in
  Righteousness (Scripture is foundational and
  applies to all areas of our Christian lives to
  help keep us on the right way/path)
• What is each of our own unique member/part or
  purpose in the Body of Christ? (Rom 123-8 1 Cor
  1212-30 Eph 47-16 1 Pet 410-11So that each
  of us may know and function in it fully to become
  a built up, unified and maturepure
  spotlessBody of Christ for which He shall return
  at the Rapture of the Church)
• (Caution!!!) Proverbs 192 Rushing ahead
  without knowledge is not good
• 2 Tim 215 Earnestly Study to show yourself
  approved to God as a workman able to rightly
  divide the Word of Truth (especially in the
  times in which we live in light of 1 Tim 41-2,
  7 2 Tim 43-4, regarding deceptive spirits,
  doctrines of demons, myths, old wives tales
  which amounts to false doctrine/heresy the
  statistics above)

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Foundational Devotion (cont.)Therefore

• Proverbs 17 The fear of the Lord is the
  beginning of knowledge (The reverent, awestruck,
  holy respect for The Triune God of the Universe
  should be our attitude)
• Proverbs 123 2312 Turn back at my warning
  behold, I will pour out my Spirit to you I will
  make my words known to you and Apply your heart
  to instruction and your ears to words of
  knowledge (Maintain a tender heart and a
  teachable soul)
• Proverbs 2027 The human spirit is the lamp
  of the Lord (Illuminated by the power of the
  Parakletosthe Comforter, One called alongside to
  help, the Holy SpiritIn our spirit, listen to
  the Holy Spirit and pray in the Holy Spirit)
• If we fulfill our part of this Conditional
  Promise then the result will be Proverbs 26
  For the Lord will then give wisdom, knowledge,
  understanding, protection to those who fear Him

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The Purpose resides in the Title of the Course

• Seminar A small group of students in Graduate
  School engaged in original research or intensive
  study (Webster)
• Theological from Theos, meaning God in Greek
  and ology, from lego or logos in Greek, meaning
  to relate in words or something said (including
  the thought and idea) by impl., a topic, subject
  or discourse (Strongs)a course of study about
  God (specifically, from a Christian biblical
  viewthe Triune God of the Bible)
• Research scholarly or scientific investigation
  or inquiry requiring close, careful study
  (Webster)

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Seminars Group discussion/work/collaboration

• Provide a safe environment for learning
• Provide illumination and insight
• Provide enhancement value added
• something . . . that has been added to a
  product . . . to warrant a markup in the retail
  price (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
• Provide opportunities to think together, to share
  the fruit of our theological research
  reflection

Edward O. de Bary, Theological Reflection The
Creation of Spiritual Power in the Information
Age (Collegeville, MN Liturgical Press, 2003),
p. 84.
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Rationale for Writing Assignments

• Writing contributes to intelligence by requiring
  analysis and synthesis of information.
• Writing develops initiative by requiring writers
  to develop a thesis statement, find research
  materials, and reflect upon/communicate findings
  independently
• Writing develops courage by requiring writers to
  give up anonymity.
• Writing increases the writers personal
  knowledge.
• Writing contributes significantly to improvement
  in reading skills.

Donald H. Graves "Balance the Basics Let Them
Write," a 1980 Report to the Ford Foundation.
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Purpose Statement

• A Small Group of Graduate Students, that sets out
  together on the journey of conducting scholarly,
  original, and targeted investigation leading to a
  well-constructed and written Theological Research
  Paper that measures up to the standard/canon

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Standard/Canon/Measuring StickOfficial School of
Theology and Missions Style Manuals
Research and Writing Manual. Latest Edition.
Tulsa Oral Roberts University School of
Theology and Missions, 2005. Vyhmeister, Nancy
Jean. Quality Research Papers For Students of
Religion and Theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids
Zondervan, 2008.
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Additional Textbooks

• Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of
  Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 7th
  ed. Chicago The University of Chicago Press,
  2007.
• Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas Stuart. How to Read
  the Bible for All Its Worth. 3rd ed. Grand
  Rapids Zondervan, 2003.

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Content
Eight Steps to Producing a Research Strategy
Elements of Writing That Produce Great Research
Papers
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Eight Steps to Producing a Research Paper

1. Select the Topic
2. Research in Authoritative Summaries
3. Narrow the Topic
4. Build the Working Bibliography
5. Take Notes
6. Construct the Rough Draft
7. Rewrite and Polish the Rough Draft
8. Prepare the Final Copy

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Elements of Writing that Produce Great Research
Papers

• Content
• Clarity
• Cohesion
• Order/ Organization
• Creativity/ Originality
• Word Choice
• Precision
• Succinctness

• Grammar
• Spelling
• Capitalization
• Flow/ Transitions
• Formatting
• References
• Choice
• Citation formatting