From the subapostolic age to the "Triumph of Orthodoxy" in the East and the Carolingian revival and Treaty of Verdun in the West. Geographical expansion of the church; the relation of Christian faith to cultural settings and other religions; the development of doctrinal and ethical positions; forms of Christian life and worship; the rise of Islam. Class participation, one short essay, and two other academic exercises (choice of reading notes, short papers, weekly quizzes, final exam, etc.).

Development of Church and society in the Middle Ages; its development of thought and piety. Lectures, discussions, minor paper, major paper, final exam.

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 survey of Medieval and Reformation Theologies, from 843 to 1648. The Carolingian Revival and Monastic Schools; Anselm and Cur Deus Homo; Peter Lombard and the Cathedral Schools; Abailard and the Universities; the rediscovery of Aristotle; the Friars: Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, William of Occam; Gregory Palamas; the Reformation: Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer; the Synod of Dort; Richard Hooker; Second Scholasticism.

This introduction to Coptic Christianity will provide an overview of the history of the Coptic Church, its hierarchy, theology, spirituality and worship. It will survey selective periods of Coptic Civilization from the fourth century to the present time. A special focus will be on Coptic Monasticism, and the role of monasteries in preserving and transmitting the Coptic Orthodox Church tradition. Students will also be introduced to samples of literary and documentary sources revealing various aspects of the life of Copts under Islam. The methodology used in the course and the means of evaluation: Presence and in-class participation; two reflection papers; class oral presentation and term paper.

Sketches 4 major cultural challenges facing the Church, 1900-1960. Explores the official responses from the Magisterium, and a few individual attempts to find living solutions to these problems, leading up to Vatican II. Lectures/Seminar and readings. Class participation, weekly email questions, three short papers and final exam.

The background of the Reformation, especially in the late Middle Ages; the central figures of Erasmus, Luther, Calvin and Zwingli; the special circumstances of the English Reformation and the spiritual renewal of the Counter-Reformation. Readings, class discussion, critical book report, major essay, final exam.

An exploration of the roots of early Christian communities, the Constantinian era, church councils, cultural pluralism and Eastern churches, the investiture controversy, the medieval parish, conciliar development, early reform, and Protestant Reformers. Attendance and oral participation: 10%; Reading reports: 20%; Research essay: 40%; Open book exam: 30%.

This course is primarily for students from the holiness tradition. Students will be encouraged to study thoroughly the roots and developments of Korea Evangelical Holiness Church in Korea and abroad as well. Due to lack of text books available in English, only two books will be used as text books. Students will be required to read chapter by chapter of the books to understand the historical background and polity of the denomination. The course will be in seminar format with lecture input, analysis of readings, student presentation and class discussion. Evaluation: Short Reflection Papers 10%), Class Presentation, Final Reflection Paper (70%).

“One of the Trinity was crucified.” This theological statement of the sixth century reflects the core of Christian Faith. The present course explores the progressive comprehension of the mystery of Jesus the Christ and the Holy Trinity by analyzing early confessions -within or outside the canonical writings-, liturgical sources, acts of the martyrs, ascetical and mystical writings, synodal decisions, and theological reflection from the first six centuries. Lectures. Discussions, one essay.   

The development of Christology, pneumatology and Trinitarian theology in both Christian East and West to 1054 AD. Triadology's relationship to ecclesiology. Lectures, tutorials, reflection papers, research paper.

This course explores the context of the church union movement; the founding traditions (Methodism, Presbyterianism, Congregationalism, and the local union churches); the search for denominational "identity"; the challenges of the post-World War II era; and transitions in its theology, social teaching, congregational life, and organizational culture.  Class sessions are organized around reading assignments drawn mainly from primary sources, with occasional lectures to provide background.  Evaluation is based on informed participation, short mid-term papers, and a research paper. Prerequisite: History of Christianity I or permission of the instructor.

The scope of what was understood as “liturgy” in the middle ages went far beyond the bare words used in the Mass, daily prayer and baptism and descriptions of how the services were performed. It included knowing the names and functions of the grades of ordained clergy (which varied from place to place) and their dress, the design of churches, their furnishing and consecration, the calendar of the liturgical year and of course the nature of the music which accompanied the liturgy.
Teaching methods: lectures, DVDs of manuscripts, video, musical recordings.

This course will examinne the history of Christianity in the United States, within the context of how Christianity, the development of its theology, leadership, practice and expressions, have related to the cultural and public life of the nation. Lectures and discussions. Evaluation: informed participation in group discussions, both in-class and on-line, and a couple of writing assigments.

