The Fall 2008 courses are shown below beginning with the general course description in a blue box and the individual classes and respective descriptions following, with all specified times and locations displayed.

Course Legend

Dr. Michael A. McElwee
THL 1050-001 [CRN 21340] MWF 8:30 – 9:20 am
THL 1050-002 [CRN 21341] MWF 9:30 – 10:20 am
 

This course is an Introduction to Christian Theology. It proceeds, in general, by looking at God, Jesus, and the Church. As an introductory course, what we are after are the basics for University-level theology. On the other hand, the basics present quite a challenge. First, theology itself is a complex endeavor. Theology could be defined in simple terms as “reflection upon the Word of God”. However, to understand the basics of that brief definition would be to understand its implications: that there is a God; that this God “speaks”; that we can “hear” and interpret this speech; that we can reflect upon the Divine, etc. Second, if we add the fact that the course is Christian Theology, and not theology in general, a whole new set of questions appears concerning Jesus of Nazareth and the unique Christian doctrine of the Incarnation: Who was Jesus? What is the background of Jesus? What is the New Testament? What does the church believe about Jesus? Third, it is the church that does Christian Theology, and the church has its own history, scripture, traditions, teachings, and mission. Moreover, theology is always done in interaction with the contemporary world. Thus, understanding some of the details of scripture, the tradition, the development of Christianity, and its interaction with culture are the major work of this course. If we were to ask what were the basics of Christianity, they would be the Christianity’s primary answers to questions such as the following: Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who (or what) is the Church? Knowing the terms of the answers, what Christians have said are the answers, and that there is a history and depth to the answers would be a beginning, an introduction.

Prof. Joanna Scholz
THL 1050-003 [CRN 21342] MWF 9:30 – 10:20 am
THL 1050-004 [CRN 21343] MWF 10:30 – 11:20 am
 

Life is a mystery and it is often difficult to understand ourselves, our beliefs, our relationships, our world. This course invites and challenges students to do theology, that is, to think critically and reflect on the ultimate mystery, the mystery of God–revealed through the word, in Scriptures, and through the Word, in the person of Jesus Christ. Throughout their study of the Hebrew Scriptures and Christian Testament, students will uncover images of God–who God is and what God does. They will study the writings of philosophers and theologians on the existence of God, as well as explore the writings of philosophers who deny God’s existence. Students will be asked to further develop their own images of God, reflecting on how the Scriptures, tradition, and their own experiences mold their images. This course will also explore these issues: How did Christian doctrine develop in the early Church? What are the similarities and differences among Christian Churches? Why is there evil in the world? How does a Christian live a moral Life? A survey course by nature, it is hoped that students, by exploring these topics, may be able to decide what areas of theology they wish to pursue in future courses. Course Requirements: Active participation in all class sessions, which will include evidence of having completed the assigned readings, 10 one page written assignments, three tests and a final exam.

Dr. Timothy Brunk
THL 1050-005 [CRN 21344] MWF 10:30 – 11:20 am

This course is an introduction to Christianity from the viewpoint of Christian theology, “faith seeking understanding.” We will engage in a theological study of the world view and core narrative of Christianity as it is found in its scriptures and in its traditions of practice and belief. This course will include an orientation to academic study of religion and to theological method.
Student Learning Objectives for this Course:
• To articulate a basic understanding of the task of theology and to situate this task within the mission of Villanova University and a liberal arts education
• To demonstrate basic mastery of key persons, themes, and events in the Bible
• To demonstrate basic mastery of key Christian doctrines including:
    o Special emphasis on Christology (the meaning and significance of Jesus Christ)
    o Special emphasis on theological anthropology (grace and the human person created in the divine image)
    o Moral theology (conscience and virtues)
    o Sacraments and sacramentality
Students will achieve these objectives by completing reading and writing assignments and by discussion in class as well as individual consultation with the instructor as needed.
Books:
William Portier, Tradition and Incarnation: Foundations of Christian Theology (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1994) ISBN 0-8091-3467-5
Catechism of the Catholic Church (New York: Doubleday, 1995) ISBN 0-385-47967-0
Donald Luck, Why Study Theology? (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 1999) ISBN 0-8272-4242-5
Thomas Rausch, ed., The College Student’s Introduction to Theology (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1993) ISBN 0-8146-5841-5
Vatican Council II: The Basic Sixteen Documents (Northport: Costello, 1996) ISBN 0-918344-37-9
 

Dr. Jessica Murdoch
THL 1050-006 [CRN 21345] MWF 11:30 – 12:20 pm
THL 1050-011 [CRN 21350] MW 12:30 – 1:20 pm

In this course we will examine some key themes of Christian thought and we will explore the foundational relationship between faith and reason. Towards this end, this class will include in its investigation the thought of contemporary authors such as Karl Rahner, Yves Congar, and Pope John Paul II, as well as ancient and medieval thinkers such as Augustine and Thomas. We will also investigate critiques of Christianity offered by some secular authors including Freud, Sartre, and Nietzsche.
 

Fr. Francis Caponi, O.S.A.
THL 1050-007 [CRN 21346] MWF 11:30 – 12:20 pm
THL 1050-008 [CRN 21347] MWF 12:30 – 1:20 pm

For 2,000 years, Christians have thought long and hard about all the truly big questions: Does God exist? Does He speak to us? How does God want us to live? What does it take to be happy? How should we interpret the Bible? What is faith, and how is it related to reason? Are science and religion in agreement or opposition? Why do bad things happen to good people? Is there life after death? Who was Jesus of Nazareth? What about other religions?
Through careful reading and intensive discussion of primary sources, with special attention to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, students will wrestle with these questions, and so attain a critical knowledge of the historical development and contemporary importance of some of the fundamentals of Christian theology.
 

Fr. Neil McGettigan, O.S.A.
THL 1050-009 [CRN 21348] MW 1:30 – 2:45 pm

The course directs attention to Biblical stories of origin in order to provide a plausible interpretation of Christian recognition of God as Creator. Study of some major advances in human understanding of reality promoted in the areas of science and philosophy will contribute to an ongoing theological response to the fundamental truths of Christian faith. A review of Christian anthropology adds consideration of how human beings appear before God in an evolutionary context and how the divine Person of Jesus Christ in his humanity reveals God as a Trinity of love. Focus on the portrait of the “historical Jesus” contained in the gospel accounts of his birth, death and resurrection clarifies that the “Jesus of faith” handed down in a sacred tradition of worship has been and always will be the foundation of Christianity. These texts will be used for the course.
Required texts:
Denis Edwards, The God of Evolution: A Trinitarian Theology, Paulist Press, 1999
Phillip J. Cunningham, A Believer’s Search for the Jesus of History, Paulist Press, 1999
Patrick Glynn, God: The Evidence, Forum, 1997
 

Dr. Kevin Hughes
THL 1050-010 [CRN 21349] MW 3:00 – 4:15 pm

Christian theology is the science of all things in so far as they are related to God. At least that’s Thomas Aquinas’s definition. This means that Christianity is not understood first or best as a list of beliefs or practices but as a perspective, a way of seeing all things culture, art, politics, ethics, science, the cosmos from the perspective of Trinitarian faith. Beginning with reflection on American culture through literature and cultural commentary, this course offers an introduction to the logic of that perspective not only what Christians think and believe, but how and why they think and believe the way they do. Included in the course will be historical and theological reflection on the elements of the Christian story God, creation, sin, redemption, resurrection in art, literature, sermons, films, and other theological works. Attention will be given to contemporary issues touching on Christianity. Requirements for the course will be active class participation, two quizzes, a midterm essay (3 5pp), and a final exam.
 

