Previous Years' Course Catalogues

In Mark 8:28, Jesus asks, 'Who do you say that I am?' Christians have answered this question in complex and often conflicting ways, leading to a variety of depictions of Jesus that often bear little resemblance to one another. This course will examine how Jesus comes to be understood as culturally significant in differing contexts, a 'sticky' figure to whom various values and ideals become affixed. More precisely, this course will look at how Jesus is continually re-fashioned to advance specific social interests- how we see in Jesus what we want to see and consequently understand him to be on 'our' side of a given debate.

In Mark 8:28, Jesus asks, "Who do you say that I am?" Christians have answered this question in complex and often conflicting ways, leading to a variety of depictions of Jesus that often bear little resemblance to one another.  This course will examine how Jesus comes to be understood as culturally significant in differing contexts, a "sticky" figure to whom various values and ideals become affixed. More precisely, this course will look at how Jesus is continually re-fashioned to advance specific social interests- how we see in Jesus what we want to see and consequently understand him to be on "our" side of a given debate.

Because of advances in nutrition, hygiene and medicine, more people are living longer lives than ever before. For individuals to live to old age was once considered a blessing; currently to have population aging of this magnitude - the silver tsunami - is seen as a destructive demographic development. This course will explore issues in aging from an ethical-theological perspective. Topics to include: what it means to age as Individuals and as populations; ageism and elder abuse; the fight against aging; .institutionalization of elders; building age-friendly communities; poverty and aging; aging in a global context; a theology of aging.

Since the 3rd century Egyptian monks developed a fervent ascetic movement that spread across Egypt. Hermits, anchorites and monks, all passionate about dedicating their lives to God, created living spaces responding to their spiritual and material daily needs, from the recluse cave to the most sophisticated monastic complex. The History of Egyptian Monasticism will present a historical overview on the origins of monasticism based on written sources. The comparison of these sources with the outcomes of archaeological excavations will reveal the relation between spiritual and material aspects of monastic life. Samples of published literary sources produced for different monastic orders such as sermons, canons and biographies will be studied.

This course seeks to engender a biblical theology in the shadow of empire. In all times of history, the people of God are called to navigate a covenantal faith in the midst of conflicted visions of life and cultural practice. The biblical narrative is shaped, lived and told anew in contest with other grand narratives, overwhelmingly imperial in character. What does the reign of God look like when set in the context of other hegemonic claims to sovereignty? That is a question that resonates throughout the biblical witness and needs to be asked of every generation.

This course seeks to engender a biblical theology in the shadow of empire. In all times of history, the people of God are called to navigate a covenantal faith in the midst of conflicted visions of life and cultural practice. The biblical narrative is shaped, lived and told anew in contest with other grand narratives, overwhelmingly imperial in character. What does the reign of God look like when set in the context of other hegemonic claims to sovereignty? That is a question that resonates throughout the biblical witness and needs to be asked of every generation.

This course examines various theories of ethics throughout Christian history and the practical ethical issues that Christians face in today's changing society, which include ethics of life, ethics for the earth, and ethics of just peace. The course consists of two parts: 1) the theoretical foundations for Christian ethical thinking, and 2) various practical ethical issues for today.

This course examines various theories of ethics throughout Christian history and the practical ethical issues that Christians face in today's changing society, which include ethics of life, ethics for the earth, and ethics of just peace. The course consists of two parts: 1) the theoretical foundations for Christian ethical thinking, and 2) various practical ethical issues for today.

This course examines various theories of ethics throughout Christian history and the practical ethical issues that Christians face in today's changing society, which include ethics of life, ethics for the earth, and ethics of just peace. The course consists of two parts: 1) the theoretical foundations for Christian ethical thinking, and 2) various practical ethical issues for today.

This course examines various theoretical and practical ethical issues that Christians face in today's changing society, with special emphases on multicultural reality in Canada and the global ecological crisis today. The course consists of four parts: the theoretical foundation for Christian ethical thinking (part 1), social justice issues in Canadian multi-cultural multi-ethnic, and multi-religious society (part 2), ecological crisis and the church's response (part 3), integration (part 4). Lecture and seminar. Minor and major papers, short weekly reading report and group discussion report, and one seminar presentation.

This course examines various theoretical and practical ethical issues that Christians face in today's changing society, with special emphases on multicultural reality in Canada and the global ecological crisis today. The course consists of four parts: the theoretical foundation for Christian ethical thinking (part 1), social justice issues in Canadian multi-cultural multi-ethnic, and multi-religious society (part 2), ecological crisis and the church's response (part 3), integration (part 4).

This course examines various theoretical and practical ethical issues that Christians face in today's changing society, with special emphases on multicultural reality in Canada and the global ecological crisis today. The course consists of four parts: the theoretical foundation for Christian ethical thinking (part 1), social justice issues in Canadian multi-cultural multi-ethnic, and multi-religious society (part 2), ecological crisis and the church's response (part 3), integration (part 4).