Previous Years' Course Catalogues

Interfaith dialogue has many avenues, of which reading each other's sacred texts is one of the most conducive to building understanding. The scriptures of Islam, Judaism and Christianity are particularly suited to this venture, because of the shared narratives, which demonstrate both commonalities and profound differences. This course focuses on narratives shared between the Bible and the Quran and how major Muslim, Christian, and Jewish scholars have approached the relationship between the texts across the ages. The course examines scholars such as Tabari (d. 923), Ibn Kathir (d. 1373), Abraham Geiger (d. 1874), W. St. Clair Tisdall (d.1929), Angelika Neuwirth and others. Students will learn the difference between author- and reader-oriented approaches, influence theory and intertextuality, and how different presuppositions can impact how the texts and their relationship are read. Students will also have the opportunity to engage in scripture-based interfaith dialogue and to experience first-hand how some of the established and developing approaches are practiced.

Interfaith dialogue has many avenues, of which reading each other's sacred texts is one of the most conducive to building understanding. The scriptures of Islam, Judaism and Christianity are particularly suited to this venture, because of the shared narratives, which demonstrate both commonalities and profound differences. This course focuses on narratives shared between the Bible and the Quran and how major Muslim, Christian, and Jewish scholars have approached the relationship between the texts across the ages. The course examines scholars such as Tabari (d. 923), Ibn Kathir (d. 1373), Abraham Geiger (d. 1874), W. St. Clair Tisdall (d.1929), Angelika Neuwirth and others. Students will learn the difference between author- and reader-oriented approaches, influence theory and intertextuality, and how different presuppositions can impact how the texts and their relationship are read. Students will also have the opportunity to engage in scripture-based interfaith dialogue and to experience first-hand how some of the established and developing approaches are practiced.

This seminar-style course examines the history and development of the papacy ca. 1500 to today, i.e., from Julius II and Michelangelo, to the French Revolution, to encyclicals and Catholic Social Teaching, to the Second Vatican Council, and to the itinerant, global papacy from Paul VI to Francis. Emphasis on changing expectations of what popes do and how they do it. Reading and discussion of primary sources, as well as key examples of recent work on these topics.

The fifty years between the Council of Nicaea in 325 and the Council of Constantinople in 381 were times of extraordinary theological change leading to understandings of God and Christ both continuous with and sharply different from earlier teaching, a true revolution. This course explores the process of doctrinal change during that period, both in its own right and as a paradigm for doctrinal change in later periods, including the present. Lectures, reading of original sources in translation, group discussion, research essay.

The fifty years between the Council of Nicaea in 325 and the Council of Constantinople in 381 were times of extraordinary theological change leading to understandings of God and Christ both continuous with and sharply different from earlier teaching, a true revolution. This course explores the process of doctrinal change during that period, both in its own right and as a paradigm for doctrinal change in later periods, including the present. Lectures, reading of original sources in translation, group discussion, research essay.

This course critically reviews early Christian and Byzantine art from the 2nd to 6th century. Its fundamental idea is that early Christian art emerged and evolved as manifestations of the faith's conversation with its changing cultural contexts. Students will learn to critically engage the role theology, ecclesiology, socio-economics, and politics have in Christian art, with a special emphasis on church/ worship architecture as innovative art. The course will use a multi-media format.

Spirituality in the Pentateuch, Prophets, Psalms & Wisdom writings. Essay, final exam.

In the course, the Archeology of the First Temple Period will be discussed. In archeology the period is named the Iron Age. First the division to sub-periods will be studied as well as the meaning of this division. The differences in finds between Judea and Israel, after the division of David.

The course will undertake a detailed study of Prophet Muhammad's biography in the light of the Qur'anic revelation and religious thought that became foundational for the development of legal-ethical and theological traditions. Students will study the life of the Prophet and relate it to his spiritual as well as temporal experience to investigate political theology of Islam. Our approach will be that of History of Religions (phenomenology), that is, aiming at a fuller understanding of the meaning of the concepts like "Apostle of God," "Seal of the Prophets," "The Mother of the Book," and so on, for individual Muslims and for Muslim thinkers over the centuries. In order to accomplish this task, students will study the entire Qur'an, in conjunction with the biography of the Prophet.

The course will undertake a detailed study of Prophet Muhammad's biography in the light of the Qur'anic revelation and religious thought that became foundational for the development of legal-ethical and theological traditions. Students will study the life of the Prophet and relate it to his spiritual as well as temporal experience to investigate political theology of Islam. Our approach will be that of History of Religions (phenomenology), that is, aiming at a fuller understanding of the meaning of the concepts like "Apostle of God," "Seal of the Prophets," "The Mother of the Book," and so on, for individual Muslims and for Muslim thinkers over the centuries. In order to accomplish this task, students will study the entire Qur'an, in conjunction with the biography of the Prophet.

The course will undertake a detailed study of Prophet Muhammad's biography in the light of the Qur'anic revelation and religious thought that became foundational for the development of legal-ethical and theological traditions. Students will study the life of the Prophet and relate it to his spiritual as well as temporal experience to investigate political theology of Islam. Our approach will be that of History of Religions (phenomenology), that is, aiming at a fuller understanding of the meaning of the concepts like "Apostle of God," "Seal of the Prophets," "The Mother of the Book," and so on, for individual Muslims and for Muslim thinkers over the centuries. In order to accomplish this task, students will study the entire Qur'an, in conjunction with the biography of the Prophet.

Introduction to the study of the Pentateuch with special attention to the book of Exodus. Research paper and final examination. Advanced degree biblical students will be expected to work with the texts in the original language.