Prof. Darren Poley
THL 1050-012 [CRN 21351] MW 3:00 – 4:15 pm

You will be asked to participate in and contribute to a conversation on the topic of Christianity and what it says about itself and the world from a Catholic point of view. There are daily reading assignments with a quiz on the reading. There are periodic tests, a writing assignment using what you discover that requires doing Library research, and a final exam. Rather large topics specific to Christian systematic theology such as The Trinity and The Incarnation will be explored as well as practical discussions of things like the Church and sacraments. Effort will be made to encourage theological thinking about real things using the terms and concepts of Christian theology. Apprehension of God by means of theological analysis is the goal.
 

Prof. Joshua Snyder
THL 1050-013 [CRN 21352] MW 3:00 – 4:15 pm
THL 1050-014 [CRN 21353] MW 4:30 – 5:15 pm
THL 1050-018 [CRN 21357] TR 8:30 – 9:45 am

Christian Theology: An Introduction is the required introductory course in Theology/Religious Studies and is the prerequisite for other courses. This course is a critical academic introduction to Christianity from the viewpoint of Christian theology, “faith seeking understanding.” This course provides a theological study of the worldview and core narrative of Christianity as found in its scriptures and in its traditions of practice and belief.
The course presents the case for the reasonableness of religious belief and familiarizes students with the principle areas of Christian theology from the Roman Catholic perspective. We will focus on significant themes in Christian theology, such as the notion of God in the Judaic-Christian tradition, the historical manifestation of God in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the human response to God’s Self-manifestation, the deposit of revelation as expressed in Scripture and Tradition, the human condition of freedom and sin, the community called Church, Sacraments, and contemporary theological issues.

Prof. Edward Ruscil
THL 1050-015 [CRN 21354] MW 4:30 – 5:45 pm
THL 1050-100 [CRN 21361] Wed 6:10 – 8:50 pm

An introductory course that critically examines major topics within the Christian Tradition: Revelation & the Bible; an appreciation for myth and stories; contemporary issues on Jesus and the Gospels; the Creator God, creation and humanity; evil and sin; eschatology and the Holy Spirit. Predominantly theological in its approach, topics are presented through a general overview that incorporates biblical and historical perspectives. A primary objective is to assist students in becoming critically reflective of these major Christian topics and to recognize the need for continuing development within the tradition. Since theology emerges from a community of people that exist within particular historical and cultural contexts, the course focuses on the interaction between Christianity and its historical/cultural environment that shapes the Christian expression and understanding of its faith.

Fr. Charles Laferty, O.S.A.
THL 1050-016 [CRN 21355] TR 8:30 – 9:45 am

The course explores our understanding of the perception of God in Western Culture, the revelation of God in Jesus, and the Christian Church as a personal, social and ecumenical force. Assignments: A research presentation for class discussion, two short research papers, active student participation based on the text and student research, and a final examination.
Text: Foundations of Theological Study: A Sourcebook, Richard Viladesau and Mark Massa, S.J. [editors]. Paulist Press, 1991. ISBN 0-8091-3281-8, paperback.
A bible is needed for the course, any version.

Dr. Gaile Pohlhaus
THL 1050-017 [CRN 21356] TR 8:30 – 9:45 am

This course serves as the introductory course to all Theology and Religious Studies Courses. The course is an analytic study of the main streams of Christian thought and a few brooks as well. We will concentrate on both the theologies of the master theologians as well as those of the ordinary Christian. I will not presume that you have an extensive background either in Christianity or in Western civilization. I DO presume that you read a newspaper or a news magazine at least once a week and also that you watch or listen to the daily news. We will identify Christian traditions that affect the dailiness of living. There will be weekly reading and written assignments. You will be required to do a paper on a Christian church denomination (not your own) which will entail visiting a liturgical service and interviewing some members of the church.

Donald Giannella
THL 1050-019 [CRN 21358] TR 4:00 – 5:15 pm

This course will focus on three important issues of Christian theology today: a. who is God and what is God’s relationship to Creation and Humanity; b. who is Jesus and what does Jesus reveal about God and about humans; c. how have the Christian believers interacted with and expressed their understanding and experience of God and Jesus across history.
These issues will be explored through the lens of Scripture and the writings of ancient, medieval and contemporary theologians. Coursework will include a reflection paper, two in-class exams, a Scripture study project done individually and in groups, and a Final term paper.
 

Dr. Richard Lohkamp
THL 1050-020 [CRN 21359] TR 4:00 – 5:15 pm

A college course entitled Christian Theology: An Introduction obviously needs to discuss “theology” and what “theology” purports to do. Since it focuses on Christian theology, the course needs to consider the center of the Christian tradition, the person Jesus, and his significance because, in the Christian tradition, one’s idea of God is formed by what one derives from one’s consideration of Jesus.
As a college course, this course is not an exercise in catechesis or instruction in the Faith. It is presented as an examination of a topic, albeit partisan, since the instructor professes to be a believing Christian. As an examination of a topic, it is hoped that any student will benefit, whether Christian or of another faith or persuasion.
The goals of the course are:

• Examine the idea of “religious belief” and one’s own orientation toward religious belief.
• Take a fresh look at Jesus.
• Review some of the major factors that have formed the Christian tradition.

If these goals are successfully met, it is expected that the student will exit the course with a sense of what Christian theology is and what it is trying to do.
Texts:
WebCT: assignments and readings are posted for the Course on the Course’s WebCT page.
New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Book of Psalms. Paperback. Oxford University Press
Jesus: A Gospel Portrait (Revised, Expanded) by Donald Senior. Revised, Expanded, Paperback. Paulist Press

Fr. Edward Enright, O.S.A.
THL 1051-001 [CRN 22555] MWF 8:30 – 9:20 am
THL 1051-003 [CRN 22557] MWF 9:30 – 10:20 am

NOTE: THL 1051 is an Introductory Theology and does NOT fulfill an upper level requirement.

