Basic principles of reformed theology and their significance in current theological debate. Evaluation by assignment and paper.

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

Offers an overview of the principles, resources, and central themes of Christian theology - revelation, the doctrines of the Trinity, the person and work of Jesus Christ, and humanity in relation to God. Discussion paper, final exam, class participation.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of two central Christian doctrines - the Trinity and the person of Christ - as well as reflection on the role of Holy Scripture and the nature of theology. This is the first part of a two-part sequence in basic Christian doctrine. Lectures, tutorial discussions generated by students’ questions, question-and-answer period. Short papers, final take-home exam. Tutorial 10-11 a.m.

This course will search the foundations of modern culture philosophically, sociologically, and theologically. What are the challenges and opportunities for faith in our world? It involves discussing several classic texts in colloquium. Method of evaluation: participation in class discussion, a paper, participation in a debate, a précis of a reading, and a take-home exam.

This course is designed for new students, and acts as an introduction to a number of central pastoral responsibilities: teaching the faith to new Christians, grasping the overall shape and purpose of Christian theology, assessing and meeting the demands of local culture and context, engaging the character of conversion and formation, and finally, grasping an overall shape to the history of Christian witness. The course pursues the historical examination of key catechetical texts from the New Testament to the contemporary period, analyzes their content and purpose, locates them historically, and seeks to engage students’ own comprehensive vision of the Gospel, its communication, and pastoral practice. Lectures and weekly tutorials on the primary-source reading. Extensive reading, discussion, and mastering of content. Weekly content quizzes; 3 papers (6-10 pages each); final exam.

This course is an introduction to the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), the most influential Catholic theologian of the last millennium. No previous knowledge of Aquinas or of philosophy is presumed. We will start by looking at Aquinas’ program of remaking Christian theology in light of the best philosophy and science of his day; then we will examine his views on human action, human nature, human knowing and philosophical theology.  Lectures, discussion, short papers and final exam. On-line discussion, book review, 2,000 word paper.

Subjective dimensions of morality, conscience, freedom, responsibility, responsible human action, moral decision making, virtue. Lectures, discussions, readings, short reflection papers and exam. Prerequisite: Fundamental Christian Ethics I.

Consideration of themes in fundamental moral theology required for a comprehensive understanding of the moral subject. Topics include: conscience, character, virtues, prudence, probabilism, freedom and responsibility, role of Christian community and magisterial teaching, sin and conversion, ecological ethics. Short papers. Adult learning process. Offered in alternate years.

Basic principles of Christian ethics, with special attention to the pastoral application of moral theology. Case-study method used. Designed for Regis IFM students. Readings, lectures, seminar work, 3 short essays, final exam. Seminar work requires an additional one-hour commitment per week.

This course explores the activity of God from creation to new creation, with special emphasis on the Spirit's work in the Church. We also examine the image of God in the human person and the nature of sin. This course presupposes Systematic Theology I. Lectures, tutorial discussions generated by students

Mystery of the Triune God with its biblical sources and Patristic development, and an examination of the development of the understanding of the Immanent Trinity, with attention paid to particular issues, e.g. Filioque, notion of 'Person'. Also stressed is the development of a Trinitarian spirituality with some attention to the mystics. Lectures, mid-term test, end of term test.

This course examines selective themes and fundamental questions in Trinitarian Theology from a Catholic perspective as found in the New Testament, Ecumenical Councils, the Fathers and Scholastics, and to some extent, in modern times. This prepares the ground for making a few important inquiries in light of contemporary concerns from a systematic perspective.

Answering Jesus' question: "Who do people say I am?", course uses Old Testament expectations, New Testament data, Conciliar definitions and contemporary issues. Lectures, mid-term test, final exam.

Christian doctrine of creation; its scriptural foundation in Old and New Testaments; its difference from Greek philosophical theories; its history to present; its relation to evolution; contemporary theories. Man/woman: their nature and relationship to God and the world as understood in history of Christian thought. Monogenism vs. polygenism. The problem of evil, original sin and sin of the world. Lectures and discussion. Paper.

The new creation in Christ; God's universal salvific will, the mystery of Christian Justification, the new life in Christ within Church for the world. Eschatology. One midterm test, one mini-synthesis and a final oral examination.

The mystery of the Church as seen in the light of Vatican II. Her foundation in Christ in Scripture and history that gives rise to her structure, mission, and four Marks. Mary as the Mother of the Church and eschatological icon. One midterm test, one mini-synthesis and a final oral examination.

The mystery of the Church as seen in the light of Vatican II. Her foundation in Christ in Scripture and history that gives rise to her structure, mission, and four Marks. Mary as the Mother of the Church and eschatological icon. One midterm test, one mini-synthesis and a final oral examination. Preference given to St. Augustine

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 theological exploration of Church, Ministry and Sacraments from a Presbyterian perspective in dialogue with other traditions and contemporary expressions of the Christian movement. Assignment and Paper. Prerequisites: A basic introductory theology course. Knox M.Div. students need to have Ref. Theology in Dialogue.

