Christian theology and FORB

Course type

Online, self-study course that combines videos, interactive exercises and case studies to help you reflect on FORB in relation to central aspects of Christian theology.

Target audience

Designed for lay and ordained church leaders at all levels, for theology students and for staff of Christian organisations working with Christian mission or with FORB as a human right.

Time : 1 – 5 hours

Take the course at your own pace, at any time, free of charge. Time required depends on how many sections of the course you choose to take.

Access the course

NOTE: When you click on the button above you will be asked to register for the ‘learning site’ (course). Click on the log in button and create a free account using your email address. You will then be automatically re-directed to the course.

Why take the course?

This course has been developed by NORFORB member SMC Faith in Development, who describe the course as follows:

“This course enables reflection about the synergies between Christian theology and a human rights perspective on FORB. It is with sadness that we recognise and confess that during large parts of church history, Christian churches have denied and violated FORB as a human right, both for their own members and others. Yet throughout its multifaceted history, Christianity has also motivated people and faith communities to stand up for what we today recognise as the human right to FORB. Christian theology from all traditions continues to offer a great source of inspiration for Christians who seek to stand up for their own rights as well as the rights of others. This course focuses on exploring Christian theological arguments for FORB as a human right for all. It has been developed in response to our history, to our present, and to an identified need to strengthen and encourage Christian theological reflection on FORB as a human right for all.”

The course includes theological reflection from Protestant, Evangelical, Orthodox and Catholic traditions.

COURSE AIMS

SMC have designed this course as a follow up to the FORB Learning Platform’s course ‘FORB for all’. The course presupposes basic knowledge about FORB as a human right. You are encouraged to take the FORB for all course before taking this course.

When you have taken this course you will:

Be familiar with some of the most common theological arguments for why Christians can and should work with FORB for all.
Be familiar with some of the most common theologically motivated objections against working for FORB for all and how we can respond to them.
Have reflected upon how Christians can work both for the rights of persecuted Christians and people of other beliefs and convictions while staying true to Christian faith and the call to Christian mission.

Course contents

This section explores:
- free will as an inherent part of what it is to be human and a good gift from God
- how different church traditions think about the consequences of the fall
- what has been said about free will and religious freedom throughout church history
Estimated time: 60-90 minutes
This section explores how free will and FORB relate to
- our and the church’s call to love our neighbour,
- work with Diakonia and strive for restored relations with God, each other and creation
- What does this mean for the world today? How can it inspire us to work for change?
Estimated time: 60-90 minutes
This section :
- links what was learned in the previous section on FORB and love for our neighbour with theological reflection and lessons from church history concerning loyal discipleship
- studies some of the ways in which all parts of the church have failed to live up to God’s call and the effects this has had for FORB.
- provides space for reflection and spiritual guidance.
Estimated time: 60-90 minutes
In this section you will:
- Learn about some important theological concepts related to mission;
- Study how different church traditions view these concepts, identify commonalities and analyse how they relate to FORB as a human right for all
- Reflect on how the interdependency between FORB and holistic mission affects our work as Christian Churches and agencies in God’s mission;
- Explore how all the above links to persecution and suffering and what some biblical and human rights-based responses can be.
- Hear an orthodox perspective on Missio Dei and FORB.
Estimated time: 60-90 minutes

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Access the course here:

Christian Theology and FORB