Theology 1051, sections -001 and -002 will be taught experimentally by looking at the history of Christianity backwards, starting with what presently exists and then moving gradually to the New Testament. But even before that the students and teacher will have to study the cultures in which Christianity finds itself in the 21st century. The relationship between Christianity and culture will not, however, be restricted to the post-modern period, but will be a continual theme throughout the semester. The institutional shapes, the doctrines, the forms of worship, the spiritualities, and the various artistic expressions of the different Christianities over two thousand years will be studied especially in terms of why they are and were the way they are and were. How have the various contexts in which the Christianities found themselves impacted them?

Dr. Gustavo Benavides
THL 1051-005 [CRN 22559] TR 8:30 – 9:45 am

NOTE: THL 1051 is an Introductory Theology and does NOT fulfill an upper level requirement.

An examination of the emergence, growth and transformation of Christianity. The course will study the origins of Christianity in the eastern Mediterranean world, its consolidation in the lands ruled by Rome and its political heirs, and its eventual expansion throughout the world. Besides studying doctrinal developments and institutional issues, the course will focus on the role played by Christianity in the emergence of Western societies. Special attention will be given to the way in which Christian symbolism and ritual have shaped the lives of ordinary people in the Christian world.

Fr. Joseph A. Loya, O.S.A
THL 1051-006 [CRN 22560] TR 10:00 – 11:15 am
THL 1051-007 [CRN 22561] TR 1:00 – 2:15 pm

NOTE: THL 1051 is an Introductory Theology and does NOT fulfill an upper level requirement.

“Christianity is a religion for historians” is not too strong of a statement. Those who profess Jesus of Nazareth as God-Man take person, time, place and event – prime constituent elements of history - very seriously, indeed. This course emphasizes the narrative aspect of the discipline of History, and in doing so is designed to draw students into a deepened awareness and understanding of the story of how the faith of a small band of disciples grew into a major world religion.
The Christian story is unfolded according to the following major areas of study:
I. The Infant Community Known as Church. (“The historical experience of the first several centuries of Christianity shaped subsequent Christianity in an extremely crucial manner. It was in this initial phase that the critical features were set; a vocabulary was created, options for belief and practice were accepted or rejected....” - William Rusch, editor of The Trinitarian Controversy.)
II. Christianity and Empire. (“Amputated in the fifth century of its entire Western half, the Empire survived for centuries, united by three elements generally considered constitutive of “Byzantine” civilization: Christian faith, Roman political tradition, and Greek language.” - John Meyendorff, Rome, Constantinople, Moscow: Historical and Theological Studies.)
III. The Church Divided. (“Events in the Christian East and West proved, once again, that there could be no political victory without corresponding religious consequences, and no religious victory without political repercussions.” - H.J. Magoulias, Byzantine Christianity: Emperor, Church and the West.)
IV. The Church(es) Reformed. (“Christianity became self-conscious and self-critical about its transmission of the Gospel to an unprecedented degree.” - Marianne Sawicki, The Gospel in History.)

Fr. Daniel E. Doyle, O.S.A.
THL 1051-008 [CRN 22562] TR 1:00 – 2:15 pm
THL 1051-009 [CRN 22563] TR 2:30 – 3:45 pm

NOTE: THL 1051 is an Introductory Theology and does NOT fulfill an upper level requirement.

This course is designed to introduce students to a systematic study of the development of Christian thought and trace its evolution throughout history. We will study the major themes of the Christian tradition from historical, scriptural and theological perspectives. The course will explore such themes as who is God, who is Jesus, and who are we in light of this revelation. We shall begin our investigation with a careful analysis of the diverse forms of Judaism in place in first century Palestine C.E. We shall review the role of worship in Jewish life, in particular the relationship between the Temple worship and the increasing importance of the synagogue. How did Jesus understand his role and mission? Did the first generation of Christians understand themselves as members of a new religion? Why did Gnosticism play such a critical role in defining important Christian beliefs? Who decided which books were inspired and should be considered “Gospel”? We will then study in detail the role of martyrdom, persecution and Constantine on the development of Christianity
Christians believe that Jesus is the definitive revelation of God in human history. This word is specially revealed in Sacred Scripture and in the Church’s efforts to probe and interpret that word in light of history and culture. We shall study the methods the Church has developed to understand and interpret Scripture and focus on the underlying cultural and intellectual movements which have shaped Christian doctrine. Christianity has encountered rigorous opposition and untold challenges over its history. How can Christianity adapt itself to a constantly changing world and still remain faithful to its traditions? We will emphasize the first millennium as the common heritage of all Christians. We will also study in detail the issues which led up to the tragic division of Christianity in the West studying in detail the influence that St. Augustine played in the thinking of the great reformers: Martin Luther, John Calvin and others. We will also look at the relationship between faith and science post Darwin. How can thoughtful believers make sense of creation, evil, suffering, miracles and prayer? We shall pay careful attention to the Church’s ongoing dialogue with the surrounding culture throughout history. Since language is dynamic and always developing, Church doctrine needs constantly to be re-interpreted in language and categories which speak to each human context and era.
Required texts:
Bradley P. Nystrom and David P. Nystrom, The History of Christianity: An Introduction. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, Tr. Adrian Walker, New York: Doubleday, 2007.
Robert E. van Voorst. Readings in Christianity, 2nd ed. US: Wadsworth Thomson Learning, 2001.
The Catholic Study Bible, New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. N.B. [This Bible is the same Bible utilized in Core Humanities Seminars.]
Occasional electronic texts

Prof. Margaret Kowalsky
THL 1051-010 [CRN 22564] TR 2:30 – 3:45 pm

NOTE: THL 1051 is an Introductory Theology and does NOT fulfill an upper level requirement.

This course traces the history of Christianity from its inception to the current day. The course is meant to be an introduction to the study of theology and religion by way of historical study. There are two required texts for the course -- an introduction to Christianity and an anthology of primary sources. Engaged and thoughtful interpretation of primary sources will be critical to the course.
Students will be asked to present topics for discussion on a rotating basis and our learning will be discussion based. Students will have the opportunity to consider themes such as authority and leadership, unity, doctrine, controversy and reform, the importance of ritual, and the global nature of Christianity. Attention will be paid to concurrent developments in Judaism and Islam when appropriate. The course will culminate with student presentations of Christian art “in context.”