Theological reflection on the sacramental life of the Church in the context or worship and education in sacramentality. Preference given to St. Augustine’s Seminary Diaconate Formation Diploma students.

A study of the primary texts of the Church's first five centuries from the perspective of Eastern Christians, to identify and apply the vision of God and persons forged by the early doctors of the Church. Close readings of primary texts. Research paper.

Exploration of the following themes in the light of Christian revelation: creation, community, body & soul, humanity as male and female, sin, grace, eschatology. Lectures, readings, presentations, final exam. Preference given to St. Augustine’s Seminary Diaconate Formation Diploma students.

This course is designed to introduce and guide reflection on morality and ethics from the perspective of African religion. An in-depth study of the rich heritage of African Religion with emphasis on how they continue to influence and mediate the experiences of contemporary Africans. The course centers on aspects of African Religion including afro-theism (God), ontology (human) and cosmology (nature). One 5-7 page reflection paper (30%); one 15-20 page research paper (50%); class participation (10%); class atttendance (10%).

The purpose of this course is to recognize themes and insights that are developed uniquely by Asian theologians, mainly from China, Japan, and Korea, such as C.S. Song, Kosuke Koyama, and Korean Minjung Theologians. This course will help non-Asian students to get some knowledge of Asian cultures and Asian indigenous religions, and Asian students to develop a theology based on their Asian heritages and experiences. Consequently, "Asian Theology" will help theological students to transcend Western parochialism and contribute to a development of Christian theology for the coming multicultural and pluralistic century we have been already embarked. The course will be in seminar format with lecture input, analysis of readings, student presentation and class discussion. Prerequisite: A basic introductory theology course.

An introduction for theology students to basic questions of nature, scope, and limits of knowledge. Central questions of belief, certainty and truth will also be investigated. Teaching Method: Lectures & Discussions. Means of Evaluation: 2 essays: each essay a 6 to 8 page critical evaluation of Philosophical problem. 1 two hour cumulative in class test (last class)N.B. Each is worth 33 1/3%

A philosophical examination of some fundamental topics in Christian metaphysics: creation, causality, the problem of evil, and freedom of the will. Readings taken from "classical" Christian theologians such as Augustine, Aquinas and Luther and also from contemporary sources. Lectures, discussions, short papers and final exam.

Investigation of the relationship between biography and theological reflection. Summary of foundations for such presuppositions rooted in Lonergan's claim that "objectivity is the fruit of authentic subjectivity." Also looks at paradigmatic examples from Christian history, e.g. St. Augustine. The life and thought of Thomas Merton will be emphasized and such personalities as Simone Weil, Catherine de Heuck-Doherty and Dorothy Day. Short paper, book review, biography project, class participation.

Introduction to existentialism through the works of Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre and Marcel. Topics include: the existence or non-existence of God and its implications for morality; subjectivity; individuality; and choice. Lectures, discussions, short papers, and final exam.

This course is an introduction to the content, methods, and practices of Christian ethics.  We (the Teaching Team) intend to provide students with an introduction to select key voices, in the recent past and present, in Christian ethics and to some tools for doing moral reflection/action with some attention to poverty and ecological destruction as moral issues.  We hope to encourage students to refine the ethical awareness that they bring to a variety of moral challenges, within their lives, within the churches, and within society.  Lectures, small group discussions; analysis of a moral argument; figure paper; final integrative project on wealth and poverty.  Prerequisites: Introductory Bible and Theology.

The primary goal of this course is to help us think critically and sensitively about Christian values, norms, and commitments in ways that preserve a Christian orientation while taking into account the non-Christian and pluralistic context of modern society. Such thinking will involve a dialectical process where universal principles, values, and norms will be examined with reference to the particular experiences and realities that constrain human action and interaction. The aim is not to structure a strict formalistic ethical framework but rather to canvall various ethical methodologies, religious and secular, as resources for ethical thinking and praxis. Method of Evaluation: Critical book response(s), one term paper; class participation.

For final year students, a comprehensive and synthetic review of Roman Catholic doctrine in Systematic Theology. Personal appropriation of the mysteries of faith as well as effective pastoral explanation and communication of these mysteries is also stressed. Seminar presentations and final oral exam. Contact professor for summer reading material.

A study of different perspectives on the Imago Dei and its implications for theological anthropology. Special attention to the contributions of theologians from both Eastern Orthodox and the West including Gregory of Nyssa, St. Augustine, Thomas a Kempis, Barth, Volf, Zizioulas, and Lossky. Seminar format. Reflection papers, final paper. Restricted to Wycliffe M.Div. Honours students.

This course invites the student to study the Scriptural sources and dogmatic development of the Church's Christological reflection. Students are helped to develop a systematic understanding of the person and work of Jesus Christ, leading to a personal and critical appropriation of the Christian tradition for pastoral leadership. Reading assignments, short papers, oral exam. Seminar work may require an additional one-hour commitment per week.

