Previous Years' Course Catalogues

Outlines the history of Christian missions from its beginnings in Pentecost to the end of the 20th century, followed by area studies of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe, and concluding with a consideration of the transition from missions to development to post-development. Short papers and collaborative internet project.

This course will equip students to reflect critically and theologically upon various aspects of urban existence, to discern the implicit theological dimensions of urban life, to participate meaningfully in contemporary discourses about the city, and to cultivate a distinctively urban spirituality.
Urbanism, simply put, consists in a desire to transform the city we have into the city we love --the city of "our heart's
desire." It is, therefore, less about defining "the meaning of the city" (J. Ellul) and more about identifying and encouraging a certain quality of urban life. It is this qualitative aspect of urbanist theory and practice that lends itself to theological reflection and provides an opportunity to better understand the complexities of faithful life and ministry in the contemporary city.

This course will examine the history of the Orthodox Christian churches (including "Eastern," Assyrian and Oriental Orthodox) from 1204 to the present. Key topics will include Orthodox relations with Roman Catholic and Protestant communities, with Islam, and with Communism, as well as hesychasm, liturgical reform, missions, Orthodox ethnicism, the
Orthodox "diaspora," and the growth of Orthodoxy as a Western phenomenon. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on engaging with primary sources. In addition, we will pay special attention to the nature of Church History as a discipline, what it means to study Christianity during an often difficult time, and the pastoral mission of Church historians.

This course will examine how major characters in the Old Testament have been read, interpreted and proclaimed from the 19th Century through to today. Special attention will be given to Adam and Eve, Sarah, Abraham and Hagar, Lot, Lot's wife and daughters, Moses and Miriam, Rahab, Samson and Delilah, the Levite and the concubine, David and his women, Ahaz and Jezebel, Vashti and Ahasuerus, and images of "bad girls and boys". We will ask questions about how we read and interpret texts and how biblical stories can be used in the church today.ÿ

This course will examine how major characters in the Old Testament have been read, interpreted and proclaimed from the 19th Century through to today. Special attention will be given to Adam and Eve, Sarah, Abraham and Hagar, Lot, Lot's wife and daughters, Moses and Miriam, Rahab, Samson and Delilah, the Levite and the concubine, David and his women, Ahaz and Jezebel, Vashti and Ahasuerus, and images of "bad girls and boys". We will ask questions about how we read and interpret texts and how biblical stories can be used in the church today. 

This introductory historiographical course surveys select 'sacred' and 'profane' works of church history by some of the most important ecclesiastical historians and philosophers active from the mid-first century AD until the mid-twentieth century (including, but not limited to, Luke, Augustine, Foxe, Bossuet, Voltaire, Hegel, Ranke, and Acton).

This introductory historiographical course surveys select 'sacred' and 'profane' works of church history by some of the most important ecclesiastical historians and philosophers active from the mid-first century AD until the mid-twentieth century (including, but not limited to, Luke, Augustine, Foxe, Bossuet, Voltaire, Hegel, Ranke, and Acton).

This introductory historiographical course surveys select 'sacred' and 'profane' works of church history by some of the most important ecclesiastical historians and philosophers active from the mid-first century AD until the mid-twentieth century (including, but not limited to, Luke, Augustine, Foxe, Bossuet, Voltaire, Hegel, Ranke, and Acton). Participation in online discussion group, research paper, critical response/book report, online final exam.

Surveys the history of Christian mission from its beginnings at Pentecost to the outset of the 21st century. A chronological treatment covers developments in the early church, the medieval achievement, the impact of 16th century missions, the great expansion of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the fate of global Christianity. Separate consideration is given to area studies of missionary history in Aftica, Asia, the Americas, and Europe, as well as the church's role in development (wealth and poverty, health, education, and the environment) is made.

Christian doctrine of creation; its scriptural foundation in Old and New Testaments; its difference from Greek philosophical theories; its history to present; its relation to evolution; contemporary theories. Man/woman: their nature and relationship to God and the world as understood in history of Christian thought. Monogenism vs. polygenism. The problem of evil, original sin and sin of the world.

Christian doctrine of creation; its scriptural foundation in Old and New Testaments; its difference from Greek philosophical theories; its history to present; its relation to evolution; contemporary theories. Man/woman: their nature and relationship to God and the world as understood in history of Christian thought. Monogenism vs. polygenism. The problem of evil, original sin and sin of the world. Lectures and discussion. Paper.

Christian doctrine of creation; its scriptural foundation in Old and New Testaments; its difference from Greek philosophical theories; its history to present; its relation to evolution; contemporary theories. Man/woman: their nature and relationship to God and the world as understood in history of Christian thought. Monogenism vs. polygenism. The problem of evil, original sin and sin of the world. Lectures and discussion. Paper.