Dr. Judith M. Hadley
THL 2050-001 [CRN 22565] MWF 9:30 – 10:20 am
THL 2050-002 [CRN 22566] MWF 10:30 – 11:20 am

The purpose of this course is to provide the student with a general introduction to the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and Deuterocanonical books (Apocrypha). The course is designed to be an overview of related issues such as the nature of the biblical text and historical and literary criticism, as well as providing a brief introduction to the biblical books themselves. Since the Bible does not exist in a cultural vacuum, consideration will also be made to the ancient cultures that form the backdrop to the development of the biblical text. The student is reminded that, given the introductory nature of the course, it is not possible to examine any of these issues in much detail. Rather, it is hoped that the course will raise many questions and possibilities for future research and study.
Basic Outline of Course:
I. Introduction to the Land and Background of the Bible
Geographical setting, contribution of archaeology to biblical studies
II. Introduction to the Text of the Bible
Methods of modern Bible study, including canon, genre, composition, translations, form criticism, sources
III. Introduction to the Message of the Bible
The use of myth, legend, parable, history and polemic in the Bible, hermeneutics and the Bible’s intended message as it complements or opposes its received message
IV. The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
The Pentateuch, historical books, prophetic books, poetry, wisdom literature, post-exilic books, apocalyptic literature
V. The Deuterocanonical books
History of the Intertestamental period and the Deuterocanonical books
 

Dr. Timothy Horner
THL 2200-001 [CRN 22567] MWF 12:30 – 1:20 pm

This is a survey course designed to give students exposure to the emergence and function of The Hebrew prophets in ancient Israel. The course focuses on the sociological, political, and theological issues that gave rise to this particular form of writing and the social commentary that informed it. This is a text-based course that uses the Biblical documents that either spoke about prophets (e.g. I and II Samuel), or reflected the prophetic agenda (e.g. Jeremiah and Ezekiel). The class is a mix of lecture and discussion. Students are expected to interact with the text and look for enduring connections to the human experience. As we understand this phenomenon in its historical context we are better equipped to pinpoint issues that are pertinent to our modern world and the study of religion.
 

Dr. Paul Danove
THL 2300-001 [CRN 22568] MWF 8:30 – 9:20 am

The Gospels (Mark, Luke, and John) and Letters (Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon, James, 1 Peter) are the major sources of the traditions about the teachings and actions of Jesus Christ and the development of the early Christian community. The course begins with a brief consideration of the oral transmission of the stories about Jesus prior to their inclusion into the Gospels, the development of the New Testament canon, and the scholarly methods (source, textual, redaction, and literary criticism) used to study the Gospels and Letters. The remainder of the course consists of a careful reading of the Gospels and Letters which gives special attention to their structure (literary characteristics), meaning (the theological themes emphasized by their authors), application (how these documents addressed the needs of the communities for which they were written), and continuing vitality (how these documents address contemporary concerns.)
 

Dr. Peter Spitaler
THL 2310-001 [CRN 22569] TR 4:00 – 5:15 pm

Students investigate the gospels of Mark, Luke, and Matthew as products of distinctive historical and cultural communities and as literary/theological documents. Designed to foster critical engagement with these texts, the course will develop (1) research skills essential for the study of the gospels at an introductory level; (2) the theory and practice of exegesis in modern scholarship; (3) appreciation for the socio-cultural world that produced gospel literature; (4) awareness of the literary interrelationship of the synoptic gospels; (5) knowledge of Jesus and his career as described in the gospels; and (6) aspects the contemporary vitality of the texts.
 

Dr. Peter Spitaler
THL 2320-001 [CRN 22570] TR 2:30 – 3:45 pm

A distinctive feature of the New Testament is that most of its twenty-seven “books” are actually letters, thanks primarily to the influence and proliferation of the apostle Paul. His letters (Romans, Galatians, 1-2 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon, and Philippians) are the earliest witnesses to the religious movement that later came to be called Christianity. Written to congregations too distant to visit, they provided the model for other writings (deutero-Pauline and general letters) that eventually became part of the Christian Bible. After investigating the conventions of ancient letter writing, students in this course examine select letters with a focus on authorship, occasion of writing, social issues, and theological reasoning. Class work includes studying current exegetical methodologies and using them to illuminate different author’s handling of various issues within early congregations, including social status, hierarchy, ethnic and gender relations, slavery, and poverty. Before we ask about the unique contributions these ideas may offer today’s Christians, in this class we will first attempt to understand them within their socio-cultural location (first century Mediterranean world).
 

Fr. Thomas Martin, O.S.A.
THL 2500-001 [CRN 22571] MWF 10:30 – 11:20 am

Christianity is a faith tradition deeply inserted in history. This course will study its formative centuries (principally ca.100 – ca..500 C.E.), what we will call “Ancient Christianity.” The course will begin with the immediate post-apostolic experience and end with the impact and aftermath of the Council of Chalcedon (451 C.E.), with some concluding considerations regarding the end of Ancient Christianity (symbolically marked by the Battle of Yarmuk in Palestine on 20 August 636). It was during these centuries that Christianity moved from being a small Jewish messianic faith community to the majority religion of the Roman Empire--and beyond. In the course of these four centuries the canon of Scripture was set; critical doctrines were debated, clarified, formulated and reformulated, and finally defined; church structures emerged, developed, and were institutionalized; unique Christian life-styles, especially those of an ascetical nature, developed and took on set forms; and an ever more explicit and institutional sense of being a universal church with exclusive truth claims developed. It is the critical study and analysis of these developments with emphasis on history and theology that will form the content of the course. Throughout, there will be an on-going effort to place this study of Ancient Christianity in dialogue with contemporary Christianity. Along with readings, there will be two writing projects, a mid-term and a final exam.
 

Fr. Edward Enright, O.S.A.
THL 2575-001 [CRN 22572] MWF 11:30 – 12:20 pm

THL 2575. section - 001 will be a course on “Christianity and …”: history, philosophy, natural science, social science, politics, and religious pluralism in the modern world. But first, we need to come to a reasonable agreement on when the modern world began, because this course is an historical-theological one, that will study how Christianity during the entire length of the modern and post-modern periods came to be the way it was in the past and the way it is today, as a result of its interaction with the stated partners/antagonists. Thus, the question then becomes: Are the present forms of Christianity evolutions or revolutions or both/and?
 

Church and State Issues Prof. Kathleen Overturf
THL 2590-001 [CRN 22573] MWF 8:30 – 9:20 am

The “dialogue” between church and state is “ever ancient, ever new”. This course will briefly situate the “dialogue” in its historical context with a look at what Augustine and Thomas Aquinas say about church and state, the common good, and religious liberty. We will swiftly move to Americans James Madison and Thomas Jefferson and their use of the above terms. The matter becomes complicated in the American context with its diverse populations and religious beliefs and practices and the guarantees of the First Amendment. The term “wall of separation of church and state” was coined by Jefferson to assure that religion will not be coerced by the state. Recent court rulings have begun to question if that was what Jefferson really meant. We will look at the work of John Courtney Murray S.J. and his contributions to the Second Vatican Council and its document on Religious Freedom. We will investigate Supreme Court rulings that attempt to set the rules of church/state engagement via their recent decisions. Students will be asked to present and debate assigned court cases along with current issues dealing with the “dialogue” between church and state.
 

