Previous Years' Course Catalogues

If spaces could talk…in fact they do!  Ideas dwell in space. The course examines the relation between architecture and religious ideas and how the experience of diaspora affects church space and practices. Through observing architecture, decoration, and activities performed in the buildings, the course explores how time and space are adapted and offers practical knowledge on how to decipher the changes.

We will discuss the concepts of religion, "official" religion, vernacular religion (the way people “do religion”), and its folkloric roots. Students will take part in a variety of observations in different sites (if permitted; otherwise there will be video tours).

The course examines how the experience of diaspora-common in large metropolitan areas like Toronto-transforms church space and practices. It introduces the notion of vernacular religion! "religion as it is lived" or the way people "do religion." Religions are usually approached and discussed within the boundaries of their official representations. Yeti globalization and migration movements relocate people and modify the expression of their beliefs and ritual habits. Often space is the first to signal modifications of the social and religious dynamics. The notion of vernacular religion is introduced as it takes an important role in analyzing the adaptive changes often misperceived as secularization. While vernacular religion is not regarded as folkloric within the scope of this course, it allows us to examine traditional ethnic elements performed in the churches. Significant adaptation of the ecclesial space is often a function of the fact that small ethnic communities have only a single gathering place available, which transforms the design, functions, and communal relations within religious space. The course is based on data collected on Eastern Orthodox sacred space in Toronto diaspora churches. Yeti it provides an interdisciplinary approach and discusses the concepts of religion, "official" religion, vernacular religion (including folklore) and is open to consider plural faith traditions. Students will be invited to reflect on practical differences between homeland and diasporic embodiments of services, liturgical allocation of space and ecclesial or communal activities. The course explores how relocation changes religious habits and how people recreate their traditions in diaspora.

If spaces could talk…in fact they do!  Ideas dwell in space. The course examines the relation between architecture and religious ideas and how the experience of diaspora affects church space and practices. Through observing architecture, decoration, and activities performed in the buildings, the course explores how time and space are adapted and offers practical knowledge on how to decipher the changes.

We will discuss the concepts of religion, "official" religion, vernacular religion (the way people “do religion”), and its folkloric roots. Students will take part in a variety of observations in different sites (if permitted; otherwise there will be video tours).

This course will examine the methods of biblical interpretation used in the Church from NT times through the 4th century. Areas covered will include the Jewish forms of exegesis found in the NT, the ellegorical method, the schools of Antioch and Alexandria, as well as interpreters such as Origen, Theodore of Mopsuestia, and St. Augustine. Course will consist of lectures, the reading of some introductory secondary works, and selected readings from Patristic commentaries. There will be two short essays and one longer final essay.

This course will examine the methods of biblical interpretation used in the Church from NT times through the 4th century. Areas covered will include the Jewish forms of exegesis found in the NT, the ellegorical method, the schools of Antioch and Alexandria, as well as interpreters such as Origen, Theodore of Mopsuestia, and St. Augustine. Course will consist of lectures, the reading of some introductory secondary works, and selected readings from Patristic commentaries.

This course will examine the methods of biblical interpretation used in the Church from NT times through the 4th century. Areas covered will include the Jewish forms of exegesis found in the NT, the ellegorical method, the schools of Antioch and Alexandria, as well as interpreters such as Origen, Theodore of Mopsuestia, and St. Augustine. Course will consist of lectures, the reading of some introductory secondary works, and selected readings from Patristic commentaries.

The course will survey ethical issues encountered by both Christian leaders and leaders in Christian institutions as well as the styles and theories of leadership and models for effective decision-making that might be employed. The course will use a combination of lectures, discussions and student led seminars. Evaluation: participation, seminar presentation, case analysis, integration paper.

This course will examine the relationship between ethics, politics and religion from historical, philosophical and theological perspectives with special emphasis on the challenges associated with pluralism in liberal democratic contexts. Students will be introduced to key figures in classical liberalism; the Second Vatican Council's affirmation of constitutional democracy; and to the contemporary liberal-communitarian debate. In the latter portion of the course we will examine select liberal, Christian communitarian, and middle-ground approaches to democracy.

This course will examine the relationship between ethics, politics and religion from historical, philosophical and theological perspectives with special emphasis on the challenges associated with pluralism in liberal democratic contexts. Students will be introduced to key figures in classical liberalism; the Second Vatican Council's affirmation of constitutional democracy; and to the contemporary liberal-communitarian debate. In the latter portion of the course we will examine select liberal, Christian communitarian, and middle-ground approaches to democracy.

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).

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).