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

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 is an exploration of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) and an examination of his select writings. The course investigates the wider socio-political and theological contexts of Germany’s Weimar Republic, the ascendency of Hitler and Nazism, the Confessing Church, and the covert resistance to Hitler that Bonhoeffer later joined. The course also asks how these realities, together with Bonhoeffer’s writings, inform our 21st-Century North American context of Christian existence. Lectures, discussions. Seminar presentation, multiple choice exam, research paper.  This course counts as a designated elective in Theology or an open elective.

This course will explore key themes in recent discussions about the relationship between theology and the arts. Though some historical perspective on the place of the arts in the Christian church will be noted, the focus of our attention will be on the wide range of current conversations on arts and theology. Themes such as spirituality and art, liturgy and art, God and beauty, the place of imagination, and art as a resource for engaging issues of justice will be among the topics we consider. Though there will be a lecture component in the course, the classes will take the form of a seminar where assigned readings will serve as the context for our discussions.

The course will consider, in the Canadian context, how the influential Christian political theologies of the 20th century such as the Social Gospel, Christian socialism, liberation theology and their conservative counterpoints might inform a Christian political theology for the 21st century. We will examine how these theologies actually shaped 20th century Canada through the work and lives of such Christians as Tommy Douglas, Ted Scott, Pierre Trudeau, George Grant and others. We will also consider the political role of the Canadian churches.

An exploration of the biblical, historical, liturgical, spiritual, and theological perspectives on the Holy Spirit. This course provides an overview of the development of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. It also aims at highlighting the relevance and centrality of pneumatology in all areas of theology. Method: required readings, seminar discussions, lectures. Evaluation: participation, seminar leadership, short assignment, research paper.

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 engage the questions of interreligious dialogue and comparative theology on the theology on the theological issues of redemption and salvation by comparing the work of some key Christian thinkers with themes in Buddhism.  We will also engage comparative questions such as desire, imitation, prayer, mediation and responses to suffering and violence.  BD Evaluation; papers, book review, presentation, final synthesis paper and participation.  AD Evaluation: paper, presentations or research, participation, final research paper.

MTS Synthesis Paper

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.

Exploration in historical perspective of major themes in the Catholic Church's social doctrine by reading of magisterial documents in seminars. Relationship of ecclesiology and justice issues, and to crisis in contemporary Catholic social thought. Essay, participation, final exam.

This course will engage the O’Donovan’s corpus as a portal to perennial and contemporary questions in theology of culture and moral theology.  We will also engage critical readings of O’Donovan’s work.  Students will be encouraged to pursue research projects that tackle a specific theme in O’Donovan’s corpus, putting him in conversation with other contemporary thinkers from a range of traditions.

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 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.

This course explores the logical structure of moral awareness, moral thought and moral communication, and the role of Ethics as a reflective theological discipline in illuminating it. Theses with which the class with le expected to engage include the relation of practical to theoretical reason, the self as agent, divine command and creation, moral knowledge, time and salvation history, moral law, deliberation and vocation, the operation of the Holy Spirit in the moral life, the foundational place of the virtues of faith, love and hope.

This course explores the practical and theological intersections of suffering and hope. Drawing from the Scriptures, social sciences, constructive and pastoral theology and practice, we will consider ways to understand, recognize and practice hope in the context of the devastations and suffering in life. Far from dismissing suffering  in the face of hope, this course explores the hidden intersections and discontinuities between suffering and hope and seeks out a deeper ground for hope that does not flee or obscure the trauma, grief and injustice in life, but faces it head on in theology and practice. Lectures, readings, seminars. Reflection paper, book review presentation, case study, class participation, final paper.