Online Courses for the 2010 Summer Session

Survey of New Testament world, authors, theologies. Introduction to the historical-critical and other methods of exegesis. Focus on the relation of hermeneutic to Christian Theological traditions; determining the senses of Scripture, the intent of the author, the structures in the texts; stance of the reader. Lecture/Discussion; paper; mid-term and final exam.

An introduction to the four Gospels in their social, historical and theological setting. We will study the Gospels within a two-dimensional framework: social history (the origin and development of Christianiaty as a distinct social entity); and literature ( the formation of the Gospels, their literary form and texture, and their character as "gospel"). Weekly lectures, compulsory tutorial (Thurs. 12-1 pm); assigned papers; final exam or integrative paper.

An introduction to the content of a portion of the New Testament: 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Romans, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Peter, Hebrews and Revelation.  The guiding question of the course is ‘Who is Jesus?’. Discussion forums. Evaluation: participation, exegetical papers. Prerequisite: WYB1501 or equivalent.

This introductory course surveys the history of atheism and secularization from the mid-eighteenth-century Western European Enlightenment to the present. We will not only read selections from some of the most important English, Scottish, German, and American atheists, agnostics, and rationalists of the period, but also examine and discuss how contemporary political and social thought contributed to the rise of secular thought and gradual decline in theological orthodoxy. The course will demonstrate how the writings of atheists and theological rationalists have always been predicated on significant intellectual and emotional tensions between orthodox Christianity and contemporary culture. Participation, research summary, book report, online final exam.