Critical assessment of the most important and formative theories with particular reference to those that have shaped reformed perspectives. Lectures and group discussion. Evaluation by essay. Prerequisites: A basic introductory theology course plus another theology course. Knox students should have completed Church, Ministry, Sacraments.

Will the universe be destroyed and discarded, or redeemed and transformed with God's consummation of all things? This course considers these and related questions by examining the biblical and philosophical foundations for Christian reflections on the beginning and end of the world; significant historical and contemporary theological contributions (e.g., early Christian apologists, Irenaeus, Augustine, Calvin, Barth, Moltmann, Pannenberg, Ruether, McFague); the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ; the influence of modern and postmodern scientific thought, ecological consciousness, and religious pluralism; and the role of apocalyptic thought in contemporary culture. Lectures, class discussion, required and recommended reading, mid-term and final paper. Prerequisite: two courses in systematic theology.

The course provides an exploration of how Christianity has understood the relationship among God, creation, humanity and spirituality, and how that understanding has contributed to the ecological challenges we currently face as well as can contribute to a helpful response. The course begins with an overview of our understanding of spirituality and creation during the patristic, medieval and reformation periods, then shifts to contemporary understandings drawing from current discussions of Christology, creation-centred spirituality, eco-feminism, deep ecology, and the healing of nature and the healing of self. Methods: Lectures, discussions. Evaluation: reflection paper, integration paper, class participation, practical integration

A course which explores the theological rationale of sacraments, with special attention given to Anglican perspectives on the nature of sacraments in general, as well as their relation to the life and mission of the Church. Students will engage the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist both as specific church practices and in their relation to one another. Students will be expected to read a range of representative authors and texts, both Anglican and non-Anglican. Lecture and seminar discussion. Four short discussion papers (or two extended essays). Final viva voce examination.

Study of the doctrine section of the United Church of Canada Basis of Union and other statements of faith; appreciative and critical discussion with the goal of contemporary/contextual theological expression. Recommended for students in their final (post-internship) year of studies. Small and large group discussion, required and recommended reading, five short papers and one final paper. Prerequisites: Old Testament I, New Testament I, Theology I or their equivalents, or permission of the instructor.

Taking into account recent paradigm shifts in the theology of mission, this course invites participants to consider the relationship of mission to biblical sources, culture and context, unity and diversity in the church, post-colonism and intercultural engagement, and especially religious pluralism. The goal is to foster critical theological reflection on how the church might best understand and embody its mission in a multifaceted and globalizing world situation today. Methodology: lecutres/discussions. Evaluations are based upon a mid-term paper, final research paper, and class participation. Prerequisite: Completion of first credit group or Level II.

This course surveys aspects of Christian thinking (not necessarily strictly theology) of the early modern period, concentrating on France, England, and representatives from other Western European countries. Lectures and readings focus on the question of (re)defining Christian identity, within several areas of religious concern: devotional life, epistemology, human history, and social relations. The course aims to provide students with first-hand knowledge of primary material that was either influential upon or typical of fundamental (though often conflictual) ways of construing Christian identity during this period and that have remained, in various guises, still a part of contemporary Christian outlooks. Course requirements include attendance at lectures and tutorials, the extensive assigned reading; 1-page weekly critical overviews, and the choice of a final exam or final paper.

A text based seminar examining Aquinas' theology of the Incarnation in the Summa Theologiae. Students will develop critical reading skills and familiarity with the grammatical, rhetorical and dialectical dimensions of Aquinas' systematics. Basic Degree: Short papers, reading assignments, major paper. Advanced degree: three shorter papers, classroom presentation, reading assignments, major research paper.

Theology of grace in representative Anglican theologians, including Thomas Cranmer, Richard Hooker, the Caroline Divines, the Tractarians, F.D. Maurice, Lux Mundi and William Temple. Prerequisite: introductory course in theology.

Inspiring and profound are terms often attributed to the theology of von Balthasar. Benedict XVI said of his work, "His theological reflection maintains intact, to this day, a profound timeliness and leads many to penetrate ever more into the profoundity of the mystery of faith". This course begins an exploration of his work. There is consideration of the Trilogy: Herrlichkeit, Theo-Drama and Theo-Logic; the influence of Ignatius Loyola and Adrienne von Speyr; and the place of Mary. Not a course for the faint-hearted, von Balthasar's work is at times dense and complex but the rewards are beyond price. Prerequisite: one year of theology, at least three theology courses.

Recent teaching of the Roman Catholic magisterium on war and peace, social teaching about justice, ecumenical dialogue, nonchristian religions, and women. This course provides an update on important new directions in Catholic magisterial teaching on these five topics. The course examines the varying authority of different magisterial documents and focuses on methods of interpretation. Auditors welcome. Lectures, discussions, paper, take-home exam.

