Previous Years' Course Catalogues

An examination of the "rise and fall" of prophecy in ancient Israel, considered within its historical context. Topics include the ancient Near Eastern background, the social location of Israelite prophets, true and false prophecy, modes of prophetic speech, interpretation of the individual prophetic books, the demise of prophecy, and its possible role in the development of apocalyptic. Assigned readings, class lectures and discussion. Participation, class presentations, paper proposal, research paper, application paper. Prerequisite: SMB1007: Introduction to the Old Testament or equivalent.

An examination of the "rise and fall" of prophecy in ancient Israel, considered within its historical context. Topics include the ancient Near Eastern background, the social location of Israelite prophets, true and false prophecy, modes of prophetic speech, interpretation of the individual prophetic books, the demise of prophecy, and its possible role in the development of apocalyptic. Assigned readings, class lectures and discussion. Participation, class presentations, paper proposal, research paper, application paper. Prerequisite: SMB1007: Introduction to the Old Testament or equivalent.

An examination of the "rise and fall" of prophecy in ancient Israel, considered within its historical context. Topics include the ancient Near Eastern background, the social location of Israelite prophets, true and false prophecy, modes of prophetic speech, interpretation of the individual prophetic books, the demise of prophecy, and its possible role in the development of apocalyptic.

This introductory course examines the influence of, and contemporary reaction to, natural theology, evolution theory, and Charles Darwin's "natural selection" theory, from the late eighteenth century until the Scopes Trial (1925). Although the course focuses on England and the United States, we will also make a tertiary examination of defenders and critics of natural theology, evolutionary theory, and natural selection theory in Continental Europe and Canada. 

This introductory course examines the influence of, and contemporary reaction to, natural theology, evolution theory, and Charles Darwin's "natural selection" theory, from the late eighteenth century until the Scopes Trial (1925). Although the course focuses on England and the United States, we will also make a tertiary examination of defenders and critics of natural theology, evolutionary theory, and natural selection theory in Continental Europe and Canada. 

This introductory course examines the influence of, and contemporary reaction to, natural theology, evolution theory, and Charles Darwin's "natural selection" theory, from the late eighteenth century until the Scopes Trial (1925). Although the course focuses on England and the United States, we will also make a tertiary examination of defenders and critics of natural theology, evolutionary theory, and natural selection theory in Continental Europe and Canada.

Designed to be experienced early in the programs of all students preparing for vocational ministry, this course will provide a pathway toward spiritual refreshment, deeper commitment and disciplined living.  It will be a blend of classroom and practical experiences in the spiritual disciplines culminating in a 24 hour personal spiritual retreat.  It is not intended to be a time of learning about intimacy, commitment and spiritual discipline.  It is meant to be a week of making space for intimacy, reflection, prayer, worship, meditation, solitude, commitment and the nurturing of community. Students should be prepared to fully engage in the exercises that will be planned for the sake of their own journey with God. It is anticipated that having experienced some of these things together we will have learned some things about pointing others in similar directions. Lectures, discussion, spiritual retreat. Evaluation: pre-course reading, class participation, retreat, personal assessment.

Designed to be experienced early in the programs of all students preparing for vocational ministry, this course will provide a pathway toward spiritual refreshment, deeper commitment and disciplined living.  It will be a blend of classroom and practical experiences in the spiritual disciplines culminating in a 24 hour personal spiritual retreat.  It is not intended to be a time of learning about intimacy, commitment and spiritual discipline.  It is meant to be a week of making space for intimacy, reflection, prayer, worship, meditation, solitude, commitment and the nurturing of community. Students should be prepared to fully engage in the exercises that will be planned for the sake of their own journey with God. It is anticipated that having experienced some of these things together we will have learned some things about pointing others in similar directions.

This introductory course surveys the history of atheism and secularization from the mid-eighteenth-century Western European Enlightenment to the present. We will not only read selections from some of the most important English, Scottish, German, and American atheists, agnostics, and rationalists of the period, but also examine and discuss how contemporary political and social thought contributed to the rise of secular thought and gradual decline in theological orthodoxy. The course will demonstrate how the writings of atheists and theological rationalists have always been predicated on significant intellectual and emotional tensions between orthodox Christianity and contemporary culture. Participation, research summary, book report, online final exam

This introductory course surveys the history of atheism and secularization from the mid-eighteenth-century Western European Enlightenment to the present. We will not only read selections from some of the most important English, Scottish, German, and American atheists, agnostics, and rationalists of the period, but also examine and discuss how contemporary political and social thought contributed to the rise of secular thought and gradual decline in theological orthodoxy. The course will demonstrate how the writings of atheists and theological rationalists have always been predicated on significant intellectual and emotional tensions between orthodox Christianity and contemporary culture.

This introductory course surveys the history of atheism and secularization from the mid-eighteenth-century Western European Enlightenment to the present. We will not only read selections from some of the most important English, Scottish, German, and American atheists, agnostics, and rationalists of the period, but also examine and discuss how contemporary political and social thought contributed to the rise of secular thought and gradual decline in theological orthodoxy. The course will demonstrate how the writings of atheists and theological rationalists have always been predicated on significant intellectual and emotional tensions between orthodox Christianity and contemporary culture.

This introductory course surveys the history of atheism and secularization from the mid-eighteenth-century Western European Enlightenment to the present. We will not only read selections from some of the most important English, Scottish, German, and American atheists, agnostics, and rationalists of the period, but also examine and discuss how contemporary political and social thought contributed to the rise of secular thought and gradual decline in theological orthodoxy. The course will demonstrate how the writings of atheists and theological rationalists have always been predicated on significant intellectual and emotional tensions between orthodox Christianity and contemporary culture.