Previous Years' Course Catalogues

The New Testament texts are not the only extant Christian writings from the first through early second centuries. In addition to these texts, there is a body of literature known as the Apostolic Fathers, which includes such texts as 1 Clement, the Didache, the Letters of Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas. The earliest of these texts likely is older than the latest books found in the New Testament. Some even appeared in early versions of the New Testament canon. In this course, we will read the Apostolic Fathers as well as selected other texts from approximately the same time frame, and consider their place within both early Christianity and contemporary scholarship.

An in-depth study of the theological ethics of Stanley Hauerwas, covering some of his major theological and philosophical influences, main themes of his work, the development of his thought, and some of his key interlocutors. The bulk of the course will focus on his ‘fundamental moral theology,’ including questions of the goal of human life, the nature of human actions and problems of action description, the significance of vision, narrative, and virtue in the Christian life, the place of ethics in the Christian community as people of God, and questions concerning the church’s peace witness. The course will also spend some time at Hauerwas’ work in the area of theology and medicine, particularly addressing how his broader theological and ethical convictions inform his approach to medical ethics. Finally, the course will touch on Hauerwas’s place in and contributions to theology in its more “dogmatic” expressions, his relation to Barth and to postliberalism, and his reception in both the Protestant and Catholic worlds.

This course traces the history of the interpretation of the Bible from the time of the early church to the present. We will examine major figures and major forms of biblical interpretation and also give attention to a consideration of popular and forgotten voices.

This course traces the history of the interpretation of the Bible from the time of the early church to the present. We will examine major figures and major forms of biblical interpretation and also give attention to a consideration of popular and forgotten voices. The course will include lectures, small group discussions and presentations. Each student will do a class presentation and submit a final paper.

This course traces the history of the interpretation of the Bible from the time of the early church to the present. We will examine major figures and major forms of biblical interpretation and also give attention to a consideration of popular and forgotten voices.

Review of the debates of enculturation/ assimilation, inculturation, and multiculturalism, and proposal of intercultura!lty as alternative paradigm for constructive ethical and theological inquiry. This seminar format course draws from the multiple ethnic and cultural voices of Christianity, and attempts to create new intercultural spaces of ethical & theological reflection. Through exploration of key terms, themes, and authors, students will be challenged to develop and foster persona! skills in discerning the role their cultural background plays in their own religious tradition and theoethical ideas, as we!! as how it impacts their engagement of other cultural and religious traditions. Students wi!I develop key sensibilities toward greater intercultural competence.

This course explores the logical structure of moral awareness, moral thought and moral communication, and the role of Ethics as a reflective theological discipline in illuminating it.  Theses with which the class with le expected to engage include the relation of practical to theoretical reason, the self as agent, divine command and creation, moral knowledge, time and salvation history, moral law, deliberation and vocation, the operation of the Holy Spirit in the moral life, the foundational place of the virtues of faith, love and hope.

This course explores Christian Ethics as a discipline reflecting theologically upon the dynamic of moral thought, and uses the theological virtues of faith, love and hope as a prism through which to approach its material. The aim of the course is to enhance students' abilities in situating moral categories and argument within a theological context, drawing discerningly on resources in the tradition in moral enquiry, reflecting theologically upon the place of moral thinking in relation to the being
and work of God. Themes with which the class will engage include the self as agent, the nature of moral knowledge, the bearing of time, past, present and future, on the exercise of practical reason.

This course explores Christian Ethics as a discipline reflecting theologically upon the dynamic of moral thought, and uses the theological virtues of faith, love and hope as a prism through which to approach its material. The aim of the course is to enhance students' abilities in situating moral categories and argument within a theological context, drawing discerningly on resources in the tradition in moral enquiry, reflecting theologically upon the place of moral thinking in relation to the being and work of God. Themes with which the class will engage include the self as agent, the nature of moral knowledge, the bearing of time, past, present and future, on the exercise of practical reason.

The term 'hermeneutics' is an ancient, pre-philosophical Greek term concerned with the question of what it means to interpret any thing, person or event. With respect to interpreting biblical texts, hermeneutical theories construct, in different ways, the author, the reader, the nature of the text, and the relation of the text to the original context and the contemporary world. The purpose of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to explore the hermeneutic theories of Heidegger, Gadamer, Habermas, Ricoeur, Levinas, Derrida, Foucault, Deleuze and Guattari. This interdisciplinary course integrates aspects of biblical interpretation with the Continental and Poststructural philosophical traditions.

The term 'hermeneutics' is an ancient, pre-philosophical Greek term concerned with the question of what it means to interpret any thing, person or event. With respect to interpreting biblical texts, hermeneutical theories construct, in different ways, the author, the reader, the nature of the text, and the relation of the text to the original context and the contemporary world. The purpose of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to explore the hermeneutic theories of Heidegger, Gadamer, Habermas, Ricoeur, Levinas, Derrida, Foucault, Deleuze and Guattari. This interdisciplinary course integrates aspects of biblical interpretation with the Continental and Poststructural philosophical traditions.

The term 'hermeneutics' is an ancient, pre-philosophical Greek term concerned with the question of what it means to interpret any thing, person or event. With respect to interpreting biblical texts, hermeneutical theories construct, in different ways, the author, the reader, the nature of the text, and the relation of the text to the original context and the contemporary world. The purpose of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to explore the hermeneutic theories of Heidegger, Gadamer, Habermas, Ricoeur, Levinas, Derrida, Foucault, Deleuze and Guattari. This interdisciplinary course integrates aspects of biblical interpretation with the Continental and Poststructural philosophical traditions.