Since Vatican II Catholic Christians have been encouraged to establish and sustain friendly and fruitful relationships with Jews. This course explores some major issues affecting the Christian-Jewish dialogue. They include anti-Judaism and the New Testament; Church Fathers; Christian persecution of Jews; theological issues such as the unity of God, anthropology, the Messiah, Torah; covenant theories; theological significance of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Jewish views on Jesus Christ and Christianity; Christian approaches to Judaism; official Roman Catholic-Jewish Dialogue. Method: required readings, lectures, seminars. Evaluation: participation, seminar leadership, short assignment, research paper.

This course of lectures will examine Luther's writings on the theology of the cross and on human freedom; and Calvin's writings on Scripture and the Christian life. Weekly readings; a final examination (oral or written).

Studies the documents and teachings of Vatican II. Brief overview of the historical background to the Council and to Councils in the life of the church. Seminars guide discussions based on close readings of the 16 documents with emphasis on the historical context and ecclesiological significance of each document. Seminar presentations; participation in analysis of the documents; integration paper.

An exploration of central issues in philosophy, as addressed by Herman Dooyeweerd, Dirk Vollenhoven, and the "Amsterdam School" of neo-Calvinian thought. The course tests the relevance of this tradition for recent developments in Western philosophy. Special attention is given to critiques of foundationalism, metaphysics, and modernity within reformational philosophy and other schools of thought.

Wittgenstein’s philosophy continues to generate enormous interest, and his name is frequently cited in connection with radical developments in theology and the philosophy of religion. Via an exploration of the different accounts of language and meaning he presents in both his early and later work, this course will focus on his thought as it relates to religious belief and commitment in particular.

This course will focus on two of Ricoeur’s essay collections, From Text to Action and Figuring the Sacred. Students will explore the general shape of Ricoeur’s heremeneutical phenomenology, including such themes as textual interpretation, action, explanation, understanding, ideology, and utopia. From there, the course will focus on Ricoeur’s thoughts concerning the disclosive force of religious texts in particular, including his understanding of the way Christian communities might best face the task of appropriating a textual heritage from which time has distanced them, and concerning which they may have lost a certain original naivety. Imagining the world with Ricoeur, we will discuss how his recommendations contribute to our effort to find meaning and inspiration amidst the crises and fragmentations that run through contemporary life. Course evaluation is weighted as follows: Class participation: 20%; Seminar Leadership: 30%; Paper: 50%.

This course will explore the uneasy relationship between deconstruction and politics. We will begin the course by familiarizing ourselves with Jacques Derrida's deconstuctive method, and continue by reading his work on issues of justice, law, cosmopolitanism, ethics, and the right to philosophy. The rest of the course will be spent engaging with various contemporaries of Derrida for whom his work in deconstruction and political philosophy has been important: Drucilla Cornell, Giorgio Agamben, Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe, Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari.

MTS Synthesis Paper

MTS Synthesis Paper

The course will explore significant ways that Christians have theologized the arts, artistry and art culture. The course will compare the varieties of theologies that have emerged from within the Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions. The study will involve looking at paintings, icons, altarpieces, and socially and culturally engaged works of art as well as pertinent theological writings. Format: lectures, readings and discussions. Evaluation: class participation, presentation and a final paper.

Investigating the faith/culture relationship from the perspective of worldview analysis, this course seeks to engender a cultural discernment rooted in a radical biblical faith. Lectures and seminars, reflection papers.

A variant reading of the Genesis story of creation and fall speaks of the process of humans’ maturing, becoming like God, in their knowledge of good and evil and capacities to act, and the implications–for good and ill–of their choices for all of creation.  This reading seems especially challenging today in the midst of debates about the direction and control of scientific research, the development of promising and frightening new technologies, conflicts over “globalization,” and growing gaps between rich and poor.  These debates are filled with images of God-like powers of discovery and invention, fantastic new technologies, medical miracles, unlimited progress, and a new golden era of affluence and ease; some even point to the emergence of humanly-engineered successor species and a transhuman or posthuman future.  At the same time, these debates are haunted with images of widening gaps in incomes and wealth, growing suffering, deepening turmoil and chaos, apocalypse.  Through seminars on significant debates about  knowledge explosions, new technologies, multiple and uneven globalization(s), and alternative futures, and re-readings of biblical texts, we will probe the specifically theological/spiritual dimensions of these debates, with special reference to images of “playing God,” de-creation and re-creation or Genesis II, transcendence through technology, and hope that “another world is possible.” Readings, class participation, short papers, and (for AD students) research paper - adult learning process.

The course will survey ethical issues encountered by both Christian leaders and leaders in Christian institutions as well as the styles and theories of leadership and models for effective decision-making that might be employed. The course will use a combination of lectures, discussions and student led seminars. Evaluation: participation, seminar presentation, case analysis, integration paper.

