Course Timetable for Thursday: Fall of 2012

This introductory course explores Christianity’s formation and transformation from the post-apostolic era to the "Triumph of Orthodoxy" in the East and the Carolingian revival and Treaty of Verdun in the West in the year 843. Along the way, we will explore how Christians described their religious experience, practiced their faith, articulated and argued about their beliefs, and structured their ecclesial communities. We will learn about Christianity’s changing relationship to political power; its engagement with other religions and cultures; the lifestyles, theological mindsets, and models of community proposed and debated by Christian leaders; the political and theological challenges associated with the movement’s early marginalization, eventual expansion, encounter with Islam in the East and the "barbarians" in the West; and the formation of "Christian Europe."  Lecture, group discussions. Evaluation: practice quizzes, mid-term writing projects, choice of final exam or research paper.

For educators, ministry personnel, artists, administrators, teachers, who seek to integrate creativity in pastoral practice, the course will examine theories of creativity in order to explore the historical development of the concept as it influences cognition, learning and innovation. In addition we will study theories of play and the place of imagination in fostering spiritual formation and human development. Students with an interest in the arts are also welcome to participate in this seminar. Seminar format with literature review 30%, proposal 10%, research paper 50%, participation 10%. Fulfills requirement for Advanced CE in the MRE program at EC or a spirituality elective. Prerequisite: at least one course in worship, Bible or theology or permission by instructor.

An introduction to Patristic thought to 451 AD, surveying principal writers East and West. Detailed study of Athanasius On the Incarnation and The Tome of Leo. Lectures, readings, four short reports and a final oral examination.

Seminar designed to enlarge students' understanding of Paul, of scholarship on Paul, and the letter he wrote to the Galatians. This course is designed both to deepen knowledge about Paul, Pauline scholarship and Galatians; and to sharpen students' research abilities and to provide an opportunity to prepare a trial thesis proposal. Teaching methods include lectures and seminar leadership. Evaluation is based on class presentations and a final project.

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

In light of recent renewed interest in the meanings and mechanisms of empathy in such areas as ethics, visual studies, and the philosophy of the mind, this course examines the place and role of compassion in the development of the Western aesthetics tradition. Considering a range of art theoretical texts, literature, and images for which the theme of compassion has been thought able to account for certain of the emotional and cognitive links that exist between artwork and its audience.

This is a historical and topical survey of the origins and development of Islamic religious practices and mysticism. The course is primarily concerned with the growth of mystical tradition in Islam, the rise of asceticism, the early forms of personal piety that culminated into emphasis over mystical dimensions of Islamic religious experience and practice. The course will examine the rise of Sufi orders, the systematization of Sufi teaching and the evolution of theosophical dimensions of mysticism, and finally, the contribution of Sufism in the Islamic arts and literatures. Lectures, readings and class discussions. Annotated bibliography 15%, oral presentations 25%, project (research paper) 35%, project presentation 10% and class participation 5%.

An introduction to the four Gospels in their social, historical and theological settings. Using a "socio-literary" approach, we will study the Gospels within a two-dimensional framework, both centred on what the early Christians called the "gospel" or "Kerygma." One dimension has to do with social history — the origin and development of Christianity as a distinct social entity, from its foundations in the ministry of Jesus and the Easter experience, through its emergence as a Jewish renewal movement, and on to its development into a separate, largely Gentile, institutionalized religion. The second dimension has to do with literature — the process by which the Gospels came to be written, their literary form and texture, and their character as narrative versions of the "gospel." Tutorial from 10 - 11 am. Weekly lectures; assigned papers; final exam or integration paper.

This course aims to deepen awareness of personal, social, cultural, and religious dimensions of sexuality, especially as these affect selfhood and community, and to frame a constructive Christian sexual ethic. It will explore the meaning of sexuality as well as the requirements of sexual justice for church and wider publics. Challenges from various sources, including scripture, tradition, social and natural sciences, as well as pastoral practices arising out of social movements for personal, religious and communal well-being. Seminar discussion with some lectures. Additional reading and a bi-weekly extra seminar option. Evaluation: 2 Text Engagement Papers (2 X 15% = 30%); Class presentation (30%); Final project. (40%)

An introduction to the foundations and objective dimensions of Catholic moral theology. Among the topics to be studied are scripture, natural moral law, casuistry, relationship between faith and morality, magisterium, moral principles and norms, etc. Readings, lectures, discussions, short papers and final written exam; the course will also include a limited online component.

This course explores a range of proposals in contemporary ecclesiology across the eccumenical spectrum. Special attention will be given to questions surrounding the Church's concretely historical character, as in the ecclesiology of "practices" and its critics. Authors read may include Ratzinger, Jenson, Hauerwas, Cavanaugh, Radner and Healy. Seminar discussion; brief, bullet-point responses to the readings; 2500-word final paper.

Literature in classical and contemporary rhetoric and poetics with a view to more imaginative preaching. Lectures, seminars, essay, sermons, class presentation.

