Course Catalogue 2026-2027

This course introduces Humanistic Buddhism as a modern Buddhist movement that integrates classical Buddhist wisdom with contemporary ethical, social, and cultural concerns. Drawing on Mahayana Buddhism and Chinese Buddhist traditions, especially Chan Buddhism, and informed by comparative philosophy and theology, the course examines how Buddhist concepts such as compassion, nonduality, emptiness, and moral cultivation are rearticulated for lived practice in the modern world. Particular attention is given to the thought and practice of Humanistic Buddhism as articulated by contemporary figures, including Hsing Yun, and its engagement with education, social responsibility, interreligious dialogue, and global ethics. Students will critically explore how Buddhist thought functions not only as doctrine, but as a transformative framework for personal formation and social engagement.

This course introduces Humanistic Buddhism as a modern Buddhist movement that integrates classical Buddhist wisdom with contemporary ethical, social, and cultural concerns. Drawing on Mahayana Buddhism and Chinese Buddhist traditions, especially Chan Buddhism, and informed by comparative philosophy and theology, the course examines how Buddhist concepts such as compassion, nonduality, emptiness, and moral cultivation are rearticulated for lived practice in the modern world. Particular attention is given to the thought and practice of Humanistic Buddhism as articulated by contemporary figures, including Hsing Yun, and its engagement with education, social responsibility, interreligious dialogue, and global ethics. Students will critically explore how Buddhist thought functions not only as doctrine, but as a transformative framework for personal formation and social engagement.

This course focuses on personal contemplative prayer as essential for our relationship with God and the soil out of which healthy and effective ministry grows. The course covers Biblical teaching on prayer; the contemplative tradition arising from the early desert fathers and mothers; spirituality, theology and psychology of prayer; and various Christian traditions of prayer including lectio divina, Ignatian prayer, other forms of scripture prayer, centering prayer, Christian meditation, and the awareness examen. The course concludes with suggestions for planting and growing a prayer-based parish ministry. The course is offered at the SSJD convent in North York.

This course explores the relationship between religion, health, healing, and community well-being through a decolonial lens. Students examine how Indigenous, African, and Abrahamic traditions understand health not simply as a medical or biological condition, but as an expression of cosmology, relationality, land-based practice, and spiritual continuity. Drawing on public health frameworks, Indigenous health models, place-based epistemologies, and decolonial critique, the course investigates how colonialism in the Americas and Africa reshaped spiritual and medical landscapes—marginalizing traditional healing practices, severing communities from land and ceremony, and creating enduring health inequities. Through the methodological thread of storying, students analyze how communities narrate illness, suffering, resilience, and healing; how religion functions as a social determinant of health; and how the colonial vs. communal gaze shapes health-seeking behaviour, public policy, and collective flourishing. The course equips students to envision what healing and community flourishing looks like beyond empire-building aspirations—rooted in cosmology, community, and the interconnectedness of all life.

This course explores the relationship between religion, health, healing, and community well-being through a decolonial lens. Students examine how Indigenous, African, and Abrahamic traditions understand health not simply as a medical or biological condition, but as an expression of cosmology, relationality, land-based practice, and spiritual continuity. Drawing on public health frameworks, Indigenous health models, place-based epistemologies, and decolonial critique, the course investigates how colonialism in the Americas and Africa reshaped spiritual and medical landscapes—marginalizing traditional healing practices, severing communities from land and ceremony, and creating enduring health inequities. Through the methodological thread of storying, students analyze how communities narrate illness, suffering, resilience, and healing; how religion functions as a social determinant of health; and how the colonial vs. communal gaze shapes health-seeking behaviour, public policy, and collective flourishing. The course equips students to envision what healing and community flourishing looks like beyond empire-building aspirations—rooted in cosmology, community, and the interconnectedness of all life.