This course will begin with a summation of Biblical teaching about wealth and poverty, and the succeeding sessions will study diverse interpretations of that teaching in the history of Christian thought. Attention will be paid to the historical context of the theology under study, including contemporary ethical teaching and economic practice. The goals of the course will be to appreciate the paradoxical character of Biblical teaching on wealth and poverty, as well as the diverse ways in which theologies on wealth and poverty have reflected the impact of socio-economic change. The value of the study will be its assisting students to cope with 21st century challenges in its uneven regional and social distribution of wealth and poverty.

Basis of sexuality and marriage in a Christian context and selected issues in these fields. Readings, lectures, discussions, paper, final exam. Prerequisite: Fundamental Christian Ethics.

A critical survey of papal thought from Leo XIII's emphasis on workers' rights to John Paul II's focus on the broader theme of human rights. Reflection papers and book report, or major paper, exam. Prerequisite: Introductory course in moral theology.

Using contemporary articles from the biological and medical sciences, philosophical ethics, and magisterial teachings, the course will develop and apply critical thinking to contemporary issues in biomedical ethics including: issues pertaining to the creation of life (e.g., IV fertilization, reproductive technologies, surrogacy, stem cell research), the preservation of life (e.g., right to care, refusal of care, micro & macroallocation of limited resources, informed choice), and the end of life (e.g., euthanasia, allowing to die, elder neglect). Methods: lectures, discussions. Evaluation: response paper, integration paper, class participation.

The environmental crisis is a spiritual crisis. The social dialectic, that is, practicality/instrumentality in tension with the intersubjective component of community, has become a skewed global phenomenon primarily because of technological/communications, economic, and political realities, along with the consequences of massive human migration and environmental destruction. What are cultural values and ultimately, religious values, that can redirect the social order toward a renewed human community living harmoniously/authentically with earth and cosmos? The structure of converted ecological consciousness, incarnating cultural values informed by Transcendent value, can evoke a humble, blessed way of "walking on the earth." Teaching method: Lecture. Evaluation: Class participation, special topic presentation, final paper.

Readings in contemporary concerns in Roman Catholic sexual ethics and their systematic development. Permission of professor is required.

How is our agenda for theology related to our gender? Is ‘God’ a male word? Is the ‘Word made flesh’ a male God? Does the experience of women change how God is (made) known? Is sexuality embraced by the resurrection? Attentive to the work of feminist theologians and biblical scholars, we will attempt to develop an ‘embodied’ theology open to the biblical vision that God will be ‘all in all’.

Introduction to the theology of Karl Rahner. Attention to his place within Roman Catholic thought of his time. Special emphasis on his philosophical presuppositions and his understanding of revelation, human nature, grace, Christ, the Church, dogma, and ecumenical dialogue. Lectures, discussions, class presentations, short paper, final exam.

An overview of major developments in Protestant theology in the 19th century, emphasizing issues in Christology and soteriology, eschatology and theology of history, theology and social justice, and theology and science, and focusing on the work of theologians such as Horace Bushnell, F. D. Maurice, Albrecht Ritschl, Adolf Harnack, and Ernst Troeltsch. Lectures, discussion, student presentations and papers.

This seminar course will examine the following topics in Barth’s Church Dogmatics I/2 : Jesus Christ as the objective revelation of God, God’s time and human time, Jesus Christ as true God and true human, the virgin birth, the Holy Spirit as the subjective revelation of God, the abolition of religion, the life of the children of God. Weekly readings; class presentation; oral examination.

Central ideas in the Kierkegaard corpus and their relevance to contemporary theological and philosophical concerns. Introductory lecture, seminar discussion of readings, discussions, one major term paper.

Examination of resources and methods in theological work, focusing on hermeneutics as a strategic way of thinking about the role of texts and traditions in theological reflection. Emphasis on interpretation theories in conjunction with liberal, postliberal, and postmodern theological methodologies, particularly regarding issues of faith, authority, revelation, and religious pluralism. Lectures, discussions, student presentations, research paper.

Two concepts mark sites of contention in contemporary social theory: “globalization” and “democracy.” Whereas the first points to an incessant flow of capital and information technologies across national and cultural borders, the second suggests modes of participation that resist state or market imperatives. This seminar works toward a normative theory and critique of the current world order. 

This course explores philosophical method for a theology of beauty. It takes Balthasar's assessment of the loss of beauty as a philosophical and theological reality as a context to survey the implications and the conditions for its recovery. Issues such as the nature of beauty, aesthetic experience/perception, judgments, the beauty of God/Christ, and other cultural notions of beauty will be considered. It will also investigate Lonergan's philosophy as a basis for theological aesthetics.

