Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This course is designed as an introduction to the field of Christian ethics, not as a cerebral and academic discipline but as a lived, embodied Christian reality. It is designed with the intent of providing the student with a framework through which to understand what it means to live as the church within the complexities of the social, moral, and political world of the 21st century. The themes of drama, narrative, acting, and especially "improvisation" provide the conceptual lens through which we will engage various ethical complexities such as genetic-bio-ethical issues, sexuality, family and marriage, pacifism and war, or ecological ethics. This will be an online course with a written lecture format, weekly readings, student participation in weekly discussion questions, one minor assignment, and a final major paper.

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 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.