Previous Years' Course Catalogues

The New Testament and early Christianity originated in an "interfaith" context, which entailed the worship of deities from across the broader Mediterranean and Near Eastern world. Whether it be Mithras from Persia or Isis from Egypt or deceased emperors of Rome or (yes) the God of Israel, veneration of these gods shaped not only religious life but society itself. In this course, students will gain a better understanding of these gods and their relationship to religious, social, economic, political, and gendered (among others) dimensions of shared human existence.

This course will provide an opportunity for students to discuss and reflect on the contemporary realities of medical practice which challenge some basic assumptions as to when death occurs and when is a person "dead". In addition, students will examine contemporary efforts to rediscover old wisdoms concerning care for dying patients and ways in which communities of faith might reclaim some of the ancient practices of ars moriendi, the "art of dying." Students examine the phenomena of chronic illness, suffering and dying from a variety of historical, biblical, theological, pastoral care, medical-physiological, psychosocial from a cross cultural perspective. Students also examine contemporary modalities of care for persons at the end of life, including tertiary palliative care, the hospice movement and ancillary "death with dignity" organizations. Course goals include developing the student's ability to care for persons with chronic and terminal illness in ways that are shaped by a variety of theological and religio-cultural understandings of suffering, dying and death. To do so with integrity, students will also explore dimensions of what constitutes health and wholeness, as well as grief and mourning and burial rituals from various religio-cultural perspectives.

This course will provide an opportunity for students to discuss and reflect on the contemporary realities of medical practice which challenge some basic assumptions as to when death occurs and when is a person "dead". In addition, students will examine contemporary efforts to rediscover old wisdoms concerning care for dying patients and ways in which communities of faith might reclaim some of the ancient practices of ars moriendi, the "art of dying." Students examine the phenomena of chronic illness, suffering and dying from a variety of historical, biblical, theological, pastoral care, medical-physiological, psychosocial from a cross cultural perspective. Students also examine contemporary modalities of care for persons at the end of life, including tertiary palliative care, the hospice movement and ancillary "death with dignity" organizations. Course goals include developing the student's ability to care for persons with chronic and terminal illness in ways that are shaped by a variety of theological and religio-cultural understandings of suffering, dying and death. To do so with integrity, students will also explore dimensions of what constitutes health and wholeness, as well as grief and mourning and burial rituals from various religio-cultural perspectives.

This course will provide an opportunity for students to discuss and reflect on the contemporary realities of medical practice which challenge some basic assumptions as to when death occurs and when is a person "dead". In addition, students will examine contemporary efforts to rediscover old wisdoms concerning care for dying patients and ways in which communities of faith might reclaim some of the ancient practices of ars moriendi, the "art of dying." Students examine the phenomena of chronic illness, suffering and dying from a variety of historical, biblical, theological, pastoral care, medical-physiological, psychosocial from a cross cultural perspective. Students also examine contemporary modalities of care for persons at the end of life, including tertiary palliative care, the hospice movement and ancillary "death with dignity" organizations. Course goals include developing the student's ability to care for persons with chronic and terminal illness in ways that are shaped by a variety of theological and religio-cultural understandings of suffering, dying and death. To do so with integrity, students will also explore dimensions of what constitutes health and wholeness, as well as grief and mourning and burial rituals from various religio-cultural perspectives.

Is Chrisitianity a sacrifical religion? What does it mean to say "Christ died for our sins"? Do we offer Christ in the Eucharist? This course will explore the interrelated concepts of "atonement" and "sacrifice" as they are used in Christian theology, especially in the doctrine of the work of Christ, in ecclesiology, and in sacramentology. Readings will include both classic and modern authors, including Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Luther, M. Douglas, Milgrom, Girard, Mascall, Boersma, Hunsinger. Some attention will be paid to postmodern discussions concerning the logic of gift-giving and exchange (Maus, Derrida, Milbank, Cavanaugh).

Is Chrisitianity a sacrifical religion? What does it mean to say "Christ died for our sins"? Do we offer Christ in the Eucharist? This course will explore the interrelated concepts of "atonement" and "sacrifice" as they are used in Christian theology, especially in the doctrine of the work of Christ, in ecclesiology, and in sacramentology. Readings will include both classic and modern authors, including Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Luther, M. Douglas, Milgrom, Girard, Mascall, Boersma, Hunsinger. Some attention will be paid to postmodern discussions concerning the logic of gift-giving and exchange (Maus, Derrida, Milbank, Cavanaugh).

Is Chrisitianity a sacrifical religion? What does it mean to say "Christ died for our sins"? Do we offer Christ in the Eucharist? This course will explore the interrelated concepts of "atonement" and "sacrifice" as they are used in Christian theology, especially in the doctrine of the work of Christ, in ecclesiology, and in sacramentology. Readings will include both classic and modern authors, including Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Luther, M. Douglas, Milgrom, Girard, Mascall, Boersma, Hunsinger. Some attention will be paid to postmodern discussions concerning the logic of gift-giving and exchange (Maus, Derrida, Milbank, Cavanaugh).

Is Chrisitianity a sacrifical religion? What does it mean to say "Christ died for our sins"? Do we offer Christ in the Eucharist? This course will explore the interrelated concepts of "atonement" and "sacrifice" as they are used in Christian theology, especially in the doctrine of the work of Christ, in ecclesiology, and in sacramentology. Readings will include both classic and modern authors, including Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Luther, M. Douglas, Milgrom, Girard, Mascall, Boersma, Hunsinger. Some attention will be paid to postmodern discussions concerning the logic of gift-giving and exchange (Maus, Derrida, Milbank, Cavanaugh).

Examining a set of questions through an interdisciplinary theological lens, this course aims to explore how the present sexual abuse crisis informs (and proposes the need to reform) the understanding of Church as the Body of Christ

Examining a set of questions through an interdisciplinary theological lens, this course aims to explore how the present sexual abuse crisis informs (and proposes the need to reform) the understanding of Church as the Body of Christ

This is a course in spiritual theology, it explores theologies and practices of Christian spirituality, i.e., the study of the experience of God; what the Reformed Protestant tradition has called ‘piety.’ The course will look at spiritual theologians in the history of Reformed Protestantism, the themes they wrote about, and the implications for spiritual practices today. Throughout, the course we will examine ‘Reformed’ spirituality in relation to catholic, ecumenical, contemporary and Indigenous spiritualities. The first half of the course focuses on the spiritual theology of the sixteenth century Reformer John Calvin, set against the Catholic spirituality which preceded it, and the theology and practices of the means of grace (the Word, the sacraments, and prayer) which emerged from it in the Reformed tradition, including a discussion of the significance of these practices for people of faith today. The second half of the course highlights key moments, figures, and themes in the history of Reformed spirituality, and sets these in conversation with contemporary spiritualities.

The cross-disciplinary (pastoral and theological) course will help students reflect deeply on pastoral practice through interdisciplinary engagement with emerging issues that challenge the practice of pastoral ministry in today’s world. Issues addressed would include the pervasive impact of climate change on physical and mental health, changing family structures, sexuality, and gender, economic privation, racism, and other systemic injustices that undermine the sense of hope in a better future posing immense challenges for the effective practice of pastoral ministry.