The course will explore the nature of religious experience from the perspectives of psychology, recent evolutionary theory and theories of the emergence of the modern mind. We will explore the ways in which ancient peoples forged a 'consciousness contract' that allowed those individuals and groups whose facility for entering altered states of consciousness that gave them access to the world of spirits and god(s) also gave them enormous political and social power and authority. Drawing on research in neuropsychology and contemporary evolutionary psychology, the course will consider that religious experience is not a mere result of the pressures of the material environment but rather an interaction between neurobiological capacities and their interaction with culture. Moreover, it will be considered that the human capacity for religious experience, symbol formation, the manipulation of images and altered states of consciousness that shape religious beliefs and rituals have significant impact on human action in shaping the environment and forming culture. Writers studied will include, but not be limited to, the theories of religion and the mind as elaborated by Ludwig Feuerbach, Sigmund Freud, William James, David Lewis-Williams, Brian Hayden and Walter Burkert. We will also examine specific cases of the religious experiences of medieval Christian mystics.

Intercultural refers to mutually reciprocal relationships among and between cultures. This course explores postcolonial theories, theologies and ethics as critical resources for intercultural practices. We will investigate how culture is variously understood and emphasize questions of the politics of location; the power of difference; an ethics of ambiguity and perseverance; identity and knowledge formation in global, local and transnational contexts; living with complex difference, dislocation and connection; the negotiation of shared meanings through discourses of class, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexuality, and place; and, to keep our feet on the ground, what is at stake in Canadian discourses of multicultural and postcolonial discourses for becoming intercultural communities. In-class practice will include honing collegial skills of intellectual life based on comprehension of and critical engagement with texts and learning to be self-reflexive and to communicate one’s own stance in relation to others. Lectures, discussions, book review, presentation, and final research paper.

Focusing on recent interpretations of the moral theology of St. Thomas, the course will examine competing understandings of Aquinas’ ethics, both for understanding Aquinas’ account of morality in its historical context, and for drawing resources in order to address key issues in contemporary moral theology. Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.

This course invites the student to study the Scriptural sources and dogmatic development of the Church's Christological reflection. Students are helped to develop a systematic understanding of the person and work of Jesus Christ, leading to a personal and critical appropriation of the Christian tradition for pastoral leadership. Reading assignments, short papers, oral exam. Seminar work may require an additional one-hour commitment per week.

Theological perspectives and spiritual practices for integrating faith and the work for justice, peace and a healthy environment. Evaluation by essay.

Karl Rahner maintained that the theology of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius had yet to be fully explored. This research seminar will attempt to make some contribution to the task. There will be a detailed analysis of the text to identify the theological issues contained therein. The work of Karl Rahner and Hans Urs von Balthasar will provide additional commentary. Contemporary biblical scholarship, certain reinterpretations and the theological anthropology of John Paul II will provide relevant dialogue partners. Participation is by permission of the professor, preference will be given to those who have made the Spiritual Exercises.

A sampling of various modern approaches to communion ecclesiology in Western Christian and Eastern Orthodox theologians. History of communion ecclesiology and its relationship to ecumenism. Lectures, seminars, synthesis papers, research paper. Prerequisite: Two introductory courses in Theology.

This course surveys aspects of Christian thinking (not necessarily strictly theology) of the early modern period, concentrating on France, England, and representatives from other Western European countries. Lectures and readings focus on the question of (re)defining Christian identity, within several areas of religious concern: devotional life, epistemology, human history, and social relations. The course aims to provide students with first-hand knowledge of primary material that was either influential upon or typical of fundamental (though often conflictual) ways of construing Christian identity during this period and that have remained, in various guises, still a part of contemporary Christian outlooks. Course requirements include attendance at lectures and tutorials, the extensive assigned reading; 1-page weekly critical overviews, and the choice of a final exam or final paper.

A text based seminar examining Aquinas' theology of the Incarnation in the Summa Theologiae. Students will develop critical reading skills and familiarity with the grammatical, rhetorical and dialectical dimensions of Aquinas' systematics. Basic Degree: Short papers, reading assignments, major paper. Advanced degree: three shorter papers, classroom presentation, reading assignments, major research paper.

Inspiring and profound are terms often attributed to the theology of von Balthasar. Benedict XVI said of his work, "His theological reflection maintains intact, to this day, a profound timeliness and leads many to penetrate ever more into the profoundity of the mystery of faith". This course begins an exploration of his work. There is consideration of the Trilogy: Herrlichkeit, Theo-Drama and Theo-Logic; the influence of Ignatius Loyola and Adrienne von Speyr; and the place of Mary. Not a course for the faint-hearted, von Balthasar's work is at times dense and complex but the rewards are beyond price. Prerequisite: one year of theology, at least three theology courses.

Recent teaching of the Roman Catholic magisterium on war and peace, social teaching about justice, ecumenical dialogue, nonchristian religions, and women. This course provides an update on important new directions in Catholic magisterial teaching on these five topics. The course examines the varying authority of different magisterial documents and focuses on methods of interpretation. Auditors welcome. Lectures, discussions, paper, take-home exam.

This course of lectures will examine Luther's writings on the theology of the cross and on human freedom; and Calvin's writings on Scripture and the Christian life. Weekly readings; a final examination (oral or written).

