Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This is a historical and topical survey of the origins and development of Islamic religious practices and mysticism. The course is primarily concerned with the growth of mystical tradition in Islam, the rise of asceticism, the early forms of personal piety that culminated into emphasis over mystical dimensions of Islamic religious experience and practice. The course will examine the rise of Sufi orders, the systematization of Sufi teaching and the evolution of theosophical dimensions of mysticism, and finally, the contribution of Sufism in the Islamic arts and literatures. Lectures, readings and class discussions. Annotated bibliography 15%, oral presentations 25%, project (research paper) 35%, project presentation 10% and class participation 5%.

The Acts of the Apostles is our main source of information about the first Christian decades. It covers the movement's initial efforts to regroup following the death of Jesus, as well as its earliest expansion into the Mediterranean world beyond Judea. In this course, we will read through the Acts and reflect upon both what it tells us about Christian origins and also its continuing relevance for contemporary Christianity.

The Acts of the Apostles is our main source of information about the first Christian decades. It covers the movement's initial efforts to regroup following the death of Jesus, as well as its earliest expansion into the Mediterranean world beyond Judea. In this course, we will read through the Acts and reflect upon both what it tells us about Christian origins and also its continuing relevance for contemporary Christianity.

The Acts of the Apostles is our main source of information about the first Christian decades. It covers the movement's
initial efforts to regroup following the death of Jesus, as well as its earliest expansion into the Mediterranean world beyond Judea. In this course, we will read through the Acts and reflect upon both what it tells us about Christian origins and also its continuing relevance for contemporary Christianity.

The Acts of the Apostles is our main source of information about the first Christian decades. It covers the movement's initial efforts to regroup following the death of Jesus, as well as its earliest expansion into the Mediterranean world beyond Judea. In this course, we will read through the Acts and reflect upon both what it tells us about Christian origins and also its continuing relevance for contemporary Christianity.

This course will focus on the changing demographics in World Christianity , and some of the exciting and challenging currents in the emerging patterns of Christian identities locally and globally. Some of the currents which will be considered are: new voices in Christianity (African, Asian, Migrant and Latino), religious pluralism, Pentecostalism, inculturation, new spiritualities, and changing context of pastoral ministries. The course will engage some of the significant voices in these areas. The goal of the course is to help students to enter into dialogue with some significant currents in World Christianity and develop an inter-cultural hermeneutics needed for the theological border-crossing in the theological academy, in pastoral settings and other publics of theology in a changing world.

This course studies the contemporary ecumenical and interreligious movements from a Roman Catholic perspective. It offers an historical and theological overview of the issues that divide Christians as well as the bonds that unite them. It also explores relations
with other religious traditions. The course is in English and held in Rome at the " Centro Pro Unione" . Students will travel to Rome, participate fully in the lectures, seminars, workshops and excursions organized by the Centro's faculty.

This course studies the contemporary ecumenical and interreligious movements from a Roman Catholic perspective. It offers an historical and theological overview of the issues that divide Christians as well as the bonds that unite them. It also explores relations with other religious traditions. The course is in English and held in Rome at the " Centro Pro Unione" . Students will travel to Rome, participate fully in the lectures, seminars, workshops and excursions organized by the Centro's faculty.

Theological Interpretation" is a contemporary catch-phrase for an approach to scriptural interpretation that stands in general contrast to historical-critical approaches. Less a method in its own right than a set of (not necessarily uniform) values with respect to reading Scripture, theological interpretation has often been seen as a protest movement against the exclusive hold of historical-criticism on Christian reading of the Bible .. It has variously emphasized ecclesial and doctrinal contexts or referents for interpreting the Scriptural text, and has made use of several traditional methods of exegesis, including typology, figure, and sacrament in addition to historical criticism. Behind the application of these methods are a range of theological presuppositions about the nature of God and divine revelation in Christ. This course seeks to sort out some of the background and meanings associated with the broad movement called "theological interpretation", by looking at some theoretical and historical discussions. More importantly, the course will engage actual practice of theological interpretation, examining different approaches to a given Scriptural text, in order to gauge continuities and discontinuities among theological interpreters, to evaluate critically their approaches, and finally to help students develop a clear theological understanding of the nature and presuppositions of faithful Scriptural interpretation.

Theological Interpretation" is a contemporary catch-phrase for an approach to scriptural interpretation that stands in general contrast to historical-critical approaches. Less a method in its own right than a set of (not necessarily uniform) values with respect to reading Scripture, theological interpretation has often been seen as a protest movement against the exclusive hold of historical-criticism on Christian reading of the Bible .. It has variously emphasized ecclesial and doctrinal contexts or referents for interpreting the Scriptural text, and has made use of several traditional methods of exegesis, including typology, figure, and sacrament in addition to historical criticism. Behind the application of these methods are a range of theological presuppositions about the nature of God and divine revelation in Christ. This course seeks to sort out some of the background and meanings associated with the broad movement called "theological interpretation", by looking at some theoretical and historical discussions. More importantly, the course will engage actual practice of theological interpretation, examining different approaches to a given Scriptural text, in order to gauge continuities and discontinuities among theological interpreters, to evaluate critically their approaches, and finally to help students develop a clear theological understanding of the nature and presuppositions of faithful Scriptural interpretation

Theological Interpretation" is a contemporary catch-phrase for an approach to scriptural interpretation that stands in general contrast to historical-critical approaches. Less a method in its own right than a set of (not necessarily uniform) values with respect to reading Scripture, theological interpretation has often been seen as a protest movement against the exclusive hold of historical-criticism on Christian reading of the Bible .. It has variously emphasized ecclesial and doctrinal contexts or referents for interpreting the Scriptural text, and has made use of several traditional methods of exegesis, including typology, figure, and sacrament in addition to historical criticism. Behind the application of these methods are a range of theological presuppositions about the nature of God and divine revelation in Christ. This course seeks to sort out some of the background and meanings associated with the broad movement called "theological interpretation", by looking at some theoretical and historical discussions. More importantly, the course will engage actual practice of theological interpretation, examining different approaches to a given Scriptural text, in order to gauge continuities and discontinuities among theological interpreters, to evaluate critically their approaches, and finally to help students develop a clear theological understanding of the nature and presuppositions of faithful Scriptural interpretation.

This course is an introduction to Islamic spirituality with a focus on Sufism, often referred to as the “mystical” tradition of Islam. It offers a historical and topical survey of the tradition’s foundational beliefs, practices, and variegated expressions. The course will examine the rise of Sufi orders, the systematization of Sufi teaching and the evolution of theosophical dimensions of Sufism, and finally, the contribution of Sufism in the Islamic arts and literatures. A main concern is to foster an understanding of some of the stations and states experienced by the wayfarer on the spiritual path, as reflected in Sufi writings. Students will have the opportunity to peruse a variety of Sufi texts in translation from different cultural and linguistic zones.