Previous Years' Course Catalogues

The course will explore in theory and practice various types of meditation and prayer of major religious traditions, including: Christian Lectio Divina, Recollection/Centering Prayer, Taize. and Quaker Worship; Buddhist Mindfulness/Insight meditation; Sufi Contemplation; Hindu Mantra meditation; and certain kinds of Yoga. It will outline and analyze the practices and goals of these types of prayer and meditation, with attention to: particular similarities and differences; their effects on the body, emotions and mind; and their relationship to other aspects of these religious traditions. It will attend to questions pertaining to the possible relevance of prayer and meditation to interreligious dialogue and comparative theology.

The Wisdom Tradition in Israel faced the paradox of maintaining God's mercy and justice in the light of Israel's failures and suffering. The Book of Job is an eloquent expression of Israel's grappling with the issues behind theodicy. The course begins with an exploration of Israel's Wisdom Tradition in relation to the Ancient Near East, prophecy and cult in order to set a context for reading and interpreting the book in its entirety. The literary features and structure of the work provide a methodological lense for appreciating how the Wisdom Tradition in the Book of Job dealt with suffering, ethics, beauty and love.

The Wisdom Tradition in Israel faced the paradox of maintaining God's mercy and justice in the light of Israel's failures and suffering. The Book of Job is an eloquent expression of Israel's grappling with the issues behind theodicy. The course begins with an exploration of Israel's Wisdom Tradition in relation to the Ancient Near East, prophecy and cult in order to set a context for reading and interpreting the book in its entirety. The literary features and structure of the work provide a methodological lense for appreciating how the Wisdom Tradition in the Book of Job dealt with suffering, ethics, beauty and love.

This course explores the nature of religious experience (spirituality) in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral signlficance of such comparative study.

This course explores the nature of religious experience in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral significance of such comparative study. 

This course explores the nature of religious experience (spirituality) in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral signlficance of such comparative study.

This course explores the nature of religious experience in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral significance of such comparative study. Lecture, discussion, four short reflection papers, one major essay.

This course explores the nature of religious experience (spirituality) in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral signlficance of such comparative study.

This course explores the nature of religious experience in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral significance of such comparative study.ÿ

Where was God when this happened?! How can religious people commit such atrocities?! What
can a religious leader say after such a horrendous event?! This course explores such questions
by analyzing theological responses to human tragedy and cultural shock. Discussion will attend
to issues of theodicy, religious terrorism and natural disasters through the perspectives of
systematic theology, ethics, and practical theology. The course focuses on popular reactions events like the Lisbon Earthquake, the First World War, the Holocaust, Fukushima, climate Change, Conspiracy Theory, and contemporary terrorism. Attention will be given to themes such as the meaning of suffering, the function of religious discourse in the face of tragedy, the nature of ideology, and the relationship between religion and violence. The course concludes by moving from these analyses to an exploration of the peril and promise of speaking of God in times of terror.

Where was God when this happened?! How can religious people commit such atrocities?! What can a religious leader say after such a horrendous event?! This course explores such questions by analyzing theological responses to human tragedy and cultural shock. Discussion will attend to issues of theodicy, religious terrorism and natural disasters through the perspectives of systematic theology, ethics, and practical theology. The course focuses on popular reactions to the terrorist attacks on the USA in 2001, but includes attention to the First World War, the Holocaust, Hurricane Katrina, Fukushima, and contemporary terrorism. Attention will be given to themes such as the meaning of suffering, the function of religious discourse in the face of tragedy, the nature of ideology, and the relationship between religion and violence. The course concludes by moving from these analyses to an exploration of the peril and promise of speaking of God in times of terror.

Where was God when this happened?! How can religious people commit such atrocities?! What can a religious leader say after such a horrendous event?! This course explores such questions by analyzing theological responses to human tragedy and cultural shock. Discussion will attend to issues of theodicy, religious terrorism and natural disasters through the perspectives of systematic theology, ethics, and practical theology. The course focuses on popular reactions to the terrorist attacks on the USA in 2001, but includes attention to the First World War, the Holocaust, Hurricane Katrina, Fukushima, and contemporary terrorism. Attention will be given to themes such as the meaning of suffering, the function of religious discourse in the face of tragedy, the nature of ideology, and the relationship between religion and violence. The course concludes by moving from these analyses to an exploration of the peril and promise of speaking of God in times of terror.