This course explores theological reflection in relation to violence and peace, particularly in Christian traditions. Theories of violence and non-violence as well as case studies from the past and present will provide the means to investigate the ways faith-based claims justify or promote enmity and hostility and/or hospitality and peacemaking in Christian practice. Attention may be given to violence/peace in connection with theologies of revelation and atonement; justice/love; gender, race, ethnicity, class, and disability; Empire and globalization processes; interfaith relations with Jewish, Muslim, and Canadian Aboriginal communities; and the possibility of forgiveness and reconciliation. Lectures, discussions, journal exercises, book review, presentation, and final research paper.

The course evaluates the Ignatian contribution to comtemporary ecclesiology. Utilizing key texts it situates Ignatius' sense of "Church" and the Society of Jesus relationship to the Church. Explores key issues and potential problems faced by a twenty-first-century reader of Ignatius. Engagement with contemporary Jesuit theologians, and the writings of Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Ratzinger. Mid-term paper, research paper, oral exam, class participation.

Did God take a risk in creating the world? How are divine and human freedom related? Can we confess God’s sovereignty in the face of evil? This course will explore the different ways in which the God of history is viewed by advocates and critics of “Open Theism.” Our examination will stimulate our own reflections on how we might best understand and, indeed, image God’s love, knowledge and power.

This course explores the notion that subjectivity is not merely given but produced through an encounter with society, language and other selves. It explores the ethical and political consequences of this possibility. It examines the construction of ethnic, religious, racial, and gendered difference, the forces that have constituted them as ""other"" instead of the "same," and the consequences this has for the construction of the self and its obligations and responsibilities.

This course will explore current contributions to the field of feminist social thought. We will read from figures such as Gloria Anzaldu, Seyla Benhabib, Judith Butler, Nancy Fraser, and Chandra Mohanty on various ways of understanding the relationships between gendered identities and sociopolitical states of affairs.

The course will explore significant ways that Christians have theologized the arts, artistry and art culture. The course will compare the varieties of theologies that have emerged from within the Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions. The study will involve looking at paintings, icons, altarpieces, and socially and culturally engaged works of art as well as pertinent theological writings. Format: lectures, readings and discussions. Evaluation: class participation, presentation and a final paper.

A variant reading of the Genesis story of creation and fall speaks of the process of humans’ maturing, becoming like God, in their knowledge of good and evil and capacities to act, and the implications–for good and ill–of their choices for all of creation.  This reading seems especially challenging today in the midst of debates about the direction and control of scientific research, the development of promising and frightening new technologies, conflicts over “globalization,” and growing gaps between rich and poor.  These debates are filled with images of God-like powers of discovery and invention, fantastic new technologies, medical miracles, unlimited progress, and a new golden era of affluence and ease; some even point to the emergence of humanly-engineered successor species and a transhuman or posthuman future.  At the same time, these debates are haunted with images of widening gaps in incomes and wealth, growing suffering, deepening turmoil and chaos, apocalypse.  Through seminars on significant debates about  knowledge explosions, new technologies, multiple and uneven globalization(s), and alternative futures, and re-readings of biblical texts, we will probe the specifically theological/spiritual dimensions of these debates, with special reference to images of “playing God,” de-creation and re-creation or Genesis II, transcendence through technology, and hope that “another world is possible.” Readings, class participation, short papers, and (for AD students) research paper - adult learning process.

This course will begin with a summation of Biblical teaching about wealth and poverty, and the succeeding sessions will study diverse interpretations of that teaching in the history of Christian thought. Attention will be paid to the historical context of the theology under study, including contemporary ethical teaching and economic practice. The goals of the course will be to appreciate the paradoxical character of Biblical teaching on wealth and poverty, as well as the diverse ways in which theologies on wealth and poverty have reflected the impact of socio-economic change. The value of the study will be its assisting students to cope with 21st century challenges in its uneven regional and social distribution of wealth and poverty.

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.

An exploration of biblical textuality, its reconstruction in the form of western knowledge/power, and its role in the formation of existential meaning, through a guided reading of phenomenology, poststructuralism, feminist criticism, and postcolonial criticism. Seminar. 4 exploration papers, class participation.

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.

A review of all of the surviving works of Richard Hooker, often called the first theologian of Anglicanism, his Calvinism and reaction to Calvinism, his scholasticism, and his defence of the institutions of the Church of England. Seminars, short report and major paper. (Taught in alternate years)

This course examines four temporally and culturally distinct examples of Christian thinking about God, self and world. It takes up one ancient, one medieval, one modern and one "postmodern" thinker and compares how they frame their thinking with respect to their scholarly world and the pre- and post-Christian elements characteristic of it. It compares their respective attempts to speak of the problematics signaled by the terms God, self and world: a. knowledge as religious, b. self as simultaneously divine image and part of a world of creatures, c. the social world as the field within which God, self and world intersect.