Historical Themes: Religion in America Dr. Fayette B. Veverka
THL 2590-002 [CRN 22574] TR 2:30 – 3:45 pm
THL 2590-003 [CRN 22575] TR 4:00 – 5:15 pm
Writing enriched

Religion in America is suddenly at the forefront of the news: the decision of some U.S. Catholic bishops to refuse communion to public officials who support legalized abortion; a federal judge refuses to remove a display of the Ten Commandments from his Alabama courthouse; a President who invokes Jesus Christ publicly proposes a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. And one doesn’t have to look far to find religion at the center of widespread debate about American values and identity: from the role of America in the Arab Muslim world, to civil rights for gay and lesbians; from stem cell research to public funding of faith-based social services; from legalized abortion to school vouchers for religious schools. Yet most Americans have little knowledge about religion other than the particular faith tradition in which they were formed. Few understand in any depth the enormous impact religion has had on our nation’s history, culture, politics and identity.
This course is designed to offer students a glimpse at the rich complexity of religious history of the United States. We will seek to understand religion not only in terms of formal theological doctrines and beliefs, but also in terms of what scholars call “lived religion,” i.e. how people live and give expression to their faith through religious practices and material culture. The course is organized in a roughly chronological structure and is necessarily selective in its coverage of this vast terrain. I have chosen issues and texts that illustrate three enduring tensions that have characterized religion in America.
First is the tension between what we might call the “one” and the “many” of American religion. Beginning with the Puritans effort to create “a city upon the hill” in the New World, America as a nation has understood itself in essentially religious, i.e. Protestant, terms. We will examine the dominant motifs of this “common faith” including how Americans have used religious imagery to articulate their understanding of America’s identity, mission, and destiny and role in the world. At the same time, America’s guarantee of freedom of religion has attracted people of all faiths who have made America the most religiously diverse nation in the world. We will ask how these two competing images - America, as a “Christian” nation and America as a land of religious liberty have been central to our social, political and cultural life as a nation.
At the same time, the relationship between religion and culture has not always been mutually supportive. While religion has often allied itself with cultural values, at times, religion has also functioned as a catalyst of social change, challenging dominant forms of social life from slavery, to war and peace, to economic inequality to civil rights to abortion.
This tension between religion as a defender of the status quo on the one hand and a vigorous critic on the other is the second common thread we will see woven into the fabric of American religious history.
Third, we will explore the cultural paradox of America as both the most religious country in the world, but also the most “modern” and “secular.” While the vast majority of American individuals profess personal belief in God, that faith has often been suspect when brought into the public square. Business, government, and the military allow little room for real religious control and opinion-forming centers of the culture—public education, most of higher education and the majority of media are vastly more secular than a century ago. Is there a place for religion in the public square in a country built on the separation of church and state?
American culture embodies the influence not only of Biblical faith, but modern Enlightenment ideals. Despite differences among religions in the U.S., all have had to confront the challenges of modernity to religious faith and have been re-shaped by their encounter with American culture. We will examine the restructuring of religion in America in light of the fundamental divide between those who have sought to reconcile faith with modern values and those who sought to defend the fundamentals of faith from what they perceive as the corrosive effects of the larger culture.
After taking this course, students will be able to a) explain the influence of religion on the development of American history, culture, politics and identity from the colonial period to the present.; b) analyze contemporary disputes about the role of religious values in American life and relate these issues to earlier historical debates on similar themes, and c) appreciate the diversity of American religious traditions, recognizing both similarities and differences among these groups.
Texts:
Hackett, David G. Religion and American Culture: A Reader. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-91453-1
Marsden, George M. 2001. Religion and American Culture. Wadsworth/Thomson, 2nd ed. ISBN 0-15-505532-1
Porterfield, Amanda. 2002. American Religious History Blackwell Publishing; ISBN: 0631223223
A collection of primary texts is available from the bookstore.
Requirements include: 1) Substantial reading is a critical requirement of the class and will include several different genres: textbooks, interpretative essays, a book length study of a particular religious culture, fiction, autobiographies and primary sources to give us a feel for how participants reflected on events and experiences in their own time. 2) Regular class attendance. Excessive unexcused absences (you are allowed 4 without penalty) will have a seriously detrimental affect your grade. 3) Your grade will be based on active participation through regular informal writing assignments and class discussions, a small group project to be presented in class, mid-term and final exam.
 

Virgins and Martyrs for Christ Fr. Daniel Doyle, O.S.A.
THL 2790-001 [CRN 22576] TR 10:00 – 11:15 am
Writing enriched

Purpose: The Christian way of life was a radical and subversive alternative to the lifestyle proposed by pagan Roman and Greek culture. Martyrdom and Virginity constitute two of its most outstanding characteristics. Both involved a radical choice to “follow Christ.” What possibly motivated these men and women? The Greek word martus means “witness.” In what way did martyrs witness to the truth of Christ? Christianity was illegal in the Roman Empire until the Constantinian Recognition in 312-313 C. E. and Christians had to live under the threat of prejudice, misunderstanding and persecution. Although persecution occurred only in waves, martyrdom left an indelible imprint on the character of the early Church who boasted of her heroes and erected shrines in their memory. Those outside the Church considered the martyrs as fanatics and ridiculed their sacrifice as a waste of life. We will study how persecution shaped the life of the early Church. We will read the Acts of the Martyrs along with various sermons and treatises celebrating the lives of these heroes. After Christianity became legal, the pool of martyrs dried up and virginity replaced martyrdom as a form of total dedication to Christ. Virginity was subversive in a patriarchal culture which placed such emphasis on family and child-raising. Virginity was experienced as a new source of freedom creating a brand new lifestyle and new families “in Christ”. Why were so many young men and women willing to embrace such a radical lifestyle? How did these early Christians feel about the body and sexuality? We will read the sermons and texts which motivated so many youth to follow Christ in this fashion.
Required Texts:
This course will rely primarily on a collection of readings which I will make available to student on Web CT where students will download the texts electronically. We will study the following authors: Ignatius of Antioch, Origen, Cyprian, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, John Chrysostom, Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine.
The only required texts will be:
Peter Brown, The Body and Society: Men, Women, and Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity (New York, 1988).
Brown, The World of Late Antiquity, London: Thames and Hudson, 1989.
Elizabeth Clarke, St. Augustine on Marriage and Sexuality, Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 1996.

