Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This course invites students to reflect critically, from within an Eastern Christian frame of reference, on a series of current issues where the encounter of contemporaneity and classical wisdom is not only vital but also potentially very fruitful as regards conceptual yield. The issues include the following: virtual reality and cyberspace; war and peacebuilding; social and economic justice; multiculturalism; gender identity/expression and sexuality; (in)fertility and reproductive technologies; genetic research and genome engineering; palliative care and medical assistance in dying; and stewardship for an integral ecology. Contextual discussion of the foregoing will be embedded in a wider theological consideration of rights and responsibilities, as these have developed in the classic expressions of the Eastern Christian tradition(s). Students will thus become aware of how ethics occurs at the intersection of various fields within theology, as well as at the boundary with disciplines beyond it (e.g., philosophy, psychology and sociology).

This course invites students to reflect critically, from within an Eastern Christian frame of reference, on a series of current issues where the encounter of contemporaneity and classical wisdom is not only vital but also potentially very fruitful as regards conceptual yield. The issues include the following: virtual reality and cyberspace; war and peacebuilding; social and economic justice; multiculturalism; gender identity/expression and sexuality; (in)fertility and reproductive technologies; genetic research and genome engineering; palliative care and medical assistance in dying; and stewardship for an integral ecology. Contextual discussion of the foregoing will be embedded in a wider theological consideration of rights and responsibilities, as these have developed in the classic expressions of the Eastern Christian tradition(s). Students will thus become aware of how ethics occurs at the intersection of various fields within theology, as well as at the boundary with disciplines beyond it (e.g., philosophy, psychology and sociology).

The New Testament texts are not the only extant Christian writings from the first through early second centuries. In addition to these texts, there is a body of literature known as the Apostolic Fathers, which includes such texts as 1 Clement, the Didache, the Letters of Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas. The earliest of these texts likely is older than the latest books found in the New Testament. Some even appeared in early versions of the New Testament canon. In this course, we will read the Apostolic Fathers as well as selected other texts from approximately the same time frame, and consider their place within both early Christianity and contemporary scholarship.

The New Testament texts are not the only extant Christian writings from the first through early second centuries. In addition to these texts, there is a body of literature known as the Apostolic Fathers, which includes such texts as 1 Clement, the Didache, the Letters of Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas. The earliest of these texts likely is older than the latest books found in the New Testament. Some even appeared in early versions of the New Testament canon. In this course, we will read the Apostolic Fathers as well as selected other texts from approximately the same time frame, and consider their place within both early Christianity and contemporary scholarship.

In the light of global environmental degradation and the Church's increased attention to challenges facing the natural world, not least in the publication of the papal encyclical Laudato Si, the exigence for Christians to respond faithfully to the ecological crisis is ever increasing. This course will investigate the relationship between theology and ecology in order to articulate an ethic of ecological care and address the following questions: • What is nature/creation and what is its relationship to humanity? • What does theology have to do with caring for the natural world? • How does a theological conception of nature affect behaviour, ethics, and culture? • What should be our ethical response to environmental abuse? • Can the dignity of human persons be upheld in a way that does not presume a dominion over nature? The goal of this course is to give students a foundation in theological ethics from which to form a faithful response to the ecological crisis facing "our common home." It will introduce principles and perspectives for environmental ethics from a theological viewpoint. Special attention will be given to the resources of the Catholic tradition, but this course will integrate other theological perspectives, as well as materials from art and literature.

An in-depth study of the theological ethics of Stanley Hauerwas, covering some of his major theological and philosophical influences, main themes of his work, the development of his thought, and some of his key interlocutors. The bulk of the course will focus on his ‘fundamental moral theology,’ including questions of the goal of human life, the nature of human actions and problems of action description, the significance of vision, narrative, and virtue in the Christian life, the place of ethics in the Christian community as people of God, and questions concerning the church’s peace witness. The course will also spend some time at Hauerwas’ work in the area of theology and medicine, particularly addressing how his broader theological and ethical convictions inform his approach to medical ethics. Finally, the course will touch on Hauerwas’s place in and contributions to theology in its more “dogmatic” expressions, his relation to Barth and to postliberalism, and his reception in both the Protestant and Catholic worlds.

This course traces the history of the interpretation of the Bible from the time of the early church to the present. We will examine major figures and major forms of biblical interpretation and also give attention to a consideration of popular and forgotten voices. The course will include lectures, small group discussions and presentations. Each student will do a class presentation and submit a final paper.

This course traces the history of the interpretation of the Bible from the time of the early church to the present. We will examine major figures and major forms of biblical interpretation and also give attention to a consideration of popular and forgotten voices.

Review of the debates of enculturation/ assimilation, inculturation, and multiculturalism, and proposal of intercultura!lty as alternative paradigm for constructive ethical and theological inquiry. This seminar format course draws from the multiple ethnic and cultural voices of Christianity, and attempts to create new intercultural spaces of ethical & theological reflection. Through exploration of key terms, themes, and authors, students will be challenged to develop and foster persona! skills in discerning the role their cultural background plays in their own religious tradition and theoethical ideas, as we!! as how it impacts their engagement of other cultural and religious traditions. Students wi!I develop key sensibilities toward greater intercultural competence.

The work of Ludwig Wittgenstein has been highly influential on many of the most important theologians of the last two generations. His work has also been influential on moral philosophers and moral theologians. This course in theological ethics will examine both the work of Wittgenstein himself, and those he has influenced, on a variety of the central questions for contemporary theological ethics. Key authors to be studied include Elizabeth Anscombe, Herbert McCabe, Fergus Kerr, Rowan Williams, Cora Diamond, and Stephen Mulhall. Topics to be discussed will include questions of intention and the problem of act-description, the nature of human flourishing, questions of analogy, and the nature of theological claims in relation to the moral life.

The work of Ludwig Wittgenstein has been highly influential on many of the most important theologians of the last two generations. His work has also been influential on moral philosophers and moral theologians. This course in theological ethics will examine both the work of Wittgenstein himself, and those he has influenced, on a variety of the central questions for contemporary theological ethics. Key authors to be studied include Elizabeth Anscombe, Herbert McCabe, Fergus Kerr, Rowan Williams, Cora Diamond, and Stephen Mulhall. Topics to be discussed will include questions of intention and the problem of act-description, the nature of human flourishing, questions of analogy, and the nature of theological claims in relation to the moral life.

For most of Christian history the interpretation of the Bible was a pastoral activity. Drawing on basic notions of post-modern consideration of 'reader response', we will survey the pre-critical interpretation history of the Bible from a diachronic perspective as an unfolding process across history, and in key synchronic snapshots focusing on types of interpretation as specific moments in the history. How do interpretations reflect and repress the tensions, inner dynamics and problematics of the biblical texts to which they are a response? How are they responses to the needs of the community in specific places and times? We will examine theories of interpretation and also actual examples of interpretation from various periods. Broad topics will include: early Christian interpretation of texts from Leviticus and Ecclesiastes, hermeneutic approaches of Origen, Augustine, Luther and others, mediaeval readings of the book of Ruth, Luther and Calvin as archetypal Reformation readers of scripture, visual art as a form of biblical interpretation, the emergence of historical-critical models of reading, and the cantatas and Passions of J.S. Bach as instances of affective and intellective interpretation.