Theological writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the context of his life: studies, teaching, World Council of Churches, Confessing Church, resistance to Hitler. Essay, take-home exam. Taught in Toronto.

Is beauty simply "in the eye of the beholder," or is it something more? Is it a way to God, a moral precept, or the specific locus for a unique kind of pleasure? This course examines a variety of subjective and objective views of beauty in the history of Western philosophy and theology from antiquity to the present (e.g. in the thought of Plato, Augustine, Aquinas, Kant, Weil, Barth, and Balthasar). It will also consider the implications of these views of beauty for the production of the visual arts, music, and literary culture in Western religion and society.

This seminar will examine philosophical texts that give a central place to spiritual exercises. The tradition of such exercises will be traced back to its roots in Hellenism and medieval Augustinianism via texts of Augustine, Anselm and Bonaventure. Thereby, participants take up anew ancient questions surrounding the forms of discourse appropriate to philosophy.

In the dramatic half century that followed the council of Nicaea in the fourth century, Athanasius rallied the theologians that sought a creative adhesion to the Nicene Creed. In doing this, he delved into the mystery of the Incarnation of the Lord and later on of the divinity of the Holy Spirit. In addition to this, he was instrumental in canalizing the momentum of monastic emergence into the Church, mainly through his “Life of Anthony.” The course will engage in a detailed and contextualized reading of his main works and their relevance for the theological enterprise. Discussions, presentations. One essay.

Although from the very beginning, Christianity appeared especially connected to the particular geography, it will only be with the Fourth century, that the “Holy Places” arose as such, becoming essential part of an emerging culture of pilgrimage. Jerusalem and the Holy Land gradually evolve into the epicenter of the Christian world. Liturgical practices of the Holy City and the Holy Land will develop into standard and normative as pilgrims from throughout the world return to their countries and establish there the usages of the “Holy Places”. This course explores the interaction of pilgrimage, liturgical, and spiritual life in Holy Land and their impact in the development of Early Christianity. Discussions, presentations. One essay.

Examines the Thomistic histories of philosophy of Gilson and MacIntyre, in terms of Aristotle's account of the history of "first philosophy" as it came to be commented by Thomas Aquinas. It examines the philosophical work to be done by studying philosophy's history in terms of what philosophers think is truly first about and within things.

A study of the life and works of major patristic authors who shaped and influenced the Eastern Christian tradition, including Ignatius, Irenaeus, Origen, Athanasius, John Chrysostom, the Cappadocians, Maximus the Confessor, Simeon the New Theologian, Nicholas Cabasilas, Gregory Palamas. Lectures-seminar, reflection papers, major paper.

Emphasis on the history of the iconoclastic controversy and ecumenical councils, especially for the development of Christology. Readings from Nicaea II, Theodore the Studite, John of Damascus and Theodore Abu Qurrah.

Iconography and spirituality. Church visit. Lectures-seminar, reflection papers, major paper. Prerequisite: Three courses from the Theological or Historical departments.

Introductory study of the Anglican communion as a worldwide form of Christianity; its history, key theological issues, worship, schools of thought, approaches to spirituality. 3 short papers. Interdisciplinary History and Theology.

The Bible has been used to support all kinds of perspectives with varying degrees of responsibility. This course looks at the  use of the Bible in theological arguments. It will examine how the  Bible is APPLIED in conciliar and other church documents, as well as in  statements by ecumenical groups, sermons, and film. Some attention will be given to the variety of interpretive  methods in the history of the Church, but the main focus is the use (and abuse) of the Bible in contemporary theological argumentation. Topics include, e.g., Eucharistic debates, Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, the role of women in the Church, and responses to war. Drawing on the rich variety of contemporary hermeneutical options, the  course aims to enrich students' exegetical skills and critical ability when making theological arguments and using church documents. The course is team-taught by a Lutheran professor of New Testament and a Catholic professor of theology. Lectures, discussions, short papers, final take-home exam.

Intensive analysis of structure, content and spirituality of the Ignatian Exercises as a background for general ministry of spiritual growth and ministry in the church. Lecture and discussion. Class participation and short papers. Intended primarily for those who seek to direct the Exercises. Permission of the instructor required.

An exploration of religious experience in various Hindu traditions, within the context of an overview of relevant beliefs and practices. Lecture, discussion, exam and critical reflection papers.

Explores biblical foundations, selected historical issues, current theological understandings of ministry as leadership in church and society. Considers such themes as discipleship, vocation, lay ecclesial identity, collaboration and responsibility in ministry. Lectures, discussion, seminar, presentation, essay.

A critical exploration of religious responses to suffering. Focal issues will include the relation of love and spiritual transformation to suffering, the role of religious models or exemplars of suffering, and religious experience and the problems of theodicy. Readings will include works by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Dorothee Soelle and Simone Weil, as well as other selections drawn from the Christian, Buddhist, and Jewish traditions. Lectures, discussion, critical reflection papers.