Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This course will explore major approaches to the relationship between the Christian Faith and other religions in the context of the plurality and diversity of the contemporary world.

This intensive course explores the understanding of New Evangelization within the Roman Catholic Church taking the October 2012 Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith as a starting point and tracing the historical context from Evangeli Nuntiandi (and referencing Vatican II documents Lumen Gentium and Ad Gentes), the substantive theological issues emerging through the pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI and the future possibilities of the New Evangelization seen as a radical challenge to all members of the Church.

This course will trace the multi-faceted theme of justice as it unfolds throughout the biblical story. Beginning with an exploration of the impact our own place and assumptions have on our reading, we will then probe the complicated ways in which idolatry, economic justice, racial justice, justice for the land, food justice, justice for the stranger and the migrant, gender justice, colonization, and peace and violence permeate the story. This will provide a biblical basis for reflecting on justice and reconciliation in our world today.

Within the Old Testament the depiction of, and context of trauma is frequent and present in different genres across the whole corpus. Traumas include those arising from warfare and/or forced migration/exile, family conflict, abuse of power, sexual violation, and adverse psychological, social and economic realities. Such depictions may be explicitly negatively evaluated, but even so raise complicated questions for those who hold these texts as Christian scripture and/or theologically, ethically, and pastorally formative. The nature of justice, the character and work of God, and the pastoral use of texts of trauma name some of these questions, particularly when these texts of trauma are read within a Christian context.

Within the Old Testament the depiction of, and context of trauma is frequent and present in different genres across the whole corpus. Traumas include those arising from warfare and/or forced migration/exile, family conflict, abuse of power, sexual violation, and adverse psychological, social and economic realities. Such depictions may be explicitly negatively evaluated, but even so raise complicated questions for those who hold these texts as Christian scripture and/or theologically, ethically, and pastorally formative. The nature of justice, the character and work of God, and the pastoral use of texts of trauma name some of these questions, particularly when these texts of trauma are read within a Christian context.

Combining classroom time (Winter 2018), and a trip to Canada's North (July 2018), students will come to a deeper
understanding of the Church's theology and praxis regarding inculturation and spirituality within a First Nations context.
Consideration will be given to the legacy of colonization and movements fostering greater autonomy in the Canadian
aboriginal context. Fond du Lac, SK and Bhechoko, NT are the two primary sites for gatherings.
Students are expected to participate In all the preparatory gatherings prior to departure and to be actively engaged with
their peers and members of the community upon arrival at Fond-du-Lac and Pine Channel, Saskatchewan or another
approved location.
The preparatory gatherings will be an opportunity to welcome members of various First Nations in Southwestern Ontario
and to meet with non-indigenous men and women who have spent considerable time working with the Dene people.
On site, this participation will include sharing in religious ceremonies, common meals, "evening conversations,n and
contributing through your labours (cooking, dish washing, hauling of water) to the general well-being of the group.
Students will have the opportunity to meet formally and informally with various community leaders, elders, elected officials,
families, nurses, educators and the RCMP, so as to come to a deeper appreciation of the opportunities and challenges of
life in the Canadian north.
There are a number of organizations in the city and on campus that work with members from various indigenous
communities. Students are expected to become familiar with one group and to participate in their programming. A monthly
report will be required to update the instructor on the status of your involvement.

Combining classroom time, and a trip to Canada's North, students will come to a deeper understanding of the Church's theology and praxis regarding inculturation and spirituality within a First Nations context. Consideration will be given to the legacy of colonization and movements fostering greater autonomy in the Canadian aboriginal context. Fond du Lac, SK and Bhechoko, NT are the two primary sites for gatherings. Students are expected to participate In all the preparatory gatherings prior to departure and to be actively engaged with their peers and members of the community upon arrival at Fond-du-Lac and Pine Channel, Saskatchewan or another approved location.