This seminar examines the notion of spiritual exercise as it evolved in Hellenic and Hellenistic philosophy to understand the emergence of ‘Christian philosophy’ as a cultural project within the Augustinian tradition that begins in Augustine’s own work and finds its medieval high point in Bonaventure.  It explores the effect on our understanding of philosophy, theology and their history of identifying as properly theoretical cognitive operations that do not have logical validity as their end and horizon.

Most people, when the subject of mediaeval liturgy is mentioned, think of the old service books which have the words spoken (sacramentaries, lectionaries, missals, breviaries) and descriptions of the action (ordos). There is another class of book entirely, the liturgical commentaries, which goes through the public services, explaining the elements they contain. They were also interested in the ministers of the liturgy, their orders and dress, in the structure of church and altar, in the calendar (temporal and sanctoral), and of course in the vexed question of how a priest computed the date of Easter (no diocesan journals in those days).
Teaching methods: shared reading of 4 commentaries with explanations by the instructor.

The role of religion in times of war and unrest: religious interpretations of conflict and violence, peace movements, and national identity in times of crisis. Responsible participation, mid-term written assignment, research paper.

“One of the Trinity was crucified.” This theological statement of the sixth century reflects the core of Christian Faith. The present course explores the progressive comprehension of the mystery of Jesus the Christ and the Holy Trinity by analyzing early confessions -within or outside the canonical writings-, liturgical sources, acts of the martyrs, ascetical and mystical writings, synodal decisions, and theological reflection from the first six centuries. Lectures. Discussions, one essay.   

The development of Christology, pneumatology and Trinitarian theology in both Christian East and West to 1054 AD. Triadology's relationship to ecclesiology. Lectures, tutorials, reflection papers, research 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.

Canada is a nation of immigrants, and the Canadian religions are the religions of immigrants. The waves of religious immigrants will be studied including 17C French, 18C Irish and Scottish, 19C German, Polish, Jewish, and Ukrainian immigrants; 20C English, Italian, and Portuguese to the more recent Caribbean, Filipino, Chinese, Tamils, Vietnamese, and Korean religionists. The attitudes of Euro-Canadians will be examined as they progress from Anglo-Celtic Calvinism to Canadian secular multiculturalism. The techniques of archival research, historical analysis, and historiography will be explored. Seminar presentation and research paper. Class Presentation 30%; Research Essay 40%; Collaborative Recapitulation (open book exam) 30%.

Development of teaching ministry of the Church from New Testament times to present. Special attention to various forms of teaching as they emerged in particular historical contexts and to their relationship with other ministries of the church for perspective on current situation.  Lectures, readings, reflection paper (20%), seminar leadership (30%),  final project or essay (50%).

This course will study the documents of the Second Vatican Council with a view to understanding their theological foundations, their histroical context and development, and their pastoral implications for today's church. One book report, total 20%;  one discussion facilitation, total 10%;  one document analysis paper, total 30%;  one disputed issue paper, total 40%.

A careful study of a book of the Summa contra Gentiles, where Aquinas explores Christian doctrines as an exercise in personally appropriating divine wisdom. The course teaches a method of close textual reading, and will interest students seeking an accessible introduction to Aquinas, those seeking an overall view of his methodology, and those preparing comprehensive exams in theology. Lectures and seminars. Assignments for 3551: 2 short papers, 2 learning reports, final take home exam. Assignments for 6551: 2 short papers, preparing and giving a 1 hour lecture, final exegetical essay.

Exploration of figures and movements in Protestant Theology during the 20th century: Troeltsch, Neo-Orthodoxy (Barth, Brunner), Bonhoeffer, Bultmann, Tillich, the Niebuhrs, Political/Liberation (Moltmann, Metz, Gutierrez), Process (Cobb, Suchocki), Feminist/Womanist (Russell, McFague, Williams), Black (Cone), Asian (Pieris, Song), Postmodern and Postliberal Theologies. Lectures, discussions, student presentations, and research paper.

This course studies the main theological movements and some of the major Roman Catholic theologians of the twentieth century leading up to the Second Vatican Council. The focus will be on the nineteenth century notion of development in theology (Möhler, Scheeben), Modernism (Tyrrell, Loisy, Petre) and La nouvelle théologie (de Lubac, Congar, Rahner, Schillebeeckx, etc.). Attention will be given throughout the course to other influential renewal movements of the twentieth century (Biblical, Liturgical, Lay, Social Action, Missionary and Ecumenical) especially as they helped to prepare the way for Vatican II. Lectures and seminars. Students will be evaluated based on active and informed class participation and three shorter summary papers. Advanced Degree students, in addition to additional readings, will be required to write a longer final paper and facilitate one seminar presentation.