Contemplative Tradition Fr. Martin Laird, O.S.A.
THL 2790-002 [CRN 22577] TR 11:30 – 12:45 pm
Writing enriched

When Karl Rahner claimed that “the devout Christian of the future will either be a ‘mystic’, one who has ‘experienced’ something, or will cease to be anything at all,” he designates, among other things, the future importance of a very ancient tradition: the mystical or contemplative tradition. The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the basic themes and concerns of this tradition as evinced in key authors in the early and mediaeval period. After considering those New Testament themes, chiefly in Paul and John, which have been of particular historical importance in the shaping of this tradition, we shall look at how such writers as Evagrius, Hesychius, Climacus, the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing, and Meister Eckhart addressed the possibility of encountering the God “in whom we live and move and have our being” and yet who at the same time is beyond all manner of comprehension. Other themes highlighted will be the contemplative arts or disciplines of cultivating interior silence, self knowledge leading to knowledge of God, confronting the chaotic mind that generates addictions of one sort or another as will as the perception of God’s absence.
 

Dr. Rodger Van Allen
THL 2900-001 [CRN 22578] TR 8:30 – 9:15 am
THL 2900-002 [CRN 22579] TR 10:00 – 11:15 am
THL 2900-003 [CRN 22580] TR 11:30 – 12:45 pm
Writing enriched

This course studies Catholicism in the U.S., past, present and future. It is not a lecture course. It is organized around directed readings and discussions, debates, occasional audio visuals, and student research projects which are shared orally with the group. The emphasis of the course is not theoretical or abstract; rather it focuses on the concrete lived experience with an analysis that is historical, sociological and theological. The majority of the students tend to be Catholic in background, but find what is in some measure, their own family history, new and fresh, and something of which most were astonishingly unaware. Students who are not Catholic, however, are warmly invited and welcomed to this course and enrich discussion considerably. I’d like to have a group of students of varying social and political views, some significant African American presence, some older students who have returned to school, etc. An atmosphere of intellectual vigor and courtesy prevails, and students from all colleges willing to do a reasonable but steady amount of work and thinking from class to class are invited to share in this course.
 

Fr. Michael J. Scanlon, O.S.A.
THL 3100-001 [CRN 22582] TR 11:30 – 12:45 pm

The Christian understanding of human existence with focus on the classical themes of Creation, Original Sin, and Grace and with special attention to contemporary issues such as person and community, feminism, ecology, etc.
 

Fr. Edmund Dobbin, O.S.A.
THL 3200-001 [CRN 22583] MWF 11:30 – 12:20 pm

A careful and critical reflection on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus. Understanding the incarnation in the light of Easter. This course will combine interactive lecture and discussion.
 

Dr. Gaile Pohlhaus
THL 3400-100 [CRN 22584] Saturday 8:30 am – 12 noon
August 23 through October 11, 2008
Fast Forward

“There can be no religious society, whether the religion be true or false, without some sacrament or visible symbol to serve as a bond of union. The importance of these sacraments cannot be overstated, and only scoffers will treat them lightly” (c. Faust. 19.11). We will examine the Christian sacraments within this context.
The Course goals are:
1. To achieve an understanding of symbol
2. To examine the history of Christian sacraments
3. To enable students to understand rituals
This will be an interactive course. Since this is a Fast Forward class attendance will be expected at every class. In the case of emergencies or unusual circumstances notify Dr. Pohlhaus as soon as you know you will be absent, or if absence is due to extreme illness or immediate emergency, notify Dr. Pohlhaus within 24 hours of missed class. All work is expected at the assigned time and date. Penalties will be incurred for lateness. This mandate refers to written work, assigned readings, and any other assignment. All discussion is to take place in a responsible and polite manner. Discussion is encouraged both in class and on the WebCT discussion board. Academic integrity is expected.
 

Dr. Jessica Murdoch
THL 3550-001 [CRN 22585] MW 1:30 – 2:45 pm
Writing enriched
A & S Research requirement

This course will consider the experience of the presence and absence of God from the viewpoint of the Catholic tradition. This exploration will include the use of theological and philosophical texts, as well as texts from Christian spirituality. Contemporary (19th-21st century) atheistic critiques will be treated, as will the specific problems that arise for theistic belief in a Western context.
 

Presence and Absence of God Fr. Michael J. Scanlon, O.S.A.
THL 3550-002 [CRN 22586] TR 1:00 – 2:15 pm

The Hebrew word for God is YHWH which is a promise of fidelity to the people. The movement in the O. T. from henotheism to monotheism. The principal biblical attributes of God in relation to God’s people are fidelity and freedom. The Self-Revelation of God through Jesus Christ in the N. T. An exploration of God as Trinity. Contemporary experience of God’s presence/absence.
 

Dr. Timothy Brunk
THL 3600-001 [CRN 22587] MWF 11:30 – 12:20 pm

Description:
This course will trace the historical development of Christian worship and prayer, beginning with its roots in Jewish thought and practice and in that of the early Church. We will seek to understand how Christians have worshipped and prayed in different periods, analyzing both their practice and theology. We will give special attention to the time of origins; we will also direct attention to the periods of Roman and Frankish influence, to developments in medieval Eucharistic theology, to the Tridentine response to the Protestant Reformation, and finally to the liturgical reforms of the twentieth century.
This course is still under construction. Students wishing additional information about learning objectives for the course are encouraged to contact the instructor.
Books:
Marcel Metzger, The History of the Liturgy (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1997) ISBN 0-8146-2433-2
Walter Brueggemann, Worship in Ancient Israel (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2005) ISBN 0-687-34336-4
James F. White, Roman Catholic Worship: Trent to Today (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2003) ISBN 0-8146-6194-7
Eugene LaVerdiere, The Eucharist in the New Testament and the Early Church (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1996) 0-8146-6152-1
Edward Foley, From Age to Age (Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1991) ISBN 0-929650-41-7
 

Dr. Beth Hassel, P.B.V.M.
Young Adult Development
THL 3710-001 [CRN 22588] TR 4:00 – 5:15 pm
Writing enriched

“ROMAN CATHOLIC IDENTITY” is a course designed to assist students in the critical exploration of the Roman Catholic tradition in the light of personal experience and the adult identity issues which are a part of the developmental stage of college students. The course seeks to aid the student through a study of the Tradition in the context of institutional belonging and identity, and, for this reason, it is ultimately a course in spirituality.
The course will situate the study of Catholic Theology within modern developmental theories of adult identity and faith development and will provide the opportunity for critical reflection on the questions and experiences of the students. The course will include significant class discussion and written reflection on Roman Catholic identity issues critical to the students. The course is writing enriched and open to Juniors and Seniors.
 

