Previous Years' Course Catalogues

The seminar will undertake to study the Islamic Legal Theory (usul al-fiqh) and Practice (fiqh) in conjunction with Islamic ethics, which serves as an integral part of the juridical tradition of Islam. The sources of law like the Qur'an, the Tradition (Sunna), Consensus (Ijma'), Analogy (qiyas) and Reason ('aql) will be examined in connection with the process by which legal decisions in Islam are made. The course will provide an opportunity to students of comparative ethics and law to learn about one of the well-developed religious-ethical systems in Abrahamic traditions. In addition, this course will offer a study of interaction between faith and history in Islam which has impacted upon the development of ethical-legal judgments in the Shari.

The seminar will undertake to study the Islamic Legal Theory (usul al-fiqh) and Practice (fiqh) in conjunction with Islamic ethics, which serves as an integral part of the juridical tradition of Islam. The sources of law like the Qur'an, the Tradition (Sunna), Consensus (Ijma'), Analogy (qiyas) and Reason ('aql) will be examined in connection with the process by which legal decisions in Islam are made. The course will provide an opportunity to students of comparative ethics and law to learn about one of the well-developed religious-ethical systems in Abrahamic traditions. In addition, this course will offer a study of interaction between faith and history in Islam which has impacted upon the development of ethical-legal judgments in the Shari.

Canada is a nation of immigrants, and the Canadian religions are the religions of immigrants. The waves of religious immigrants will be studied including 17C French, 18C Irish and Scottish, 19C German, Polish, Jewish, and Ukrainian immigrants; 20C English, Italian, and Portuguese to the more recent Caribbean, Filipino, Chinese, Tamils, Vietnamese, and Korean religionists. The attitudes of Euro-Canadians will be examined as they progress from Anglo-Celtic Calvinism to Canadian secular multiculturalism. The techniques of archival research, historical analysis, and historiography will be explored. Seminar presentation and research paper. Class Presentation 30%; Research Essay 40%; Collaborative Recapitulation (open book exam) 30%.

This course explores creativity and its theological significance, drawing from interdisciplinary sources to consider the imagination, creative process and the arts in relation to the life of faith and spiritual practice. Even though creativity is often associated with intentional artistic endeavours, the capacity to imagine, improvise, innovate, and make/construct is intrinsic to human life e.g., in daily routines and relationships, rituals, stories, spiritual identity, personal resilience, empathy, community building, and peace and justice building. By paying attention to various dimensions of creativity, human and divine, the course investigates the making and perceiving of beauty in the world as an orientation toward value and personal and communal transformation. It thus seeks move beyond cognitive and entrepreneur models of creativity as well as dichotomies of action vs. reflection in theology. Particular consideration is given to visual arts and music.

This course explores creativity and its theological significance, drawing from interdisciplinary sources to consider the imagination, creative process and the arts in relation to the life of faith and spiritual practice. Even though creativity is often associated with intentional artistic endeavours, the capacity to imagine, improvise, innovate, and make/construct is intrinsic to human life e.g., in daily routines and relationships, rituals, stories, spiritual identity, personal resilience, empathy, community building, and peace and justice building. By paying attention to various dimensions of creativity, human and divine, the course investigates the making and perceiving of beauty in the world as an orientation toward value and personal and communal transformation. It thus seeks move beyond cognitive and entrepreneur models of creativity as well as dichotomies of action vs. reflection in theology. Particular consideration is given to visual arts and music.

This course explores creativity and its theological significance, drawing from interdisciplinary sources to consider the imagination, creative process and the arts in relation to the life of faith and spiritual practice. Even though creativity is often associated with intentional artistic endeavours, the capacity to imagine, improvise, innovate, and make/construct is intrinsic to human life €“ e.g., in daily routines and relationships, rituals, stories, spiritual identity, personal resilience, empathy, community building, and peace and justice building. By paying attention to various dimensions of creativity, human and divine, the course investigates the making and perceiving of beauty in the world as an orientation toward value and personal and communal transformation. It thus seeks move beyond cognitive and entrepreneur models of creativity as well as dichotomies of action vs. reflection in theology. Particular consideration is given to visual arts and music.

This course explores the relationshuip between theology and ecclesiology and the historical developments of theologies of church. Special attention will be given to the issues of ministry and authority.

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 New Testament texts are not the only extant Christian writings from the first through early second centuries. In addition to these texts, there is a body of literature known as the Apostolic Fathers, which includes such texts as 1 Clement, the Didache, the Letters of Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas. The earliest of these texts likely is older than the latest books found in the New Testament. Some even appeared in early versions of the New Testament canon. In this course, we will read the Apostolic Fathers as well as selected other texts from approximately the same time frame, and consider their place within both early Christianity and contemporary scholarship.

The New Testament texts are not the only extant Christian writings from the first through early second centuries. In addition to these texts, there is a body of literature known as the Apostolic Fathers, which includes such texts as 1 Clement, the Didache, the Letters of Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas. The earliest of these texts likely is older than the latest books found in the New Testament. Some even appeared in early versions of the New Testament canon. In this course, we will read the Apostolic Fathers as well as selected other texts from approximately the same time frame, and consider their place within both early Christianity and contemporary scholarship.