The preparatory gatherings will be an opportunity to welcome members of various First Nations in Southwestern Ontario and to meet with non-indigenous men and women who have spent considerable time working with the Dene people. On site, this participation will include sharing in religious ceremonies, common meals, "evening conversations and contributing through your labours (cooking, dish washing, hauling of water) to the general well-being of the group. Students will have the opportunity to meet formally and informally with various community leaders, elders, elected officials,
families, nurses, educators and the RCMP, so as to come to a deeper appreciation of the opportunities and challenges of life in the Canadian north. There are a number of organizations in the city and on campus that work with members from various indigenous communities. Students are expected to become familiar with one group and to participate in their programming.

Combining classroom time, and a trip to Canada's North, students will come to a deeper understanding of the Church's theology and praxis regarding inculturation and spirituality within a First Nations context. Consideration will be given to the legacy of colonization and movements fostering greater autonomy in the Canadian aboriginal context. Fond du Lac, SK and Bhechoko, NT are the two primary sites for gatherings. Students are expected to participate In all the preparatory gatherings prior to departure and to be actively engaged with their peers and members of the community upon arrival at Fond-du-Lac and Pine Channel, Saskatchewan or another approved location.
The preparatory gatherings will be an opportunity to welcome members of various First Nations in Southwestern Ontario and to meet with non-indigenous men and women who have spent considerable time working with the Dene people. On site, this participation will include sharing in religious ceremonies, common meals, "evening conversations and contributing through your labours (cooking, dish washing, hauling of water) to the general well-being of the group. Students will have the opportunity to meet formally and informally with various community leaders, elders, elected officials, families, nurses, educators and the RCMP, so as to come to a deeper appreciation of the opportunities and challenges of life in the Canadian north. There are a number of organizations in the city and on campus that work with members from various indigenous communities. Students are expected to become familiar with one group and to participate in their programming.

The goals of the course are to situate the writings of these authors within the trajectory and context of their other works as well as the broader tradition within which the authors operated; and to mine these writings for answers to questions - both historical and contemporary- about the nature of God's presence and action in the world, especially during privileged events called "the Holy Mysteries" (Sacraments). This will be achieved by a close reading of seminal or significant twentieth-century texts. This will help the student discern ecumenical connections with other Christian traditions. Among the many questions to be treated in dialogue with other traditions will be the scriptural foundations of the Sacraments, their "efficacy," the nature of the transformation proffered in these rites, the nature of sacramentality, the diverse numbering of the Sacraments, and their place in increasingly secular environments.

This course explores the intersection of race and theology in contemporary society, focusing on the Canadian context in particular, but will reference to other global contexts as comparative cases. Attention will be given to analyses which suggest that Christian theology and colonialism are deeply implicated in the invention of the concept of race, as well as critiques of ways in which theology has served to discourage genuine communion between peoples of difference. Although race and ethnicity, including indigenous identities, will be the focus of the course, broader attention to issues of diversity and particularity will also be explored, including ways in which people with disabilities are marginalized by churches and society. The potential for theology and churches to support anti-racism and the embrace of diversity will be explored, as well as major obstacles to these achievements.

This course explores the intersection of race and theology in contemporary society, focusing on the Canadian context in particular, but will reference to other global contexts as comparative cases. Attention will be given to analyses which suggest that Christian theology and colonialism are deeply implicated in the invention of the concept of race, as well as critiques of ways in which theology has served to discourage genuine communion between peoples of difference. Although race and ethnicity, including indigenous identities, will be the focus of the course, broader attention to issues of diversity and particularity will also be explored, including ways in which people with disabilities are marginalized by churches and society. The potential for theology and churches to support anti-racism and the embrace of diversity will be explored, as well as major obstacles to these achievements.

This course explores the intersection of race and theology in contemporary society, focusing on the Canadian context in particular, but will reference to other global contexts as comparative cases. Attention will be given to analyses which suggest that Christian theology and colonialism are deeply implicated in the invention of the concept of race, as well as critiques of ways in which theology has served to discourage genuine communion between peoples of difference. Although race and ethnicity, including indigenous identities, will be the focus of the course, broader attention to issues of diversity and particularity will also be explored, including ways in which people with disabilities are marginalized by churches and society. The potential for theology and churches to support anti-racism and the embrace of diversity will be explored, as well as major obstacles to these achievements.