Your MS300 Course Guide
The resources and information found here is intended to supplement course materials provided to you by your instructor. It is the result of a collaboration between your instructor and the seminary librarian.

Please consider this as a starting point for your assignments, an opportunity to dig deeper into what you're learning in this course, and a trusted source for additional support in your learning experience at Lancaster Theological Seminary.

If you find anything that is out of place or not working correctly, please inform the seminary librarian.
Course Reserves
This course has materials on course reserve. To see the full list of resources and their current availability click the link below:

Course Reserves for MS300 - Formation

Course reserves are available at the Circulation Desk. You may check out up to three items at a time for a three hour loan period. Reserves may be renewed up to two times if they are not on hold for another patron. If you check out a reserve within one hour of the library's closing, you may keep it overnight and return it within one hour of opening the following day. Overdue reserve items accumulate a fine of $1 per hour.
Theological Dictionaries
Subject heading search: Theology -- Dictionaries
Theologians and Theology Handbooks
Subject heading search: Theology, Doctrinal
Online Reference
The Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion is an online reference resource for all aspects of religion, including theology and philosophy of religion. It includes peer-reviewed articles by scholars in the field that can be searched or browsed by topic.

On campus access link: Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion
Off campus access link: Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion
Theological Question #1
What is your understanding of God and/or the sacred? What ideas, commitments, and experiences have shaped this understanding? What images or metaphors do you prefer for God and/or the sacred? How has your understanding and experience of God and/or the sacred changed over time? To what extent has your seminary experience had an impact on your understanding of God and/or the sacred? If so, how?
Further Reading about God

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Theological Question #2
What sources of authority and guidance (e.g., sacred texts, personal experiences, traditions, worship practices, church documents, etc.) do you consult, accept, or submit to in shaping your theological views? To what extent do these conform to or challenge those generally accepted by your denomination or ordaining body? To what extent has your seminary experience had an impact on the authorities that you look to for guidance? If so, how?
Further Reading about Theological Authorities

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Scripture as Authority Tradition as Authority Reason as Authority Experience as Authority
Theological Question #3
How do you understand humanity? How would you describe our deepest needs? What are the problematic features of human life (e.g., sin, injustice, alienation, mortality, etc.)? What is hopeful about human nature? To what extent has your seminary experience had an impact on your understanding of humanity? If so, how?
Further Reading about Theological Anthropology

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Theological Question #4
How do you understand Jesus: his identity, mission, and teaching? What did his person and work accomplish? To what extent has your seminary experience had an impact on your understanding of Jesus? If so, how?
Further Reading about Christology

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Theological Question #5
How do you understand the Holy Spirit or the sacred life-giving spirit and its work in the world, the church, and our individual lives? To what extent has your seminary experience had an impact on your understanding of the Spirit? If so, how?
Further Reading about Pneumatology

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Theological Question #6
What is the church? In what ways is it important to Christianity, the world, and you? How do you understand the ministries of the church? To what extent has your seminary experience had an impact on your understanding of the church and its ministries? If so, how?
Further Reading about Ecclesiology

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Theological Question #7
How do you understand the sacraments, rites, or ordinances of the church? How does your understanding mesh with that of your religious community? To what extent has your seminary experience had an impact on your understanding of these rituals? If so, how?
Further Reading about Ecclesiology

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Theological Question #9
For what do you hope (e.g., oneness with God, future love and justice on earth, victory over death, etc.)? To what extent has your seminary experience had an impact on your hope? If so, how?
Further Reading about Eschatology

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