This course is a survey of the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles in their historical and religious background with attention to hermeneutics, the patristic exegetical heritage, and modern biblical studies. The Gospels and Acts will be read in their entirety, along with other early Christian texts and literature from the same period, commentaries by church fathers and writings by scholars and theologians through to our day. Students will explore these texts as among the most important literature of first-century Judaism, examining them within the wider corpus of Second Temple Jewish writings. The course will introduce critical tools and methodological approaches which make exegesis possible, encountering modern historical-critical methods as well as critiques and alternatives offered from narrative and other post-critical approaches. Patristic, mediaeval, Reformation, and contemporary interpretations will be placed in productive dialogue, allowing these diverse perspectives to counter-inform each other and effectively resource preaching and ministry today. Recent "within Judaism" scholarship will inform the course throughout.

This course is a survey of the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles in their historical and religious background with attention to hermeneutics, the patristic exegetical heritage, and modern biblical studies. The Gospels and Acts will be read in their entirety, along with other early Christian texts and literature from the same period, commentaries by church fathers and writings by scholars and theologians through to our day. Students will explore these texts as among the most important literature of first-century Judaism, examining them within the wider corpus of Second Temple Jewish writings. The course will introduce critical tools and methodological approaches which make exegesis possible, encountering modern historical-critical methods as well as critiques and alternatives offered from narrative and other post-critical approaches. Patristic, mediaeval, Reformation, and contemporary interpretations will be placed in productive dialogue, allowing these diverse perspectives to counter-inform each other and effectively resource preaching and ministry today. Recent "within Judaism" scholarship will inform the course throughout.

This course is a survey of the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles in their historical and religious background with attention to hermeneutics, the patristic exegetical heritage, and modern biblical studies. The Gospels and Acts will be read in their entirety, along with other early Christian texts and literature from the same period, commentaries by church fathers and writings by scholars and theologians through to our day. Students will explore these texts as among the most important literature of first-century Judaism, examining them within the wider corpus of Second Temple Jewish writings. The course will introduce critical tools and methodological approaches which make exegesis possible, encountering modern historical-critical methods as well as critiques and alternatives offered from narrative and other post-critical approaches. Patristic, mediaeval, Reformation, and contemporary interpretations will be placed in productive dialogue, allowing these diverse perspectives to counter-inform each other and effectively resource preaching and ministry today. Recent "within Judaism" scholarship will inform the course throughout.

The course begins by looking at what the church is from an historical, biblical and functional perspective with special attention being given to the context in which it exists and to the epochs of Christianity as laid down by David Bosch. Then an examination of evangelism is given which defines it and looks at its history. Afterwards a theology of evangelism is explored with a focus on missio Dei. Then the practice of evangelism, as it is practiced in the church today, Is examined. The course closes by looking at both challenges and opportunities going forward. This is done with an in-depth look at the Missional Church Movement, Demographics and Marketing, Bernard Lonergan's concept of mutual self-mediation and giving some practical tools.

The course begins by looking at what the church is from an historical, biblical and functional perspective with special attention being given to the context in which it exists and to the epochs of Christianity as laid down by David Bosch. Then an examination of evangelism is given which defines it and looks at its history. Afterwards a theology of evangelism is explored with a focus on missio Dei. Then the practice of evangelism, as it is practiced in the church today, Is examined. The course closes by looking at both challenges and opportunities going forward. This is done with an in-depth look at the Missional Church Movement, Demographics and Marketing, Bernard Lonergan's concept of mutual self-mediation and giving some practical tools.

Using various methods of interpretation, this course offers a more focused approach to the Synoptic Gospels, and the Book of Acts. Special attention will be paid to the themes and theology of each book, including an examination of authorship, date, and context. An exegetical study of select texts will guide some of the discussion.

Using various methods of interpretation, this course offers a more focused approach to the Synoptic Gospels, and the Book of Acts. Special attention will be paid to the themes and theology of each book, including an examination of authorship, date, and context. An exegetical study of select texts will guide some of the discussion.