Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This introductory course surveys the history of atheism and secularization from the mid-eighteenth-century Western European Enlightenment to the present. We will not only read selections from some of the most important English, Scottish, German, and American atheists, agnostics, and rationalists of the period, but also examine and discuss how contemporary political and social thought contributed to the rise of secular thought and gradual decline in theological orthodoxy. The course will demonstrate how the writings of atheists and theological rationalists have always been predicated on significant intellectual and emotional tensions between orthodox Christianity and contemporary culture. Participation, research summary, book report, online final exam.

This introductory course surveys the history of atheism and secularization from the mid-eighteenth-century Western European Enlightenment to the present. We will not only read selections from some of the most important English, Scottish, German, and American atheists, agnostics, and rationalists of the period, but also examine and discuss how contemporary political and social thought contributed to the rise of secular thought and gradual decline in theological orthodoxy. The course will demonstrate how the writings of atheists and theological rationalists have always been predicated on significant intellectual and emotional tensions between orthodox Christianity and contemporary culture. Participation, research summary, book report, online final exam

This introductory course surveys the history of atheism and secularization from the mid-eighteenth-century Western European Enlightenment to the present. We will not only read selections from some of the most important English, Scottish, German, and American atheists, agnostics, and rationalists of the period, but also examine and discuss how contemporary political and social thought contributed to the rise of secular thought and gradual decline in theological orthodoxy. The course will demonstrate how the writings of atheists and theological rationalists have always been predicated on significant intellectual and emotional tensions between orthodox Christianity and contemporary culture.

This introductory course surveys the history of atheism and secularization from the mid-eighteenth-century Western European Enlightenment to the present. We will not only read selections from some of the most important English, Scottish, German, and American atheists, agnostics, and rationalists of the period, but also examine and discuss how contemporary political and social thought contributed to the rise of secular thought and gradual decline in theological orthodoxy. The course will demonstrate how the writings of atheists and theological rationalists have always been predicated on significant intellectual and emotional tensions between orthodox Christianity and contemporary culture.

This introductory course surveys the history of atheism and secularization from the mid-eighteenth-century Western European Enlightenment to the present. We will not only read selections from some of the most important English, Scottish, German, and American atheists, agnostics, and rationalists of the period, but also examine and discuss how contemporary political and social thought contributed to the rise of secular thought and gradual decline in theological orthodoxy. The course will demonstrate how the writings of atheists and theological rationalists have always been predicated on significant intellectual and emotional tensions between orthodox Christianity and contemporary culture.

An Apologist is a person who defends someone or something. During the social and religious upheaval of the twentieth century, a group of popular writers living in England became Apologists for Christianity, and used a combined approach of intellect, matter-of-factness, and humour to promote their beliefs. In this course, we will look at selected writings from some Christian Apologists of the twentieth century, as well as their detractors, and we will discuss the need for Christian Apologetics in the twenty-first century, and the ways we define our own faith.

An interactive investigation of the biblical Book of Psalms, with special emphasis on how the Psalms have been, and can be, applied to the devotional life of a Christian. The course will consider the psalms in their historical and canonical context. It will consider also the role of the Psalms in the devotional life of the canonical King David, Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and selected Christian men (incl. Martin Luther) and women throughout the ages. Particular attention will be given to the issue of how best in light of contemporary scholarship to apply the Psalms faithfully and reasonably to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Quizzes, rhetorical study, reading summaries, and discussion.

An interactive investigation of the biblical Book of Psalms, with special emphasis on how the Psalms have been, and can be, applied to the devotional life of a Christian. The course will consider the psalms in their historical and canonical context. It will consider also the role of the Psalms in the devotional life of the canonical King David, Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and selected Christian men (incl. Martin Luther) and women throughout the ages. Particular attention will be given to the issue of how best in light of contemporary scholarship to apply the Psalms faithfully and reasonably to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Quizzes, rhetorical study, reading summaries, and discussion.

An interactive investigation of the biblical Book of Psalms, with special emphasis on how the Psalms have been, and can be, applied to the devotional life of a Christian. The course will consider the psalms in their historical and canonical context. It will consider also the role of the Psalms in the devotional life of the canonical King David, Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and selected Christian men (incl. Martin Luther) and women throughout the ages. Particular attention will be given to the issue of how best in light of contemporary scholarship to apply the Psalms faithfully and reasonably to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Quizzes, rhetorical study, reading summaries, and discussion.

The Psalter can be viewed as a distillation of Israel's history, spirituality, liturgy, wisdom, Torah and messianic hopes. This course will examine some of the key elements of Hebrew poetry exemplified by the Psalms. In the study of the Psalms according to their literary forms or genres, their unique poetic and thematic features will be highlighted. Some consideration will be given to thematic groupings of Psalms such as Creation Psalms and Penitential Psalms. The spirituality of the Psalms will be explored both through Patristic literature and modern authors. This course will consider the messianic and Christological reading of the Psalms.

The Psalter can be viewed as a distillation of Israel’s history, spirituality, liturgy, wisdom, Torah and messianic hopes.  This course will examine some of the key elements of Hebrew poetry exemplified by the Psalms.  In the study of the Psalms according to their literary forms or genres, their unique poetic and thematic features will be highlighted.  Some consideration will be given to thematic groupings of Psalms such as Creation Psalms and Penitential Psalms.  The spirituality of the Psalms will be explored both through Patristic literature and modern authors.  This course will consider the messianic and Christological reading of the Psalms.  Pre-requisite: Introduction to the Old Testament.

The Psalter can be viewed as a distillation of Israel's history, spirituality, liturgy, wisdom, Torah and messianic hopes. This course will examine some of the key elements of Hebrew poetry exemplified by the Psalms. In the study of the Psalms according to their literary forms or genres, their unique poetic and thematic features will be highlighted. Some consideration will be given to thematic groupings of Psalms such as Creation Psalms and Penitential Psalms. The spirituality of the Psalms will be explored both through Patristic literature and modern authors. This course will consider the messianic and Christological reading of the Psalms.