Previous Years' Course Catalogues

The Acts of the Apostles is our main source of information about the first Christian decades. It covers the movement's initial efforts to regroup following the death of Jesus, as well as its earliest expansion into the Mediterranean world beyond Judea. In this course, we will read through the Acts and reflect upon both what it tells us about Christian origins and also its continuing relevance for contemporary Christianity.

The Acts of the Apostles is our main source of information about the first Christian decades. It covers the movement's initial efforts to regroup following the death of Jesus, as well as its earliest expansion into the Mediterranean world beyond Judea. In this course, we will read through the Acts and reflect upon both what it tells us about Christian origins and also its continuing relevance for contemporary Christianity.

The Acts of the Apostles is our main source of information about the first Christian decades. It covers the movement's initial efforts to regroup following the death of Jesus, as well as its earliest expansion into the Mediterranean world beyond Judea. In this course, we will read through the Acts and reflect upon both what it tells us about Christian origins and also its continuing relevance for contemporary Christianity.

This course will focus on the changing demographics in World Christianity , and some of the exciting and challenging currents in the emerging patterns of Christian identities locally and globally. Some of the currents which will be considered are: new voices in Christianity (African, Asian, Migrant and Latino), religious pluralism, Pentecostalism, inculturation, new spiritualities, and changing context of pastoral ministries. The course will engage some of the significant voices in these areas. The goal of the course is to help students to enter into dialogue with some significant currents in World Christianity and develop an inter-cultural hermeneutics needed for the theological border-crossing in the theological academy, in pastoral settings and other publics of theology in a changing world.

This course studies the contemporary ecumenical and interreligious movements from a Roman Catholic perspective. It offers an historical and theological overview of the issues that divide Christians as well as the bonds that unite them. It also explores relations with other religious traditions. The course is in English and held in Rome at the " Centro Pro Unione" . Students will travel to Rome, participate fully in the lectures, seminars, workshops and excursions organized by the Centro's faculty.

This course studies the contemporary ecumenical and interreligious movements from a Roman Catholic perspective. It offers an historical and theological overview of the issues that divide Christians as well as the bonds that unite them. It also explores relations
with other religious traditions. The course is in English and held in Rome at the " Centro Pro Unione" . Students will travel to Rome, participate fully in the lectures, seminars, workshops and excursions organized by the Centro's faculty.

Theological Interpretation" is a contemporary catch-phrase for an approach to scriptural interpretation that stands in general contrast to historical-critical approaches. Less a method in its own right than a set of (not necessarily uniform) values with respect to reading Scripture, theological interpretation has often been seen as a protest movement against the exclusive hold of historical-criticism on Christian reading of the Bible .. It has variously emphasized ecclesial and doctrinal contexts or referents for interpreting the Scriptural text, and has made use of several traditional methods of exegesis, including typology, figure, and sacrament in addition to historical criticism. Behind the application of these methods are a range of theological presuppositions about the nature of God and divine revelation in Christ. This course seeks to sort out some of the background and meanings associated with the broad movement called "theological interpretation", by looking at some theoretical and historical discussions. More importantly, the course will engage actual practice of theological interpretation, examining different approaches to a given Scriptural text, in order to gauge continuities and discontinuities among theological interpreters, to evaluate critically their approaches, and finally to help students develop a clear theological understanding of the nature and presuppositions of faithful Scriptural interpretation

Theological Interpretation" is a contemporary catch-phrase for an approach to scriptural interpretation that stands in general contrast to historical-critical approaches. Less a method in its own right than a set of (not necessarily uniform) values with respect to reading Scripture, theological interpretation has often been seen as a protest movement against the exclusive hold of historical-criticism on Christian reading of the Bible .. It has variously emphasized ecclesial and doctrinal contexts or referents for interpreting the Scriptural text, and has made use of several traditional methods of exegesis, including typology, figure, and sacrament in addition to historical criticism. Behind the application of these methods are a range of theological presuppositions about the nature of God and divine revelation in Christ. This course seeks to sort out some of the background and meanings associated with the broad movement called "theological interpretation", by looking at some theoretical and historical discussions. More importantly, the course will engage actual practice of theological interpretation, examining different approaches to a given Scriptural text, in order to gauge continuities and discontinuities among theological interpreters, to evaluate critically their approaches, and finally to help students develop a clear theological understanding of the nature and presuppositions of faithful Scriptural interpretation.

Theological Interpretation" is a contemporary catch-phrase for an approach to scriptural interpretation that stands in general contrast to historical-critical approaches. Less a method in its own right than a set of (not necessarily uniform) values with respect to reading Scripture, theological interpretation has often been seen as a protest movement against the exclusive hold of historical-criticism on Christian reading of the Bible .. It has variously emphasized ecclesial and doctrinal contexts or referents for interpreting the Scriptural text, and has made use of several traditional methods of exegesis, including typology, figure, and sacrament in addition to historical criticism. Behind the application of these methods are a range of theological presuppositions about the nature of God and divine revelation in Christ. This course seeks to sort out some of the background and meanings associated with the broad movement called "theological interpretation", by looking at some theoretical and historical discussions. More importantly, the course will engage actual practice of theological interpretation, examining different approaches to a given Scriptural text, in order to gauge continuities and discontinuities among theological interpreters, to evaluate critically their approaches, and finally to help students develop a clear theological understanding of the nature and presuppositions of faithful Scriptural interpretation.

This course is an introduction to Islamic spirituality with a focus on Sufism, often referred to as the “mystical” tradition of Islam. It offers a historical and topical survey of the tradition’s foundational beliefs, practices, and variegated expressions. The course will examine the rise of Sufi orders, the systematization of Sufi teaching and the evolution of theosophical dimensions of Sufism, and finally, the contribution of Sufism in the Islamic arts and literatures. A main concern is to foster an understanding of some of the stations and states experienced by the wayfarer on the spiritual path, as reflected in Sufi writings. Students will have the opportunity to peruse a variety of Sufi texts in translation from different cultural and linguistic zones.

In this course, students will explore the historical debates and the doctrinal formulations of the seven ecumenical councils (325-787 AD). This course will address the development of fundamental themes in trinity, Christology, ecclesiology, sacramental theology, and the theology of iconography. Students will be introduced to the historical context of these debates and attend to the relationship between the early church and its relationship to secular authority. The course will further examine the theological method of early and late antique Christian thinkers that gave rise to these doctrines as well explore the enduring contribution of these conciliar debates for ecumenical dialogue and contemporary theology.

Drawing on the distinction between "mondalisation" (transnational cultural pluralism) and "globalisation" (global monocultural hegemony), this course explores the roles of religion and faith in constructing meaning and addressing systemic injustice. While focused through illustrative discussion of regional theologies in Asia and Africa and world-wide indigenous movements, the course also engages interreligious dialogue to heighten awareness of encounter and social reconciliation. The discussion of indigeneity addresses the experience of residential schools in Canada. Interrelations among religion, migration, and racialization of peoples are identified. Authors addressed include Elias Kifon Bongmba, David J. Bosch, Jose Casanova, Edmund Chia, Glenn Sean Coulthard, Robin Dunbar, Pope Francis, Sam George, Jehu Hanciles, Stan Chu llo, Rosella Kinoshameg, Paul V. Kollman, Leo D. Lefebure, Bernard Lonergan, Anselm Min, V. Y. Mudimbe, John Milloy, Richard Neibuhr, Ronald Niezen, ldara Otu, Raimon Panikkar, Peter Phan, Paul Ricoeur, Paul Robson, Robert J. Schreiter, Heather Walton, and David E. Wilhite.