RELS 372 - Contemporary Catholic Theology of the Love of God | 2025-2026

This course traces the theme of the merciful love of God in Scripture and Catholic Tradition, especially in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Faustina Kowalska, and Pope John Paul II, as well as in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Mercy of God is presented as a central vantage point from which to view more clearly many important elements of Catholic doctrine and spirituality, ethics, and a common springboard for Catholic-Evangelical ecumenism—in other words, the contemporary Catholic world view.

RELS 369 - Historical Theology | 2025-2026

A study of the history of Christian theology from the post-apostolic age to the present. Focus is on perennial issues in Christian theology and areas of convergence and divergence between the three Christian traditions: Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Protestantism. Students will consider the role of the Bible, culture, and experience in order to understand the complexities involved in studying historical theology.

RELS 368 - The Reformation | 2025-2026

An examination of European life during the sixteenth century reformations. This course includes discussions of sin and wholeness, of religion and secular power, of toleration and social order, and of efforts to reform the church and society, and an examination of the place of ritual in social life, life in the family, and attitudes to gender.

RELS 367 - The Catholic Church Past and Present | 2025-2026

Examines key events in the history of the Catholic Church to posit how Catholic theology might shape one’s view of history, to consider how an understanding of history might be relevant to faith, and to investigate how the Catholic Church has developed and adapted as a protagonist in history. Topics. include the ecumenical councils, monasticism, Holy Roman empire, Crusades, East-West schism, inquisition, Reformation, Council of Trent, the effects of the French Revolution, rise of nationalism, Vatican II, and globalism.

RELS 366 - Theology of the Body | 2025-2026

This course reviews the roots and evolution of the modern secular approaches to anthropology and human sexuality and contrast them with those of Christ. This course examines recent developments in theological reflection on the body (John Paul II's theology of the body) and provides a general introduction to Christian anthropology, with particular attention to themes such as creation in the imago Dei, fall and redemption, nature and grace, freedom and rationality, gender and vocation.

RELS 365 - Christian Moral Theology | 2025-2026

Moral theology reflects upon the goodness and evil of human acts, and of the person who performs them, in the light of Divine Revelation and human reason. This course offers an introduction both to mainstream Catholic and evangelical moral theology and contemporary moral issues, emphasizing their common ground and supplementary insights as well as explaining their continuing points of divergence. The course is taught by a Catholic professor, utilizing both Catholic and protestant texts.