About the Course
Tracing the family tree of New Thought Christianity, this course approaches church history through mini-biographies of selected mystics and metaphysical thinkers.
Studies will enrich the student’s spiritual life and provide ample resources for preaching and teaching in the ministry. The course provides an in-depth look at the emergence of modern New Thought Christianity with special attention to the origins of Unity.
Course Presentation
Faculty will prepare a Learning Guide for each week's work. The Learning Guide will include comments about the topic to be studied during the week as well as suggestions about what to look for in the assigned readings.
Along with this posting, faculty will initiate discussion threads by posting specific questions related to the week's topic of study. Students will be able to post responses to the discussion questions, respond to other students' postings and present questions to the class. Faculty will respond as appropriate.
Questions of special interest to individual students will be answered by e-mail.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Describe the main points of the metaphysical thinkers studied in this course.
- Explain the progression of thought from ancient precursors to modern metaphysical Christianity.
- Explain the historical process that led to Unity’s emergence and growth as a movement in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- Research and discover additional mystical/metaphysical thinkers not covered in this course and apply the research in oral and written form.
- Write sermons about Unity heritage, citing historical studies in support of conclusions.
Grading Policies
Please review the full grading policy of Unity Institute.
Required Texts
- Braden, Charles S. Spirits in Rebellion: The Rise and Development of New Thought.
Dallas: SMU Press, 1984.
- Chidester, David. Christianity: A Global History. NY: HarperSanFrancisco, 2000.
- Shepherd, Thomas W. Friends in High Places. 3rd edition. Lincoln: iUniverse Books, 2006.
Required Materials
- Christianity: The First Two Thousand Years (A&E Documentary DVD/VHS)
- Microsoft Office PowerPoint software
Requirements for Students
Complete Assigned Readings—Reading assignments from the textbook will vary in length. Readings from recommended books will be listed along with readings from required texts. The recommended readings will add to the learning experience.
Use the Weekly Learning Guide—The Weekly Learning Guide gives students an overview of each week's learning activities and experiences.
Participate in Online Discussion—The discussion forum offers students the opportunity to interact with other students and with the facilitator of the class. Every Monday after the first week, the facilitator will post questions or statements related to the lesson. By the following Monday, students should respond with answers, comments, or even questions related to the topic. Discussion forums are mandatory. When extreme circumstances prevent a student from participating, the student must contact the facilitator.
Class Tuition and Fees
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Confused about the right program and credit choice for you? Then visit our FAQs section or contact us at:
Ministry and Religious Studies Program
Unity Institute
1901 NW Blue Parkway
Unity Village, MO 64065-0001
E-mail: registrar@unityonline.org
Phone: 816-251-3535 Ext. 2170
Fax: 816-251-3555
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