Previous Years' Course Catalogues

In the last forty years ethical issues aroundthe care and treatment of non-huma animals has steadily grown as a concern in theology. While for much of this time it was considered at best a "marginal" issue, it is now one of the major concerns in environmental ethics. This course will examine the major figures in the development of "animal theology" in Protestant and Catholic theology. It will also look back to Christian Scripture and classical figures in the Christian tradition, and raise questions as to whether, and if so to what extent, the development of "animal theology" is either a departure from Christian tradition and/or a development within it. Issues in the course will include issues such as intensive agriculture (factory farming), the genetic modificiation of animals, zoos, pet, vegetarianism and veganism, and a variety of other issues that arise from human interaction with or concern for the well-being of non-human animals.

A consecutive exegetical examination of the Gospel of Mark with discussion of critical issues in gospel studies. Prerequisite: Introduction to NT. Reading, commentary writing, participation.

A consecutive exegetical examination of the Gospel of Mark with discussion of critical issues in gospel studies. Prerequisite: Introduction to NT. Reading, commentary writing, participation.

This course will examine how the Bible has been read, interpreted and proclaimed by women beginning with the period of the early church and including the writings of medieval visionaries, renaissance exegetes and continuing into the modern and post-modern periods. Women's interpretations of the Bible will be examined with a view to recovering women's readings and counter readings of biblical texts and raising relevant methodological and hermeneutical questions for modern readers.

This course will examine how the Bible has been read, interpreted and proclaimed by women beginning with the period of the early church and including the writings of medieval visionaries, renaissance exegetes and continuing into the modern and post-modern periods. Women's interpretations of the Bible will be examined with a view to recovering women's readings and counter readings of biblical texts and raising relevant methodological and hermeneutical questions for modern readers.

This course will examine how the Bible has been read, interpreted and proclaimed by women beginning with the period of the early church and including the writings of medieval visionaries, renaissance exegetes and continuing into the modern and post-modern periods. Women's interpretations of the Bible will be examined with a view to recovering women's readings and counter readings of biblical texts and raising relevant methodological and hermeneutical questions for modern readers.

The course will combine historical research and theological reflection. It will explore how the event of the holocaust challenged and shaped some Christian theologians such as Johann Baptist Metz, Gregory Baum, Jon Sobrino etc. In particular it will explore how the suffering has become a new authority in developing a Christian spirituality of Justice and
Mercy.

The course will combine historical research and theological reflection. It will explore how the event of the holocaust challenged and shaped some Christian theologians such as Johann Baptist Metz, Gregory Baum, Jon Sobrino etc. In particular it will explore how the suffering has become a new authority in developing a Christian spirituality of Justice and
Mercy.

The class will develop further the exegetical skills of students through engagement with the Greek text of a New Testament book. By means of close reading of the text students will grow in their capacity to use Greek when interpreting the New Testament. Attention will be paid to textual criticism, translation issues, New Testament Greek syntax, and issues of historical, cultural, literary and theological context. The class will build students? ability to offer critically informed accounts of the meaning of New Testament texts in their first-century contexts, and increase students? understanding of the theological message of individual New Testament books and their contemporary implications.

The class will develop further the exegetical skills of students through engagement with the Greek text of a New Testament book. By means of close reading of the text students will grow in their capacity to use Greek when interpreting the New Testament. Attention will be paid to textual criticism, translation issues, New Testament Greek syntax, and issues of historical, cultural, literary and theological context. The class will build students? ability to offer critically informed accounts of the meaning of New Testament texts in their first-century contexts, and increase students? understanding of the theological message of individual New Testament books and their contemporary implications.

One of the most controversial issues in the Christian tradition has been its attitude to violence of all kinds. In particular, Christian attitudes to war and peace have been analyzed and debated by almost all major Christian theologians throughout history. This course will look at Christian attitudes to - and the theological and ethical bases for- war, peace, and revolution. The course will begin with Scripture, continue by examining the viewpoints of figures such as Augustine, Aquinas, Vitoria, Grotius, Calvin, Luther, among others, and also examine a variety of 20th and 21st century authors on the subject. Topics to be considered will include some of the following: just war, pacifism, realism, non-violence vs. non-resistance, revolution, civil war, peace-making, nuclear war, deterrence theories, total war doctrine, humanitarian intervention, and the responsibility to protect doctrine.

One of the most controversial issues in the Christian tradition has been its attitude to violence of all kinds. In particular, Christian attitudes to war and peace have been analyzed and debated by almost all major Christian theologians throughout history. This course will look at Christian attitudes to - and the theological and ethical bases for- war, peace, and revolution. The course will begin with Scripture, continue by examining the viewpoints of figures such as Augustine, Aquinas, Vitoria, Grotius, Calvin, Luther, among others, and also examine a variety of 20th and 21st century authors on the subject. Topics to be considered will include some of the following: just war, pacifism, realism, non-violence vs. non-resistance, revolution, civil war, peace-making, nuclear war, deterrence theories, total war doctrine, humanitarian intervention, and the responsibility to protect doctrine.