Dr. Michael Waddell
Faith and Reason
THL 3790-X23 [CRN 22589] TR 1:00 – 2:15 pm
THL 3790-X24 [CRN 22590] TR 2:30 – 3:45 pm
Writing enriched
Crosslisted with PHI 2900

This course will use philosophical reasoning to examine several problems that have vexed the Jewish and Christian religions. We will focus on three questions in particular: What, if anything, can we know about God? What is the relationship between faith and reason? And if God is all good, all knowing, and all powerful, then why does evil exist? Popular films will be used to spark discussion and introduce readings about these questions.
 

Dante and Theology Dr. Kevin Hughes
THL 3795-X15 [CRN 22591] MW 1:30 – 2:45 pm
Writing enriched
Crosslisted with HUM 2900

Dante’s Divine Comedy is one of the centerpieces of Catholic culture, and indeed of the wider realms of Western culture and world literature. This course will center on close textual reading of Dante’s Divine Comedy in translation. Following the lead of the poem, we will explore its theology. Attention will be given to Dante’s literary technique, but always in the service of illuminating the fundamental theological questions that the poem itself explores and elicits. Our discussion of these questions will begin in the text, but it will also afford ample opportunities to explore the text’s theology in conversation with the wider Christian tradition. Topics that we will treat in the course of our study will include (but are not limited to): grace and freedom, hell, divine justice, sin, purgation and purgatory, human eros and divine eros, incarnation and sacrament, death, resurrection of the body, heaven, and the beatific vision. Evaluation will be in the form of three shorter papers (3-5 pp) and a take-home final (10-12 pp). This course is writing enriched.
 

Beyond Forgiveness, Reconciliation Dr. Joyce Zavarich
and Restorative Justice
THL 3795-X26 [CRN 22593] Tuesday 6:10 – 8:50 pm
Writing enriched
Crosslisted with PJ 3000, CRJ 4000, ETH 3010

This course examines the concepts and processes of forgiveness and reconciliation through the lens of theology, philosophy, and social sciences. An understanding of the power of forgiveness and healing in terms of intrapersonal, interpersonal and societal/political conflict and social justice context will be explored. The significance, meaning, and implications of restorative justice will enhance this exploration. Historical and practical case studies of the implementation of restorative justice grounds this examination in concrete circumstances such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa and restorative justice practices utilized in the criminal justice system.
The course will focus on such challenging questions as: Is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation? What is the relationship between punishment, repentance, reparation, and forgiveness? Can forgiveness and reconciliation assist in national and international political and justice issues?
There will be an experiential component of the course. Four classes will be held at Graterford Prison to discuss the course material with inmates at the prison. Students must complete a clearance check which will be provided by the professor.

Theology and Music Dr. Anthony Godzieba
THL 3795-X36 [CRN 22592] TR 1:00 – 2:15 pm
Writing enriched
Crosslisted with HUM 2900

This course in theological aesthetics makes the case that art—specifically in our case, music—and theology are two substantial ways of expressing and understanding the human spirit’s “immortal longings” and desire for God. This course explores (1) how art is an exemplar of “real presence”, (2) how both music and theology are performances of the Catholic incarnational and sacramental imagination, and (3) how they both can be considered exercises in “faith seeking understanding” and spirituality. Our prime focus will be on Western music of the late medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and early Classical periods (15th–18th centuries), but we will consider other music as well. No training in music theory is required.
 

Prof. John P. Groch, M.A., M.S.
THL 4200-100 [CRN 22594] Saturday 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
October 18 to December 6, 2008
Fast Forward

Students will examine contemporary medical-moral issues, especially as they impact on both the student’s life and on society at large. Through critical reflection and informed discussion about these issues on both a theoretical and practical level, the student will develop a personal stance toward each issue. In addition to shaping informed and responsible personal conclusions, social policies will also be evaluated. Early in the course, students will acquire an understanding of key concepts necessary for analyzing issues clearly and comprehensively. Issues treated include abortion, treatment of handicapped infants, death and the dying process (including physician- assisted, or rational, suicide), care for the elderly, organ transplants, genetic engineering/reproductive technologies, human experimentation and patient rights. Special attention will be directed to holistic health care and the internal, natural capacity for self-healing.
In addition to attending class lectures, course work includes readings, class discussion, written examinations (2), paper(s), guest lecturers and a film viewing.
Required Reading:
Panicola, Michael, et al., An Introduction to Health Care Ethics. Winona, MN: St. Mary’s Press, 2007.
Tolstoy, Leo. The Death of Ivan Ilyich. New York: Bantam Books, any edition.
Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie. New York: Doubleday, any edition.
Cousins, Norman. Anatomy of an Illness. New York: Bantam Books, any ed.
 

Dr. William Werpehowski
THL 4310-X37 [CRN 22595] TR 10:00 – 11:15 am
THL 4310-X38 [CRN 22596] TR 11:30 – 12:45 pm
Writing Enriched
Crosslisted with PJ 3400

This course critically studies Christian, Islamic, and Western secular versions of “just war” tradition, and compares them generally with pacifist and realist approaches to warfare. As often as possible, course discussions will revolve around concrete cases that address 1) past, present, (and future?) wars, 2) the concrete circumstances, challenges, and costs of combat, and 3) the possibilities and prospects for securing a justly ordered peace in the aftermath of war.
 

Dr. Mark Graham
THL 4330-X39 [CRN 22597] MW 1:30 – 2:45 pm
THL 4330-X40 [CRN 22598] MW 3:00 – 4:15 pm
Crosslisted with PJ 2200

This is a course in Christian environmental ethics. Part of the course is spent addressing foundational philosophical and theological issues in environmental ethics. Substantial segments are devoted to agriculture, synthetic chemicals, and the moral standing of animals. Weekly discussions focus on practical, contemporary environmental issues such as hunting, nuclear power, global warming, fast food, genetic engineering of animals, pollution, automobile use, and wilderness preservation, to mention but a few.
Course requirements: regular attendance; regular class participation; one exam; unannounced in-class quizzes; and one in-class presentation.
 

Prof. John Groch, M.A., M.S.
THL 4400-100 [CRN 22599] Thursday 6:10 – 8:50 pm

Students will study marriage as a human relationship, a social institution and a religious-sacramental experience. In addition to theological and religious considerations, this study will include historical, anthropological, sociological, and psychological perspectives. Specific topics include personal growth and fulfillment, communication skills, sexual intimacy, responsible parenthood, marriage as a sacrament, parental social responsibility, marital spirituality, marriage preparation and maintenance programs, and divorce and annulment. Regardless of one’s age or marital status, this course should offer both academic and personal insight and inspiration through reflective reading, study and engaging class discussion.
In addition to attending class lectures, course work includes readings, class discussion (in class and online), written examinations (2), paper(s), and a film viewing.
Required Reading:
Peck, M. Scott. The Road Less Traveled. NY: Simon and Schuster, latest.
Scott, Keiran, and Warren, Michael, Eds. Perspectives on Marriage. NY: Oxford University Press, latest. (Selected readings.)
Cavanagh, Michael. Before the Wedding. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, latest.
 

