Course Descriptions, Fall 2005

Cormode, Scott

350EC Christianity and Money

Clayton, Philip

352TH Belief in God for an Age of Skepticism: An Exercise in Constructive Theology

For humans in our age there are many reasons not to believe in God:  the success of science, the suspicion of supernaturalism, the degree of injustice in the world, the existence of undeserved suffering, and the plurality of religious and other worldviews, many of which are non-theistic.  The response to these (real) challenges is constructive theology:  the attempt to develop a doctrine of God, Christ, church, etc. that emerges both from our received religious traditions and from our contemporary context.   In this class we attempt a constructive panentheism, with a particular focus on its connection with issues of justice, skepticism, and the nature of man/woman.  Students will be asked not merely to memorize the theologies of others but also to write constructive theologies of their own.

Greider, Kathleen

312PC Introduction to Pastoral Theology and Spiritual Care

433PC  Religion and Psychology

Horn, Patrick

363TH Major Interpreters in the Study of Religion

This course will provide an introduction to methodological issues in the study of religion through readings of classical theories of religion (e.g., Hume, Feuerbach, Durkheim, Freud) revealing the rise of the human sciences in the post-Enlightenment West.

Marshall, Ellen

306/406EC Faith, History and Ethics

Drawing on the approach of Ernst Troeltsch and H. Richard Niebuhr, this seminar studies Christian ethics by exploring the relationship between faith and history.  As we survey the work of twentieth-century scholars, we will focus on one question: How should one negotiate the promises of faith and the realities of history?

Mavani, Hamid

401A Arabic I

This course provides an introduction to the basic elements of Modern Standard Arabic for the student with no knowledge of the language.  It covers the basics of Arabic morphology, syntax and grammar. 

410WR The Qur’an and Its Interpreters

The Qur’an is for Muslims the word of God that was mediated by Muhammad. It is the foundation of their society and its constitution. Thus, the precepts of the Qur’an, its moral imperatives and spiritual values became the norms for the Muslim community. This course aims to introduce students to the collection, compilation and standardization of the Qur’an along with its main features, structure, and themes. We will examine the different interpretive processes and approaches employed by exegetes, from the classical to the modern period, to yield meaning that is relevant to confront theological, legal and social issues. The course will conclude with a study of the role of the Qur’an in everyday life and thought of a Muslim.

Min, Anselm

454TH Theology of Aquinas

A survey of the theology of Thomas Aquinas with special emphasis on his Trinitarian doctrine, Christology, soteriology, and ecclesiology, mainly on the basis of his Summa Theologica.

475TH Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit

This course will be an in-depth examination of Hegel’s phenomenology with an emphasis on the dialectic of human existence.

Riley, Gregory

387NT Spirituality and Worship in the Early Christian Church

An investigation of early Christian spiritualities, mysticism, views of body and soul, the physical and spiritual world (angels and demons, Satan and spiritual warfare), and their expressions in community worship.

492NT Gnosticism

An investigation of the rise of Gnosticism and its various expressions from pre-Christian times into the second Christian century.

Robbins, C. Michael

487NT Advanced Greek

Rose, Jenny

324WR Zoroastrian Cosmology, Eschatology, Ethics and Ritual

This course will be a textual exploration of the cosmology, eschatology, ethics and rituals of the Zoroastrian religion throughout its history in relationship to other developing religions with which Zoroastrianism has come into contact, including Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam.

Ruether, Rosemary

337TH Feminist Theologies in North America

Schneider, Tammi

422HB Introduction to Mesopotamian Literature

Seminar on the history of the Hebrew text and other versions of the Hebrew Bible, as well as on textual criticism and on textual hermeneutics.

437HB Women in the Book of Samuel

In this course we will examine the women characters in the books of Samuel to better understand their role and placement in the book, as well as shed light on understanding how the male characters are constructed.  Hebrew is not required.

Staff

302HC History of Christianity II: Reformation to Present

A history of Christianity from the Reformation to the present which focuses on the worldwide expansion of Christianity in the modern era and the diversity of forms which Christian faith and practice have taken in different time periods and cultural contexts.  Extensive use will be made of primary sources as means of illuminating historical and historiographical.

302TH Backgrounds of Contemporary Theology

A selected study of major theologians who continue to influence contemporary Christianity.

336TH Systematic Theology

384NT Beginning Greek

392 EC  Contemporary Ethical Issues

Sweeney, John

440TH David Griffin’s Process Theology

Sweeney, Marvin

307HB Basic Aspects of the Study of the Hebrew Bible

Introduction to the study of the Hebrew Bible

425HB Reading in Apocalyptic Literature

This is a doctoral-level overview of major works of Jewish and Christian apocalyptic literature from the Second Temple through the early Rabbinic periods.  Texts treated include, Daniel, 1 Enoch, War Scroll from Qumran, 4 Ezra, Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch, and Heikhalot Rabbati.  Prerequisites: doctoral standing, Hebrew, Aramaic; (or concurrent enrollment in Syriac).

Torjesen, Karen

304WS Introduction to Women’s Studies in Religion

An examination of timeliest critiques of androcentric approaches to the study of religion and society, studies which emphasize the recovery and/or creation of female images and roles in religion, and efforts to reframe the study of religion and society in light of feminist critiques and reconstruction’s.  The course will highlight the dynamic relationship between critical, separatist, and integrationist approaches to the study of women and religion.

314WR Comparing Religions

Verwijs, Petra

430HB Intro to Syriac

Wimbush, Vincent

414NT The Bible, Fantasy & Horror

A multi-disciplinary exploration of two modern literary genres in an effort to re-consider the psycho-social and cultural-political uses and effects of the complex of literatures we have come to call “The Bible.” Representative primary texts and pertinent critical literatures will be read and discussed.

432NT Contemptus Mundi: History of an Orientation

A study of the ideologies, rhetorics, and practices of ancient world – especially ancient Christian – ascetic pieties and renunciations of the world.  Implications for an interpretive schema for the history of religions, especially christianities, will be explored.