Theological Courses for the 2012 Summer Session

Introduction to theology and the elements of Catholic theology. Revelation, Faith, Tradition, Church doctrine, infallibility, biblical inspiration. Lectures, mid-term test, final exam.

Mystery of God Triune: biblical, liturgical, historical, and contemporary theology on the Trinity. Question of God in human experience, atheism, Trinitarian debates, feminist perspectives, the Trinity in the economy of salvation, implications for prayer. Lectures, discussions, short paper, final exam.

Jesus' preaching of the reign of God; development of ecclesial structures; ministries in the church; mission, service, and witness in the Church today, contemporary issues leading to and arising from Vatican II. Lectures, discussions, research paper, take-home exam.

A renewed interest in exploring the relationship between theology and the arts is evident from the growing literature in the field. The arts have become a fresh context for engaging important theological questions. For this course the focus of our attention will be on the wide range of the current conversations on arts and theology. Themes such as spirituality and art, liturgy and art, God and beauty, faith and the place of imagination, and art as a resource for engaging issues of justice will be among the topics we consider. The time in each class will be about evenly divided between lecture and seminar. Assigned readings which will be available in advance will serve as the context for the seminar discussions.

This course is for Christian theology students who wish to have a basic knowledge of the religion of Islam. Two basic questions are attempted in the course: "What is Islam?" and How do I engage the Muslim?". These two questions will underline the lectures and discussions.

An introduction for theology students to central existential themes of freedom, responsibility, self-knowledge and human solidarity. Readings will be from Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, and Heidegger.

Humans are story-telling animals. We find our identity, our memory, our vision and our meaning through the narratives of our lives. While the church has been a foundational story telling institution in our lives, it has clearly been eclipsed in the last half century by various forms of mass media, and most notably through cinema. In this course we will use the Toronto International Film Festival as our classroom. Engaging in a two way dialogue between film and Christian theology, students will develop a biblically theological understanding of contemporary film. We will explore the prophetic, pastoral, liturgical and theological contribution that contemporary cinema can make to Christian reflection and praxis in a late modern socio-historical context.  The text for this course will be:   Roy Anker, Catching Light: Looking for God in the Movies ( Eerdmans, 2004) 

Sherry Coman is co-teaching this course with Brian Walsh.

Explores the transformative dynamics of grace in Scripture, representative early theologians, early doctrinal development, medieval theology and the Reformation period. Participants develop a contemporary systematic approach, especially with respect to ecumenical and interfaith issues. Draws on the thought of Bernard Lonergan. Written assignments, readings, discussion.

An introduction to the major theological interests of Reform movements in the pre-modern and Reformation-era Church, covering the figures of Francis, Wycliffe, Tyndale, Latimer, Luther, Calvin, Trent, Radical Reformers, and Hooker. This is a course that focuses on theology, not church history, but will seek to identify formative strands of thinking about the Gospel and the work of Christ among these Christian thinkers as they sought to re-shape the witness of the Church in their time.  The nature of ecclesial “re-formation” will be a sub-theme of the course. Online lectures and discussions. Evaluation: participation in online discussions (70%), two synthesis papers (30%).

Intro to some main ideas that are theologically and ethically relevant in Kierkegaard's thought: person, indirect communication, irony, edification, confession, sermon, scripture. Christ as model and as redeemer. Attention to biblical figures shaping Kierkegaard's understanding of faith. Selected readings from Either/Or, Purity of Heart, Gospel of Suffering, Christian Discourses, and Works of Love. Class presentations and contribution to discussions 10%; Short critique (400-600 words) on reading designated by instructor 15%; Term paper (discussed with outline in advance) 50%; Class test (one hour) 25%.

This course will involve a prayful theological reflection arising from participation in an actual journey to Auschwitz. How does this fact of history pose challenges for Christian thinking, praying and acting. Prerequisite: Approval of Professor. Readings and participation in 8 day trip to Germany and Auschwitz. BD students: participation with two reflection papers. AD students: participation with 20-30 page major paper on a topic arranged with the professor.

This course will examine human sexuality from a range of theological and historical perspectives: scriptural, doctrinal, sociological, and ethical. Questions of sexual differentiation, desire, procreation, family, and marriage and celibacy will be discussed. The goal of the course is to provide the student with a broad base from which to discern a consistent pattern of Christian understanding regarding sexuality, within both historical and contemporary diversities. The course will engage broad reading, lecture, and discussion, with a final paper aimed at outlining and justifying a teaching syllabus for teenagers within a church setting (15 pages). Advanced Degree students will have an expanded reading list and will be writing a longer research paper on a chosen set topic relating to Christian formation with regard to sexuality within pluralistic cultures.

MTS Synthesis Paper

A study of the components of justice, with emphasis on the Sacrament of Reconciliation and on a creative approach to the restitution sometimes demanded of the individual beyond a simple 'penance'. Injustices such as sexual, child and elder abuse in church and other institutions will be discussed from restorative justive and preventative aspects. Lectures, seminar participation (30%), one seminar presentation (20%), one 10 page paper (30%), final oral exam (20%).

Explores the transformative dynamics of grace in Scripture, representative early theologians, early doctrinal development, medieval theology and the Reformation period. Participants develop a contemporary systematic approach, especially with respect to ecumenical and interfaith issues. Draws on the thought of Bernard Lonergan. Written assignments, readings, discussion.

An intensive five day course that explores a key treatise or text of Thomas Aquinas. Students attend the sessions of the Aquinas Studium, which gathers Aquinas experts for a week of reading, critical exegesis and conversation, and a daily seminar with the course instructor. Attendance at all sessions is required, and no exceptions are possible. Permission of the instructor required for registration.

This course will involve a prayful theological reflection arising from participation in an actual journey to Auschwitz. How does this fact of history pose challenges for Christian thinking, praying and acting. Prerequisite: Approval of Professor. Readings and participation in 8 day trip to Germany and Auschwitz. BD students: participation with two reflection papers. AD students: participation with 20-30 page major paper on a topic arranged with the professor.

We will study the theological, social, and economic components of Old Testament ethics and will explore a variety of themes related to contemporary issues, including the problem of violence and war; economics and the poor; law and the legal system; culture and family; justice and righteousness; and ecology and the earth. A book report and final paper or project is required.

In this course we will explore the unfolding of the English Reformation and the chief theologians who contributed to its development. Beginning with John Fisher and ending with Richard Hooker, we will explore the evolving perspectives within a church that described itself as both Protestant and catholic. Our goal will be to identify the distinctive positions and concerns of each of these authors from which the fabric of Anglican thought was woven. Before the first class, complete the readings for the first 3 sessions. Teaching methods: Lectures, discussions of primary and secondary texts. Means of evaluation: Class participation - 30%; leading a discussion - 30%; and final paper (15 or 25 pages, depending on level) - 40%

This course traces the development of Catholic Social Teaching and action from an historical and theological perspective. A Christian concept of justice will be explored within Biblical and theological contexts. Cultural developments that have impacted, and those that continue to influence, social thought, teaching and action within the Church will be discussed. The primary texts for the course are the social documents of the Church beginning with the Encyclical of Pope Leo X111, Rerum Novarum (1891) and continuing to the present day. Students will become familiar with the content of such documents and they will be encouraged to analyse the theological and social foundations upon which the documents have been developed. Key principles of Catholic Social Teaching will be introduced. The course will also explore the Christian call to justice and ways in which the social teachings of the Church can be integrated into personal spirituality and ministry. To facilitate such integration, examples will be highlighted from the lives of social activists within the Church. Teaching and learning methods will include, lecture, discussion, media and biographical analysis.