Courses

This course seeks to extend the study of theology to the manner in which non-Western communities of Christians endeavour to shape their world by their faith. Special emphasis is given to examining Christology and Soteriology from a cross-cultural perspective and to the manner by which both Western and non-Western traditions may interact to enrich hermeneutics, missiology, and biblical and systematic theology.

A survey and analysis of the main achievements of the ecumenical theological dialogue process among the Christian churches, and the significant challenges still facing that dialogue today. This course utilizes texts from Catholic, Protestant Evangelical, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican sources, and guest lecturers from Catholic, Evangelical, and Orthodox traditions.

Introduces students to the significance and variations of embodied engagements with the Christian mysteries. Drawing upon liturgical experience, sacramental engagement, and liturgical and sacramental theology, students will consider definitions of the sacramental, the role of particular sacraments, how the sacraments affect the experience of God, the pedagogical nature of liturgy, and the influence of liturgy and the sacraments both inside and outside of the Church.

An experience of Christian spiritual traditions through two primary ways of knowing: historical and archival as well as experiential and embodied. Students will investigate the history of Christian spiritual traditions in order to develop a foundational understanding of spirituality as practiced throughout Christian history, and will also learn to creatively apply their knowledge of spiritual practice to a life of “skillful Christian living.”

An analysis of the teachings on prayer and the devout life of Catholic spiritual writers whose teachings still enrich the life of the Church today: especially St. Theresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Bonaventure, St. Francis De Sales, St. Therese of Lisieux, and the Venerable John Henry Newman. This course includes an overview of controversial topics such as the rise of Centering Prayer, the New Age movement, and an analysis of the teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and reflections on the Catholic Tradition of Spirituality from non-Catholic perspectives.

Independent but guided research in a specialized area of interest to the student.

Examination of conceptions held by ancient cultures and the Bible of the origin, composition, and functioning of the cosmos, and the question of natural or supernatural causality. Students will critically evaluate current models of how Scripture relates to modern scientific knowledge. Using key biblical passages, students will construct a theological model that embraces not only the aspects of science and nature that support the idea of purpose (teleology) but also those aspects that do not readily align with teleology.

A study of the intertestamental Judaic literature, noting the relationships between this literature and the Old Testament and New Testament and showing how this literature serves as an important background for the study of the New Testament documents.

A study of the origin, form, and function of apocalyptic literature as well as important motifs and themes.