Through a series of close exegetical, historical, and theological case studies, Theological Anthropology exemplifies the Greystone way of constructive theology in the mode of Reformed catholicity. This advanced course moves beyond survey courses in the theology of human personhood to explore selectively and more thoroughly certain classic and contemporary questions in their historical, theological, ethical, and ecclesiastical contexts. What is a human being? What is the theological significance of a child? How should we think of materiality? Of the ‘intermediate state’? Of our relationship to the cosmos? What is the theological and ethical significance of humanity as ‘male and female’? Are we more than our brains? What is the relationship of ontology and eschatology in how we think of gender, marriage, and human relations? What is the image of God, and how do we recognize its restoration by the Spirit? Are we communal creatures? Are we free agents? What is emotion? What are the implications of theological anthropology for relationships, society, and pastoral care? What does the Reformed theological tradition contribute to our understanding of ourselves and one another?

Registration is required, and participants must select one of the following registration options: Coraopolis (weekly for the quarter), Oxford (intensive week), or Online (weekly for the quarter).

Explanation of course and registration options: This course is offered as a full course in the spring 2017 in Coraopolis (U.S.A.), at Oxford (U.K.), or via Greystone’s new interactive Online platform (note that this option includes two required online meetings with the lecturer and other online students, once at the mid-point of the quarter and once at the end). The Oxford option is a four-day intensive course on site in Oxford, March 20-23, and includes a dinner, wine, and conversation event. (Oxford registrants will receive additional information separately regarding this class.) The Coraopolis and Online options run weekly throughout the spring quarter. The Online option runs weekly from Feb. 2-April 27. The on-site Coraopolis option meets weekly at Greystone on Thursday evenings, 6:30-9:15 p.m., Jan. 26-April 27, with a two-week reading break in March.

All full course options require readings, lectures and seminar participation, and one research paper due approximately six weeks after the lecture sessions are completed. (More information available upon registration.) NOTE: Registration deadline for all options is January 18. Late registrations cannot be guaranteed.

 Lecturer: The Rev’d Dr. Mark A. Garcia, Ph.D., is the President and Fellow of Scripture and Theology at Greystone Theological Institute as well as a minister in the United States. Dr. Garcia is also the Director of the Lydia Center for Women and Families, a Greystone research and educational center. Having taught across the historical and theological disciplines for fifteen years, he has researched in theological anthropology for much of the last decade and is producing a substantial volume on the eschatological ontology of the feminine alongside other publications on gender and family relations in Reformed theology, the theological ontology of personhood, and biblical and theological divorce and abuse theory.