Previous Years' Course Catalogues

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.

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.

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.

This course will examine the historical, religious, political, economic and social contexts of the birth of Christianity in the Holy Lands.  Special attention will be paid to the various relationships of Christian communities’ with Judaism, including the Jews revolts, the Minim and Ebionite controversies, the impact of the development of holy places of worship and pilgrimage, spirituality and monasticism, and the role of Roman and Byzantine emperors in the spread of Christianity.  The course will also deal with the Dead Sea Scrolls and other archaeological discoveries from the period.

This course will explore through classroom lectures and seminar discussions the texts and pastoral practice of the core liturgical rites for the Divine Eucharist in the Byzantine (Orthodox and Eastern Catholic) churches, including the historical evolution and theological meaning of those rites. Guest lectures will also cover the Eucharistic liturgies of the Oriental Orthodox churches, specifically the Coptic and Ethiopian rites. The course will also explore the concept of liturgical theology.