Course Timetable for Friday: Winter of 2013

Advanced Homiletics is a one-semester course that follows Introduction to Homiletics. This course gives students an opportunity to develop a theology of preaching based on the discussions of the survey of the tradition of Catholic preaching in Introduction to Homiletics and through opportunities to preach. Students will employ those characteristics of outstanding preaching as determined in Introduction to Homiletics. This course also gives students an opportunity to develop critical peer and self-assessment skills. Lectures, online postings, preaching, presentations and papers.

This course is Part 2 of an introduction and overview to the issues and practices of community development, as practised locally and internationally. It continues to develop students' knowledge, attitudes and skills as required for effective local and global engagement. Contemporary issues and subjects are explored across the international development spectrum, as viewed through the patterns and lenses of several Christian perspectives. Students engage in an overview of possible approaches to theology and development, and review the sectoral, technical and thematic challenges faced by development facilitators in a range of settings. Evaluation includes papers, reflection, research participation and term project. Prerequisite: WYP1615HF (Poverty, Development & Transformation Part 1). Tutorial 9:30 - 11:30 on alternative Fridays.

How can the language of creation adequately reveal God if the God of Creation transcends creation? This perennial question has most often been approached within an analogical view of language which presupposes an onto/theological view of the God/world relationship. Attentive to the influence of the Great Chain of Being, we shall also examine whether there has ever been a visible alternative. Is it possible to see transcendence and immanence not as attributes of God and creation, respectively, but as facets of creation and thus creational revelation?

An introduction to the contemporary experience of religious diversity and pluralism as an ecclesiological issue, raising questions about nature and mission of the Church.  In the first major unit, we will briefly trace the historical background of this contemporary conversation, beginning with Biblical traditions and concluding with major positions in the theology of religions.  The second major unit takes up such topics as revelation, covenant and the reign of God in interreligious perspective.  Then, in the final unit, we will focus more narrowly upon the challenges of interreligious dialogue and comparative theology in the Catholic encounter with Hinduism.  The course will be conducted seminar style.  Essay assignments include an academic book review and a major research paper.  Although most course readings emerge from the context of post-Vatican II Catholicism, students will be welcome to explore comparable developments outside this tradition in their major papers.