Theology

‘Christian Moral Life’ will enable students to think systematically about the Christian (including Catholic) moral life, while more broadly engaging current issues concerning Christian ethics and morality. This introductory course will explore the foundational sources of ethics (Scripture and Tradition), as well as theology, philosophy, and ecumenical conversations. It will show how these foundational sources guide ethical understanding concretely by examining pressing issues of the day. A service learning component will be required. Fulfills the Religious Studies requirement in the Core Curriculum.

This course provides a survey of the origin, development, and principal themes of the Old Testament to gain a basic understanding of the foundations of Israelite faith. Methods of contemporary biblical interpretation will be explored and applied in the process of analyzing various types of Old Testament writings. Fulfills the Religious Studies requirement in the Core Curriculum.

A survey of the New Testament, presented within the historical and cultural perspectives of the first-century Christian communities. Methods of contemporary biblical interpretation will be explored and applied in the process of analyzing Paul's letters and the gospels. Fulfills the Religious Studies requirement in the Core Curriculum.

This course provides an analysis of the phenomenon of Christianity in both its Roman Catholic and Protestant forms in terms of history, major doctrines, rituals and the contributions of seminal theologians. Fulfills the Religious Studies requirement in the Core Curriculum.

This course provides a consideration of each of the great religions in the context of contemporary society. Variations in the structure, organization, and function of the religions are systematically examined. Fulfills the Religious Studies requirement in the Core Curriculum.

An analysis of the origin and development of Christian liturgies, designed to place in perspective the current liturgical reforms taking place in Catholicism and other Christian churches. Practical approaches for implementing various liturgical rites and expressions are presented.

This introductory survey of both Testaments of the Bible includes the basic elements of historical and critical Biblical studies as well as treatment of the Bible’s major theological themes. Topics include inspiration and inerrancy, a survey of critical methods and an introduction to the various schools of Biblical interpretation. The theological portion of the course will consider such themes as election, covenant, promise, kingdom, justice, salvation, and faith.

An exploration of results of modern historical study of the gospels, which provide a better picture of the facts of Jesus' life that Christians have had for the past 19 centuries. This course also analyzes the significance of such historical information for evaluation past and present expressions of Christian belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Prerequisite: Fulfillment of core curriculum requirement in Religious Studies.

‘Catholic Biomedical Ethics’ will study biomedical and health care ethics in light of Catholic theology and the philosophical tradition of natural law. The course will cover basic principles of moral theology and ethics as tools for understanding the moral nature of health care itself. Flowing out of these principles, the course will investigate a series of particular biomedical issues including beginning-of-life and end-of-life questions in and through the foundational Christian claim of intrinsic human dignity. The course will provide students with both a speculative understanding of these issues and knowledge necessary to meet adequately the challenge of ethical questions for those pursuing employment in health care and related fields. Fulfills the Religious Studies requirement in the Core Curriculum.

A consideration of the sacramental or incarnational approach to worship and to the other elements of Christian faith and practice: Christology, ecclesiology, morality, and ascetical practice. The course will include an analysis of the origin and development of Christian liturgies, designed to place in perspective the current liturgical reforms taking place in Catholicism and other Christian churches.

Students will explore a particular topic in the western religious tradition. The topics can be in areas such as the following: the writings of an important thinker (e.g. Thomas Aquinas or Martin Luther), or the religious dynamics of a historical period (e.g. the impact of the reformation or Vatican II on Christian doctrine, practice and organization), or the development of theological or moral doctrines or religious practices (e.g. Women in the Church), or a particular topic in the academic study of the Bible using modern methods of interpretation (e.g. a single book like Genesis, a set of books like the letters of Paul, or a biblical theme like "Covenant" or "Prophecy". This course may be taken a second time with a different topic. Prerequisites: Fulfillment of core curriculum requirement in Religious Studies.

An examination of how Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian theologians have responded to the many challenges presented by the modern world. Such challenges include those posed by the Enlightenment, historical consciousness, modernism, the Industrial Revolution, totalitarian regimes, and socio-economic disparity. The course will also consider theological responses to modern forms of atheism, socio-economic criticisms (Marx), psychological criticisms (Freud), gender inequality, ethnic and racial injustices and the awareness of other religious traditions. Prerequisite: fulfillment of core curriculum requirement in Religious Studies and Philosophy.

‘Church in Contemporary Society’ critically examines how the Church engages different cultures through sacramental life and social mission for the spiritual and material wellbeing of all persons. Key understandings to be explored include the Church’s role in public life in general, the Church as a Eucharistic community, the Church as the people of God, the Church as one, holy, catholic and apostolic, the Church as sacrament, and the Church in solidarity with the poor. Prerequisite: fulfillment of the core curriculum requirement for religious studies.

This is the senior thesis course for the major in Theology. Students are required to do independent.

Directed readings and research; topics determined by the student and faculty member.

Field instruction includes educationally directed practical experiences. Guidance by an experienced catechist or pastoral leader will be arranged and supplemented by weekly individual and group conferences with a faculty member. Students will be expected to do related readings and recording of field experiences. Students will spend eight hours a week in their field placement. The course will be graded pass/fail and must be taken concurrently or subsequent to RS 370. Prerequisite: Permission for the department chairperson.