The course aims to provide a general knowledge of mediaeval church history (600 - 1500) presented in a text and by exercising critical reasoning through analysing 3 primary texts chosen by the student. The reality of the church's life shown by the clergy, laity and in its worship is made tangible through manuscript, artistic and architectural material from videos and Power Point presentations. Teaching methods: seminars, audiovisuals, lectures.

This course aims to deepen awareness of personal, social, cultural, and religious dimensions of sexuality, especially as these affect selfhood and community, and to frame a constructive Christian sexual ethic. It will explore the meaning of sexuality as well as the requirements of sexual justice for church and wider publics. Challenges from various sources, including scripture, tradition, social and natural sciences, as well as pastoral practices arising out of social movements for personal, religious and communal well-being. Seminar discussion with some lectures. Text engagement paper (25%); Class presentation (35%); final project (40%). Prerequisites: basic Bible, Theology, Ethics.

A survey of the religious traditions of ancient Israel as they are reflected in the diverse types of literature found in the First Testament, with emphasis on their historical development and their relevance for contemporary ministry. Topics to be considered include: Israelite origins, settlement of the land, social structures, the monarchy, prophecy, the exile and return. Weekly lectures and discussion, plus mandatory one-hour tutorial at 13:00-13:50 before each class (no tutorial for the first class); research papers, application paper, class participation.

This seminar will examine the role intersubjectivity plays in Hannah Arendt.

This course will offer scriptural, historical, and theological foundations to help liturgists understand and then lead worship in a Reformed setting.

This course will examine how the Bible has been read, interpreted and proclaimed by women beginning with the period of the early church and including the writings of medieval visionaries, renaissance exegetes and continuing into the modern and post-modern periods. Women's interpretations of the Bible will be examined with a view to recovering women's readings and counter readings of biblical texts & raising relevant methodological and hermeneutical questions for modern readers.Lectures, student presentations, small group discussions. Book report, presentation & final paper.

Examination of Augustine's writings against the Manichaeans, the Donatists, and the Pelagians. Discussion of weekly readings and a major paper.

A focused study of philosophers and representative texts in the early western philosophical tradition covering metaphysics, theory of knowledge, human nature, and ethics. Historical development of ideas from the pre-Socratics to Boethius. Lectures and discussion; short papers and essay.

Basic New Testament Greek grammar. During the first semester, students work through a large portion of the textbook, which introduces basic grammatical and syntactical elements of the language. In the second semester students complete the introductory grammar textbook, and begin reading in the Greek New Testament. Class participation, periodic tests, final exam.

The course will explore the multifaceted process of "Reading the Signs of the Times": the guidance of scripture, the teachings of the church, the historical lessons of reading and misreading the times, the insights of the artists, the wisdomof the crucified, etc. A major paper of 20-30 pages, topic to be arranged with professor (80%). Class participation (20%).

The course will begin with a discussion of the relationship between psychology and religion. It will then explore the relationship between religion and psychology -- history, methodology, research and application. It will review psychological theories and research on personality and their relationship to spirituality, religious behaviour, individual differences and abnormality, and review research on religious development. These findings will then be applied within the context of the social and organizational psychology of the church. Students will be asked to write several reports on assigned readings and a longer essay for the end of the term. A previous course in introductory psychology would be helpful but not essential.

The course will consider issues and documents that will help the student to develop an understanding of the ecological crisis as well as ethical and theological responses to it. Topics will include: the new cosmology; ecofeminism; the limitations of a human-centred ethics; issues of economic, social, and gender justice; and environmental-human health issues. Short papers; integration paper.

The practice of being an Anglican Deacon involves an understanding of Christian Ministry in its ancient and current expressions. Deacons as ordained ministers are called to focus the ministry of the whole community as this relates to the service and care of those in need. The role of deacons is to express the world to the church and the church to the world. The course will discuss the variety of ministries, social justice and the church, the liturgical role of deacons, the leadership and prophetic role of deacons in the parish/congregation, and the future growth of the diaconate. The relevance of this course to other denominations is based on the baptismal requirement of pursuing justice in the world. While the course is called "Practice", the course will also involve the theory and theology of the diaconate. Lectures, readings, discussions, written papers.

In the course I plan to bring forth the pre-Crusader descriptions of the Holy places by the pilgrim. Show the total change in sites because of Moslem restrictions on the Christians and bring, again the descriptions of the Holy Place by the pilgrim in the post-Crusader periods. Discuss the reason for the change and thus show how today the sites are venerated, and in case there is a dispute about their authenticity

The course will explore significant ways that Christians have thought about the arts, artistry and art culture in Eastern and Western Christendom. The course will compare the varieties of theologies of art that have emerged from within the Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions as well as consider what distinguishes a "theology" of art by investigating historical and contemporary conceptions of art and theology. The study will involve looking at paintings, icons, altarpieces, and socially and culturally engaged works of art as well as pertinent theological writings. Students will be evaluated on class participation, seminar presentations, and a research paper on an approved topic. The methodology used in the course will be a mix of lecture and class discussion on assigned readings. Class participation, 20%; seminar presentations, 30%; Major research paper, 50%.