Previous Years' Course Catalogues

The immense suffering of the modern world has had a profound impact on one's understanding of God and his relationship to human suffering. The growing consensus that God himself suffers in solidarity and love with the wounded ones needs re-examination. This course addresses the question of impassibility-passibility from the biblical, historical, theological and pastoral perspectives. Basic to the course are these questions: (a) Is a God who is impassible more loving and compassionate than a suffering God? (b) How do Christology, soteriology and Trinity interact in one's formulation of a doctrine of God? (c) How does one counsel those who suffer, if God is an unmoved mover or the apathetic deity?

The immense suffering of the modern world has had a profound impact on one's understanding of God and his relationship to human suffering. The growing consensus that God himself suffers in solidarity and love with the wounded ones needs re-examination. This course addresses the question of impassibility-passibility from the biblical, historical, theological and pastoral perspectives. Basic to the course are these questions: (a) Is a God who is impassible more loving and compassionate than a suffering God? (b) How do Christology, soteriology and Trinity interact in one's formulation of a doctrine of God? (c) How does one counsel those who suffer, if God is an unmoved mover or the apathetic deity?

Close textual study of the Scriptural sources and dogmatic development of the Church's reflection on the identity of the God who is revealed in Jesus the Christ. Students develop a systematic understanding of this material, leading to a personal and critical appropriation of the tradition in light of preparation for pastoral and theological leadership in the Church. Lectures and seminars. Assignments for 3222: exegetical paper, oral interview, 2 learning reports, take home final exam. Assignments for 6222: 2 mid-length papers, participation in 3 seminars outside of class time.

Close textual study of the Scriptural sources and doctrinal development of the Roman Catholic tradition of reflection on the identity of the God who is revealed in Jesus Christ Students develop a systematic understanding that addresses contemporary questions raised about traditional doctrine, leading to a personal and Ctitical appropriation in the traditional faith affirmations in light of preparation for pastoral ministry and theological leadership in the Church.

Close textual study of the Scriptural sources and doctrinal development of the Roman Catholic tradition of reflection on the identity of the God who is revealed in Jesus Christ Students develop a systematic understanding that addresses contemporary questions raised about traditional doctrine, leading to a personal and Ctitical appropriation in the traditional faith affirmations in light of preparation for pastoral ministry and theological leadership in the Church.

Close textual study of the Scriptural sources and doctrinal development of the Roman Catholic tradition of reflection on the identity of the God who is revealed in Jesus Christ Students develop a systematic understanding that addresses contemporary questions raised about traditional doctrine, leading to a personal and critical appropriation of traditional faith affirmations in light of preparation for pastoral ministry and theological leadership in the Church.

Close textual study of the Scriptural sources and doctrinal development of the Roman Catholic tradition of reflection on the identity of the God who is revealed in Jesus Christ Students develop a systematic understanding that addresses contemporary questions raised about traditional doctrine, leading to a personal and critical appropriation of traditional faith affirmations in light of preparation for pastoral ministry and theological leadership in the Church.

Close textual study of the Scriptural sources and dogmatic development of the Church's reflection on the identity of the God who is revealed in Jesus the Christ. Students develop a systematic understanding of this material, leading to a personal and critical appropriation of the tradition in light of preparation for pastoral and theological leadership in the Church. Lectures and seminars. Assignments for 3222: exegetical paper, oral interview, 2 learning reports, take home final exam. Assignments for 6222: 2 mid-length papers, participation in 3 seminars outside of class time.

We will read the books of Ruth and Esther together with a cloud of witnesses from the past and present who found them not only life giving but also, especially in the case of Esther, deeply troubling. We will examine techniques and strategies used for reading these and other Old Testament narratives through history. We will explore the contexts of Ruth and Esther within both the ancient world and Scripture. We will examine their contents making use of a variety of traditional and innovative interpretive techniques and strategies (including reading within the context of the Ancient Near East, theological exegesis, disaster and trauma studies, and narrative criticism). We will consider how these books speak to us as individuals and as the church in the twenty-first century.

We will read the books of Ruth and Esther together with a cloud of witnesses from the past and present who found them not only life giving but also, especially in the case of Esther, deeply troubling. We will examine techniques and strategies used for reading these and other Old Testament narratives through history. We will explore the contexts of Ruth and Esther within both the ancient world and Scripture. We will examine their contents making use of a variety of traditional and innovative interpretive techniques and strategies (including reading within the context of the Ancient Near East, theological exegesis, disaster and trauma studies, and narrative criticism). We will consider how these books speak to us as individuals and as the church in the twenty-first century.

We will read the books of Ruth and Esther together with a cloud of witnesses from the past and present who found them not only life giving but also, especially in the case of Esther, deeply troubling. We will examine techniques and strategies used for reading these and other Old Testament narratives through history. We will explore the contexts of Ruth and Esther within both the ancient world and Scripture. We will examine their contents making use of a variety of traditional and innovative interpretive techniques and strategies (including reading within the context of the Ancient Near East, theological exegesis, disaster and trauma studies, and narrative criticism). We will consider how these books speak to us as individuals and as the church in the twenty-first century.

This seminar-style course examines the history and development of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in global context, and as an agent of globalization, from its founding in the mid-16th century to the early 21st century and the era of a Jesuit pope. Emphasis is on how Jesuits may have both effected change and themselves been changed in their interaction with diverse peoples and cultures around the world. Reading and discussion of primary sources, as well as key examples of
recent work on these topics. In the past 25 years or so, Jesuits have become a very hot topic in scholarly research, and we will consider why and how this is so. Sources to include both written texts as well as visual materials such paintings or photographs.