Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This course will look at the spiritual journey as it is depicted from scripture to the present day. It will examine texts from different religious traditions and cultures to explore the basic human understanding of a person as pilgrim. The course is of note: to those interested in (1) spirituality both theoretical and practical; (2) discernment; (3) cultural history; (4) narrative theology; (5) interdisciplinary studies. For BD students : papers and intelligent class participation. For AD students: papers, a major paper and intelligent class participation.

The course will explore in theory and practice various types of meditation and prayer of major religious traditions, including: Christian Lectio Divina, Recollection/Centering Prayer, Taize. and Quaker Worship; Buddhist Mindfulness/Insight meditation; Sufi Contemplation; Hindu Mantra meditation; and certain kinds of Yoga. It will outline and analyze the practices and goals of these types of prayer and meditation, with attention to: particular similarities and differences; their effects on the body, emotions and mind; and their relationship to other aspects of these religious traditions. It will attend to questions pertaining to the possible relevance of prayer and meditation to interreligious dialogue and comparative theology.

This course explores the nature of religious experience (spirituality) in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral signlficance of such comparative study.

This course explores the nature of religious experience (spirituality) in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral signlficance of such comparative study.

This course explores the nature of religious experience (spirituality) in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral signlficance of such comparative study.

Where was God when this happened?! How can religious people commit such atrocities?! What can a religious leader say after such a horrendous event?! This course explores such questions by analyzing theological responses to human tragedy and cultural shock. Discussion will attend to issues of theodicy, religious terrorism and natural disasters through the perspectives of systematic theology, ethics, and practical theology. The course focuses on popular reactions to the terrorist attacks on the USA in 2001, but includes attention to the First World War, the Holocaust, Hurricane Katrina, Fukushima, and contemporary terrorism. Attention will be given to themes such as the meaning of suffering, the function of religious discourse in the face of tragedy, the nature of ideology, and the relationship between religion and violence. The course concludes by moving from these analyses to an exploration of the peril and promise of speaking of God in times of terror.

Where was God when this happened?! How can religious people commit such atrocities?! What
can a religious leader say after such a horrendous event?! This course explores such questions
by analyzing theological responses to human tragedy and cultural shock. Discussion will attend
to issues of theodicy, religious terrorism and natural disasters through the perspectives of
systematic theology, ethics, and practical theology. The course focuses on popular reactions events like the Lisbon Earthquake, the First World War, the Holocaust, Fukushima, climate Change, Conspiracy Theory, and contemporary terrorism. Attention will be given to themes such as the meaning of suffering, the function of religious discourse in the face of tragedy, the nature of ideology, and the relationship between religion and violence. The course concludes by moving from these analyses to an exploration of the peril and promise of speaking of God in times of terror.

Where was God when this happened?! How can religious people commit such atrocities?! What can a religious leader say after such a horrendous event?! This course explores such questions by analyzing theological responses to human tragedy and cultural shock. Discussion will attend to issues of theodicy, religious terrorism and natural disasters through the perspectives of systematic theology, ethics, and practical theology. The course focuses on popular reactions to the terrorist attacks on the USA in 2001, but includes attention to the First World War, the Holocaust, Hurricane Katrina, Fukushima, and contemporary terrorism. Attention will be given to themes such as the meaning of suffering, the function of religious discourse in the face of tragedy, the nature of ideology, and the relationship between religion and violence. The course concludes by moving from these analyses to an exploration of the peril and promise of speaking of God in times of terror.

Where was God when this happened?! How can religious people commit such atrocities?! What can a religious leader say after such a horrendous event?! This course explores such questions by analyzing theological responses to human tragedy and cultural shock. Discussion will attend to issues of theodicy, religious terrorism and natural disasters through the perspectives of systematic theology, ethics, and practical theology. The course focuses on popular reactions to the terrorist attacks on the USA in 2001, but includes attention to the First World War, the Holocaust, Hurricane Katrina, Fukushima, and contemporary terrorism. Attention will be given to themes such as the meaning of suffering, the function of religious discourse in the face of tragedy, the nature of ideology, and the relationship between religion and violence. The course concludes by moving from these analyses to an exploration of the peril and promise of speaking of God in times of terror.

An examination of the theme of justice in the First Testament. Topics include the God of the Exodus, the Covenant, and the theme of justice in the various parts of the First Testament.

This course endeavours to acquaint students with the theology of the human person. It focuses on theological issues that bear upon such questions as “What does it mean to be a human being?”, “What is meant by the ‘image of God’?”, “How is the Person of God related to the personhood of human beings?” Students will probe the theological understanding of the human (explicit, and more commonly implicit) in fiction, poetry, drama, lyrics, film, and the social sciences.

A practical, interactive introduction to the pmiicularities of Christian preaching from the Old Testament. Special emphasis will be placed on biblical exegesis, hermeneutics, and preaching with sensitivity to the varied forms of OT literature-narrative, saga, law, prophetic oracles, wisdom material, etc. Students will exegete passages, prepare sermons (preaching twice), learn new skills and ideas and interact with the sermons of others, both peers and role models.