Previous Years' Course Catalogues

In this course we will look at a variety of biblical episodes and stories from both the Old and New Testaments and how they have been seen, imagined, and interpreted by artists and musicians over the centuries. We will explore how these works of art spoke to and about the period in which they were created, how they open up new dimensions of understanding the scriptures for us, and the relationship between convention and imagination in interpreting the scriptures. In two sessions we will look in particular at Bach€™s St John Passion, and in relation to it the differing ways the Passion of Jesus Christ has been depicted over the centuries.

In this course we will look at a variety of biblical episodes and stories from both the Old and New Testaments and how they have been seen, imagined, and interpreted by artists and musicians over the centuries. We will explore how these works of art spoke to and about the period in which they were created, how they open up new dimensions of understanding the scriptures for us, and the relationship between convention and imagination in interpreting the scriptures. In two sessions we will look in particular at Bach€™s St John Passion, and in relation to it the differing ways the Passion of Jesus Christ has been depicted over the centuries.

This course will facilitate an understanding of the Gospel of Mark with reference to five, overarching themes: 1) the text's implied socio-cultural context; 2) narrative structure; 3) the distanciation of the reader from the text; 3) its implied symbolic (structural) world; 4)the intended (and unintended) effects of the text upon the reader; and 5) changes in the reader's self-understanding.

This course will facilitate an understanding of the Gospel of Mark with reference to five, overarching themes: 1) the text's implied socio-cultural context; 2) narrative structure; 3) the distanciation of the reader from the text; 3) its implied symbolic (structural) world; 4)the intended (and unintended) effects of the text upon the reader; and 5) changes in the reader's self-understanding.

This course will facilitate an understanding of the Gospel of Mark with reference to five, overarching themes: 1) the text's implied socio-cultural context; 2) narrative structure; 3) the distanciation of the reader from the text; 3) its implied symbolic (structural) world; 4)the intended (and unintended) effects of the text upon the reader; and 5) changes in the reader's self-understanding.

This course will facilitate an understanding of the Gospel of Mark with reference to five, overarching themes: 1) the text's implied socio-cultural context; 2) narrative structure; 3) the distanciation of the reader from the text; 3) its implied symbolic (structural) world; 4)the intended (and unintended) effects of the text upon the reader; and 5) changes in the reader's self-understanding.

This course will facilitate an understanding of the Gospel of Mark with reference to five, overarching themes: 1) the text's implied socio-cultural context; 2) narrative structure; 3) the distanciation of the reader from the text; 3) its implied symbolic (structural) world; 4)the intended (and unintended) effects of the text upon the reader; and 5) changes in the reader's self-understanding.

This course will provide an overview of the history of Coptic Christianity within the broader context of the Middle East, from its inception in the 1st century AD, till the present time. It focuses on the establishment of the Early Church institutions and doctrines in Alexandria, Antioch and onstantinople. A special focus will be on the development of Monasticism in Egypt, Syria and Palestine, and the role of monasteries in preserving and transmitting the Church tradition. Selected Greek, Coptic and Syriac literary sources on monasticism will introduce students to the religious and cultural affinities between the Churches of the Middle East.

This course will provide an overview of the history of Coptic Christianity within the broader context of the Middle East, from its inception in the 1st century AD, till the present time. It focuses on the establishment of the Early Church institutions and doctrines in Alexandria, Antioch and onstantinople. A special focus will be on the development of Monasticism in Egypt, Syria and Palestine, and the role of monasteries in preserving and transmitting the Church tradition. Selected Greek, Coptic and Syriac literary sources on monasticism will introduce students to the religious and cultural affinities between the Churches of the Middle East.

This course will have two parts. The first half will look at key theories, sources, and methods used in Christian Ethics and the second half will look at specific contemporary issues that are likely to arise in a church context, such as abortion, euthanasia, disability, war, violence, and politics. The concepts, distinctions, texts, and questions presented in the course will help students practice integrating Scripture, tradition, philosophy, and experience and give them resources to better assist family, friends, neighbours, and parishioners in thinking through ethical issues. It will also ask and explore attendant questions around the major moral issues that could arise specifically in the life of parish ministry.

This course will have tvvo parts. The first half will look at key theories, sources, and methods used in Christian Ethics and the second half will look at specific contemporary issues that are likely to arise in a church context, such as abortion, euthanasia, disability, war, violence, and politics. The concepts, distinctions, texts, and questions presented in the course will help students practice integrating Scripture, tradition, philosophy, and experience and give them resources to better assist family, friends, neighbours, and parishioners in thinking through ethical issues. It will also ask and explore attendant questions around the major moral issues that could arise specifically in the life of parish ministry.

All reading of biblical texts takes place in a context. Paying attention to how context affects reading provides insight, not only into the process of the reception of biblical texts, but also into the biblical texts themselves. This course explores the dynamic of reading biblical texts by examining how selected passages from the Gospel of Mark and the letters of Paul have been taken up in recent years specifically within two related fields of discourse: what is often described as Asian biblical interpretation, and its cousin, Asian American biblical interpretation. Through assigned readings, lectures, class discussions, student presentations, and individual case studies of specific biblical texts, this course will introduce students to published materials in Asian and Asian American biblical interpretation, and in so doing give students an opportunity to reflect on their own context as a lens for interpretation.