Previous Years' Course Catalogues

Trends, key questions, and methods of research for advanced theological studies in biblical, historical, pastoral and systematic theology (including ethics). Bibliographic tools, electronic resources. Lectures and seminars. Required of all MA students. Readings, reaction papers, library/bibliographic assignment, short research paper.

This course explores the distinctive contents, methods, and interests of traditional theological disciplines (biblical studies, church history, pastoral and systematic theology and ethics) as well as their interrelationships: What does each subdiscipline count as evidence?; How does it construct knowledge?; What cognate disciplines might extend its insights?; How does it engage the challenges, fears, and hope for the "globalized" world of the 21st century? Students will explore the task of theological research and writing through all its steps. Attention will be given to the use of scholarly research software and bibliographic tools, identification of appropriate methodology, and the value of interdisciplinarity. Lectures and seminars. Required of all MA students.

This course explores the distinctive contents, methods, and  interests of traditional theological disciplines (biblical studies, church history, pastoral and systematic theology and ethics) as well as their interrelationships: What does each subdiscipline count as evidence?; How does it construct knowledge?; What cognate disciplines might extend its insights?; How does it engage the challenges, fears, and hope for the "globalized" world of the 21st century? Students will explore the task of theological research and writing through all its steps. Attention will be given to the use of scholarly research software and bibliographic tools, identification of appropriate methodology, and the value of interdisciplinarity. Lectures and seminars.  Required of all MA students.

This course explores the distinctive contents, methods, and interests of traditional theological disciplines (biblical studies, church history, pastoral and systematic theology and ethics) as well as their interrelationships: What does each subdiscipline count as evidence?; How does it construct knowledge?; What cognate disciplines might extend its insights?; How does it engage the challenges, fears, and hope for the "globalized" world of the 21st century? Students will explore the task of theological research and writing through all its steps. Attention will be given to the use of scholarly research software and bibliographic tools, identification of appropriate methodology, and the value of interdisciplinarity.

Christian thought and practice cannot be understood apart from Christian institutions. This course will consider a range of methodological and empirical matters related to Christianity's earliest institutional forms, and how such considerations are to be situated in relation to both theology and the social sciences. Special attention will be directed towards the Jewish origins of Christian institutions, especially the foundational role of the synagogue.

This course examines the effects of historical consciousness on the understanding of dogma within Roman Catholic theology in the 19th and 20th centuries between Vatican I and Vatican II. Students will study the origins of neescholasticism and its development in the 19th century, Catholic modernism and the responses to it, as well as theories of development. Readings will include: Adolf von Harnack; Alfred Leisy; George Tyrrell; Friedrich von Hugel; Karl Rahner; and others.

This course examines the effects of historical consciousness on the understanding of dogma within Roman Catholic theology in the 19th and 20th centuries between Vatican I and Vatican II. Students will study the origins of neescholasticism and its development in the 19th century, Catholic modernism and the responses to it, as well as theories of development. Readings will include: Adolf von Harnack; Alfred Leisy; George Tyrrell; Friedrich von Hugel; Karl Rahner; and others.

This course examines the effects of historical consciousness on the understanding of dogma within Roman Catholic theology in the 19th and 20th centuries between Vatican I and Vatican II. Students will study the origins of neescholasticism and its development in the 19th century, Catholic modernism and the responses to it, as well as theories of development. Readings will include: Adolf von Harnack; Alfred Leisy; George Tyrrell; Friedrich von Hugel; Karl Rahner; and others.

Both Karl Rahner and Bernard Lonergan devote much study to the role of philosophy in theology. Moreover, both are influenced importantly in this effort by the modern interpretation of Thomas Aquinas developed earlier by Belgian philosopher and mystical psychologist Joseph Maréchal. However, besides some obvious similarities in what they take from Maréchal, there also are certain crucial (if often unnoticed) differences. This course investigates these crucial philosophical differences and how they influence the basic theological perspectives of Rahner and Lonergan. Special attention will be given to their differing theological accounts of religious experience, Jesus’ human knowledge, and the role of the psychological analogy in Trinitarian theology.
 

Theological disagreements on particular moral issues often reflect underlying but unnoticed differences on the more general question of how a theologian properly makes any moral judgment. This course draws on the writings of Bernard Lonergan to explore both (i) that more general question and (ii) current theological disagreements on two particular issues of sexual morality, namely, contraceptive acts and homosexual acts. Previous familiarity with Lonergan's work is helpful but not required. Readings include selections from Lonergan's writings and Vatican documents. Weekly discussion preparation and participation, four one-page reflections, final paper, and take-home exam.

Theological disagreements on particular moral issues often reflect underlying but unnoticed differences on the more general question of how a theologian properly makes any moral judgment. This course draws on the writings of Bernard Lonergan to explore both (i) that more general question and (ii) current theological disagreements on two particular issues of sexual morality, namely, contraceptive acts and homosexual acts. Previous familiarity with Lonergan's work is helpful but not required. Readings include selections from Lonergan's writings and Vatican documents.

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