Course Catalogue 2024-2025

A treatment of the biography of Augustine as Latin speaking African in a commercial family in late fourth century Western Roman Empire. His selective academic brilliance and despising of the Christianity of his family and the emerging imperial cult. His successful promotion to a high position in the imperial household through pagan patronage. His consideration of and adherence to various philosophical positions in opposition to Catholic Christianity. The collapse of this anti-Catholic rhetoric and retirement from the public sphere. His recruitment by the African church and his prolonged leadership in addressing the challenges of obstacles to a Catholic system. The literature that emerged from these controversies, and his church correspondence and sermons.

A treatment of the biography of Augustine as Latin speaking African in a commercial family in late fourth century Western Roman Empire. His selective academic brilliance and despising of the Christianity of his family and the emerging imperial cult. His successful promotion to a high position in the imperial household through pagan patronage. His consideration of and adherence to various philosophical positions in opposition to Catholic Christianity. The collapse of this anti-Catholic rhetoric and retirement from the public sphere. His recruitment by the African church and his prolonged leadership in addressing the challenges of obstacles to a Catholic system. The literature that emerged from these controversies, and his church correspondence and sermons.

Postmodern-Constructivism continues to exert a powerful beneficial effect in the world of psychotherapy assessment and treatment by challenging traditional, modernist models of care. This intensive survey course is inspired by postmodern philosophical perspectives (J. Derrida, M. Foucault), Personal Construct Psychology (G. Kelly), and Social Constructivism (K. Gergen). We will examine and compare the major postmodern perspectives from the standpoint of integrative psychological and spiritual care, with introductory exposure to Narrative Therapy (M. White, D. Epston); Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (S. de Shazer, I. Kim Berg); Collaborative Language Systems Therapy (H. Goolishian, H. Anderson); Meaning-Based Therapies (V. Frankl, T. Wong); Strengths-Based Therapies (M. Seligman, Y. J. Wong); Constructivist Ethics (J. Guterman, J. Raskin); and Integrative Models (B. Zinnbauer, K. Pargament).

This interdisciplinary course will introduce core ethical issues which impact psychotherapists, spiritual care practitioners, and family therapists working in a variety of private and institutional settings. Codes of Ethics and Professional Practice Standards from the major regulating bodies will be examined and compared, including the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). Essential components of the course will include theological and scriptural reflection on ethical themes and the application of one model of ethical decision-making to real-life case studies in order to develop students' ability to initiate effective clinical interventions in complex ethical dilemmas.

Whether working with individuals, couples, or whole families, exposure to family systems theory and therapeutic interventions are an invaluable part of formation for the psychotherapy professional. This entry-level-to-practice, integrative course will examine and compare these theories from a bio-psycho-social-spiritual model of care, with introductory exposure to Cultural Diversity in Marriage and Family Therapy, Intergenerational Aspects (Bowen); Attachment Theory & Emotionally-Focused Therapy (Bowlby, Johnson); Contextual Perspectives (Boszormenyl-Nagy); Internal Family Systems (Schwartz), Structural Therapy (Mlnuchin), Human Validation Process Model {Satir), Solution-Focused Narrative Family Therapy (White, Epston), as well as the topic Divorce and Sacred Loss.

Theology of grace in representative Anglican theologians, including Thomas Cranmer, Richard Hooker, the Caroline Divines, the Tractarians, F.D. Maurice, Lux Mundi and William Temple.

What do zombies and the Bible have in common? They both have to do with the end of the world, of course! We will compare zombies in today’s popular culture with apocalyptic texts in the Bible (and some not in the Bible) in their ancient contexts. The goal of the course is to recognize the apocalyptic worldview behind various texts in Second Temple Judaism and early Christianity and the continuing influence of that worldview to the present day, especially as it manifests in zombie imagery. Through this recognition we will wrestle with apocalyptic and zombie-related themes that are relevant today. By exploring imagery, genre, form, function and context (in all the gory details), we will discover common threads related to symbol, human identity, death, fear, hope and meaning-making.

Inspiring and profound are terms often attributed to the theology of von Balthasar. Benedict XVI said of his work, "His theological reflection maintains intact, to this day, a profound timeliness and leads many to penetrate ever more into the profundity of the mystery of faith". This course begins an exploration of his work. There is consideration of the Trilogy: Herrlichkeit, Theo-Drama and Theo-Logic; the influence of Ignatius Loyola and Adrienne von Speyr; and the place of Mary. Not a course for the faint-hearted, von Balthasar's work is at times dense and complex but the rewards are beyond price.

The concept of Mission is prominent and ever-present in the contemporary church, but there remains considerable confusion surrounding the theology and practice of Christian witness. Painful awareness of the legacy of colonialism leaves many mainline churches uncomfortable with the concept of mission, for fear of ‘imposing’ their worldview on others. The course examines contemporary models and movements of mission – from “planting,” “Fresh Expressions,” and “Liquid Church,” to “social outreach” and “faith-based community organizing.” Attention will be given to theologies of mission, missional literature, and to particular local mission projects in their ecclesial contexts. Students will be equipped to formulate their own theology of mission and to become familiar with distinct practical models of mission. These discussions will all be with a view to working to understand and shape the future course of the church.

The concept of Mission is prominent and ever-present in the contemporary church, but there remains considerable confusion surrounding the theology and practice of Christian witness. Painful awareness of the legacy of colonialism leaves many mainline churches uncomfortable with the concept of mission, for fear of ‘imposing’ their worldview on others. The course examines contemporary models and movements of mission – from “planting,” “Fresh Expressions,” and “Liquid Church,” to “social outreach” and “faith-based community organizing.” Attention will be given to theologies of mission, missional literature, and to particular local mission projects in their ecclesial contexts. Students will be equipped to formulate their own theology of mission and to become familiar with distinct practical models of mission. These discussions will all be with a view to working to understand and shape the future course of the church.

This course will engage the questions of interreligious dialogue and comparative theology on the theology on the theological issues of redemption and salvation by comparing the work of some key Christian thinkers with themes in Buddhism. We will also engage comparative questions such as desire, imitation, prayer, mediation and responses to suffering and violence. 

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.