Dr. Suzanne Toton
Global Poverty, Liberation Theology and the Struggle for Justice
THL 4600-X41 [CRN 22600] TR 10:00 – 11:15 am
THL 4600-X42 [CRN 22601] TR 11:30 – 12:45 pm
Crosslisted with PJ 4600; Diversity 3; LAS


Nearly half of the world’s population lives in poverty, defined by the World Bank as living on $2 or less a day. 1.2 billion people live in extreme poverty, on $1 or less a day. For them, the greatest challenge is to survive from one day to the next.
In 2000, 189 nations signed the U.N. Millennium Declaration, pledging to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015 and end it by 2025. In 2002, at a U.N. Summit in Monterrey, Mexico, monetary pledges were made by the world’s richest nations. Already, some nations, including the U.S., are falling considerably short of their commitment.
Drawing on economists, such as Jeffrey Sachs and Joseph Stiglitz; ethicists, such as Peter Singer; theologians such as Jon Sobrino, S.J. and Ignacio Ellacuria, S.J.; and resources from the Catholic Social Tradition, including the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Campaign to End Global Poverty, this course will give students working knowledge of the poverty debate. They will be introduced to some of the most powerful global institutions of our day that influence trade, aid and investment. Economic and political policies will be examined in light of the Christian and Catholic Social Tradition. Students will also learn about some significant initiatives on the part of the Christian Churches to stand in solidarity with the poor and marginalized such as socially responsible investment, fair trade, the Jubilee Movement, and ongoing advocacy efforts to effect policy change.
Videos, guest speakers, websites, etc. will be employed to give this material a human face.
Fulfills requirements for: the Global Interdisciplinary Studies Major; Diversity 3; Latin American Studies Concentration; Ethics Concentration Tracks II, III, IV; and the Peace & Justice Concentration and Minor
 

Dr. Jesse D. Couenhoven
Forgiveness: Personal and Political
THL 4690-X18 [CRN 22603] TR 4:00 – 5:15 pm
Writing enriched
Crosslisted with HUM 4200; PJ 3000

This seminar mines recent psychological, theological, and philosophical discussions that address these crucial questions: Does forgiveness abrogate justice? What is the place of anger and hate? May we forgive persons who will not repent? Is forgiveness a duty? Can forgiveness resolve political disputes and racial tensions? In discussing these questions we will pay special attention to South Africa’s efforts at reconciliation after apartheid.
 

Rabbi Murray Silberman
THL 5100-001 [CRN 22604] MW 4:30 – 5:45 pm
Diversity 1

The first half of the course is a historical survey of Judaism and Jews from biblical times to the present. The second half of the course is an analysis of basic Jewish beliefs, holidays, and life-cycle events. The course concludes with a brief look at current events in the Jewish world.
 

Dr. Gustavo Benavides
THL 5280-001 [CRN 22605] TR 10:00 – 11:15 am
Diversity 3

A survey of the main religions of China and Japan: Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism and Shinto. The course will examine doctrinal developments, mystical practices, mythology, ritual activity, as well as popular religiosity. Particular attention will be paid to the interaction between religious traditions and their changing social contexts. The course will end with an examination of the role played by religion in contemporary East Asian societies.
 

Fr. Joseph A. Loya, O.S.A.
THL 5510-001 [CRN 22606] TR 2:30 – 3:45 pm
Diversity 3
Russian Area Studies

It is said that a nation is best understood in knowing the geography of the land it inhabits, the history it has experienced and the religion it has embraced. During the past few decades, the Orthodox Church of Russia has done much to make itself more known in international ecclesiastical forum: since joining the World Council of Churches in 1961, this church has maintained critical and substantial discussions with Catholics, Anglicans, Protestants and members of non-Christian faiths both within and beyond the boarders of Russia. In reestablishing themselves as an organic part of the Church Universal, Russian Christians have revealed themselves as subjects of the same issues and tensions that challenge believers everywhere: they, too, have been preoccupied by the central question of how to live a life of faith in the midst of ever-changing political and social conditions; of how to be at one and the same time loyal citizens and dedicated members of the religious community; of where to draw the line between church and state. This course is intended to provide the student with an introduction to the history, mind, spirit and life of Russian Orthodoxy as it has equipped its adherents to thrive in this modern, complex and pluralistic world of ours.
 

Fr. Martin S. Laird, O.S.A.
THL 5800-001 [CRN 22607] TR 10:00 – 11:15 am
Writing Enriched

The purpose of this course is to examine ways in which modern literature explores, develops, confirms and challenges concerns central to Christianity. The standard approach to the study of Christianity is to present its doctrines. The advantage of approaching religion through literature is that the focus remains firmly grounded in life experience. This makes it easier to see the power, wisdom, and relevance of Christian perspective on such themes as (1) the role of doubt and struggle in the development of one’s relationship with God. (2) The psychological roots of bigotry, the lust for power, and prestige. (3) Beauty and desire. (4) Freedom. (5) Forgiveness. (6) Awakening to the divine presence within us and among us. These and other questions are explored through such authors as Leo Tolstoy, Shusaku Endo, Ursula K. Leguin, Annie Dillard, Flannery O’Connor, and Anne Tyler. Requirements: Class discussion features largely; keeping up with the reading that is assigned in manageable doses; short essays on manageable topics; midterm and final.
 

Dr. Julie Klein
Jewish and Islamic Philosophy
THL 5990-X25 [CRN 22608] TR 4:00 – 5:15 pm
Writing intensive
Crosslisted with PHI 5000

This course explores classical medieval Jewish and Islamic philosophy against the backdrop of the Aristotelian and Platonic inheritance. In essence, our leading question will be: How did thinkers in these two monotheistic traditions appropriate ancient Greek philosophy? What adaptations were required? What innovations were made? Major themes for the course include the nature of philosophy and its relationship to revelation and to law; the nature of prophecy and theories of governance; theories of human cognition; and theories of human perfection. Authors to be studied include such giants of the tradition as Maimonides (Moshe ben Maimon), Gersonides (Levi ben Gershom), al-Farabi, Avicenna (Ibn Sina), al-Ghazali, and Averroes (Ibn Rushd). Along the way, we’ll consider historical questions about the availability, transmission, and translation of texts. Not all of our philosophers had the same texts, and not all of our philosophers’ works survived into modernity. Class sessions will proceed in a seminar style.