Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This course will explore critically and creatively the influence of mysticism on symbolist landscape art in Europe and North America from the 1880s to the 1930s. Using written texts and visual images, it will analyze the ways in which major artists conveyed mystical experiences and ideals through iconography, style, colour, and facture, with special attention to the influence of Christian, Buddhist, Theosophical, and Primal traditions. These studies will include field trips to local galleries and introduction to the contemplative practices of Visio Divina and Mindfulness/Insight meditation.

The relationship between Christianity and Judaism is central to the identity of Christians and the church. Yet for much of the past two millennia, from the “parting of the ways” in the first and second centuries, the story of Christians and Jews has been difficult and troubled, culminating in the tragic events of the 20th century. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, there has been a renewed engagement between the two traditions, and with a proliferation of scholarship and deepening of knowledge of Second Temple Judaism over the last half century, a joint effort has been made by Christians and Jews to correct historical inaccuracies and prejudices and amend theological traditions that had separated Jesus and Paul from their Jewish contexts and driven a hard wedge between communities sharing faith in the one God of Israel. This course will delve into key elements of this new scholarship and rekindled dialogue, enabling students to apply these insights across their theological studies and pastoral practice.

The relationship between Christianity and Judaism is central to the identity of Christians and the church. Yet for much of the past two millennia, from the “parting of the ways” in the first and second centuries, the story of Christians and Jews has been difficult and troubled, culminating in the tragic events of the 20th century. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, there has been a renewed engagement between the two traditions, and with a proliferation of scholarship and deepening of knowledge of Second Temple Judaism over the last half century, a joint effort has been made by Christians and Jews to correct historical inaccuracies and prejudices and amend theological traditions that had separated Jesus and Paul from their Jewish contexts and driven a hard wedge between communities sharing faith in the one God of Israel. This course will delve into key elements of this new scholarship and rekindled dialogue, enabling students to apply these insights across their theological studies and pastoral practice.

The relationship between Christianity and Judaism is central to the identity of Christians and the church. Yet for much of the past two millennia, from the “parting of the ways” in the first and second centuries, the story of Christians and Jews has been difficult and troubled, culminating in the tragic events of the 20th century. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, there has been a renewed engagement between the two traditions, and with a proliferation of scholarship and deepening of knowledge of Second Temple Judaism over the last half century, a joint effort has been made by Christians and Jews to correct historical inaccuracies and prejudices and amend theological traditions that had separated Jesus and Paul from their Jewish contexts and driven a hard wedge between communities sharing faith in the one God of Israel. This course will delve into key elements of this new scholarship and rekindled dialogue, enabling students to apply these insights across their theological studies and pastoral practice.

The relationship between Christianity and Judaism is central to the identity of Christians and the church. Yet for much of the past two millennia, from the “parting of the ways” in the first and second centuries, the story of Christians and Jews has been difficult and troubled, culminating in the tragic events of the 20th century. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, there has been a renewed engagement between the two traditions, and with a proliferation of scholarship and deepening of knowledge of Second Temple Judaism over the last half century, a joint effort has been made by Christians and Jews to correct historical inaccuracies and prejudices and amend theological traditions that had separated Jesus and Paul from their Jewish contexts and driven a hard wedge between communities sharing faith in the one God of Israel. This course will delve into key elements of this new scholarship and rekindled dialogue, enabling students to apply these insights across their theological studies and pastoral practice.

The range is from late Patristic theology to the verge of the Enlightenment by considering the Western Church. We will begin with Ambrose (De officiis) then consider Monastic ethics according to Rules, then Scholastic ethics (Abelard and his opponents), then Canon legal ethics (Gratian and others), Penitential Manual ethics, Thomist 'pastoral' virtue ethics, Franciscan property ethics, responses to folk ethical systems (Saxon, Norse), Voluntarist ethics, Renaissance-humanist ethics (Pico della Mirandola), Early Protestant ethics to Natural Law ethics, Catholic rigorism and manualism.

This course explores the way theological ideas become operationalized in a social movement, using El Salvador as a case study. Students will visit El Salvador under the guidance of Chance alas, who operationalized the tenets of liberation theology to establish the first Christian base communities in El Salvador and continues to work on El Salvadoran religious peacebuilding. Subjects covered include the implication of theology in the colonization of Latin America, the emergence of liberation theology and Christian base communities , and current activities in peacebuilding involving theology, economics, ecology, and Mayan and settler spirituality. Students must attend a day of preparation, seven days of travel in El Salvador, and a day of post-travel debriefing.

This course examines Aboriginal understandings of the sacred in both Traditional and Christian contexts, including oral traditions, ceremonies, and spiritual practices. Attention is given to the diverse cultural heritages of Indigenous peoples in Canada, historical and contemporary aspects of Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal relations, and ongoing processes of reconciliation in both national and church contexts. Also considered are Christian theologies of intercultural and interfaith engagements, related to building relationships of solidarity and justice between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in Canada. Some off-site fields trips are required.

Encounters between Christian and Hindu traditions have taken many forms: the early establishment of the St. Thomas Christian community, Christian missions to India and colonization, Hindu emissaries to the West, and communal conflicts following Indian independence. In this course, students will become familiar with features of Hindu traditions, the history of this engagement, and the spiritual, theological, and ethical dimensions of current relations.

This course will explore the nature of the small church and its place within the context of society, the ecclesiastical world, the local community and the lives of individuals. How we determine health in the small church will be considered. Participants will bring their experience and issues as a partial basis for examining the uniqueness of ministry in and through the small church. Consideration will be given to theological, sociological, psychological, cultural and demographic factors which affect the small church. Special emphasis will be placed on issues of leadership for renewal. Teaching will be through lectures, group seminars and student presentations. Evaluation will be through submissions of report, seminar presentation and a final research paper.

This course will explore the nature of the small church and its place within the context of society, the ecclesiastical world, the local community and the lives of individuals. How we determine health in the small church will be considered. Participants will bring their experience and issues as a partial basis for examining the uniqueness of ministry in and through the small church. Consideration will be given to theological, sociological, psychological, cultural and demographic factors which affect the small church. Special emphasis will be placed on issues of leadership for renewal.

Studies the documents and teachings of Vatican II. Brief overview of the historical background to the Council and to Councils in the life of the church. Seminars guide discussions based on close readings of the 16 documents with emphasis on the historical context and ecclesiological significance of each document.