Course Catalogue 2026-2027

This course will look at the spiritual journey as it is depicted from scripture to the present day. It will examine texts from different religious traditions and cultures to explore the basic human understanding of a person as pilgrim. The course is of note: to those interested in (1) spirituality both theoretical and practical; (2) discernment; (3) cultural history; (4) narrative theology; (5) interdisciplinary studies.

This course will look at the spiritual journey as it is depicted from scripture to the present day. It will examine texts from different religious traditions and cultures to explore the basic human understanding of a person as pilgrim. The course is of note: to those interested in (1) spirituality both theoretical and practical; (2) discernment; (3) cultural history; (4) narrative theology; (5) interdisciplinary studies.

This course will look at the spiritual journey as it is depicted from scripture to the present day. It will examine texts from different religious traditions and cultures to explore the basic human understanding of a person as pilgrim. The course is of note: to those interested in (1) spirituality both theoretical and practical; (2) discernment; (3) cultural history; (4) narrative theology; (5) interdisciplinary studies.

This course will look at the spiritual journey as it is depicted from scripture to the present day. It will examine texts from different religious traditions and cultures to explore the basic human understanding of a person as pilgrim. The course is of note: to those interested in (1) spirituality both theoretical and practical; (2) discernment; (3) cultural history; (4) narrative theology; (5) interdisciplinary studies. For BD students : papers and intelligent class participation. For AD students: papers, a major paper and intelligent class participation.

The course will explore in theory and practice various types of meditation and prayer of major religious traditions, including: Christian Lectio Divina, Recollection/Centering Prayer, Taize. and Quaker Worship; Buddhist Mindfulness/Insight meditation; Sufi Contemplation; Hindu Mantra meditation; and certain kinds of Yoga. It will outline and analyze the practices and goals of these types of prayer and meditation, with attention to: particular similarities and differences; their effects on the body, emotions and mind; and their relationship to other aspects of these religious traditions. It will attend to questions pertaining to the possible relevance of prayer and meditation to interreligious dialogue and comparative theology.

The Wisdom Tradition in Israel faced the paradox of maintaining God's mercy and justice in the light of Israel's failures and suffering. The Book of Job is an eloquent expression of Israel's grappling with the issues behind theodicy. The course begins with an exploration of Israel's Wisdom Tradition in relation to the Ancient Near East, prophecy and cult in order to set a context for reading and interpreting the book in its entirety. The literary features and structure of the work provide a methodological lense for appreciating how the Wisdom Tradition in the Book of Job dealt with suffering, ethics, beauty and love. (Lectures, discussion, major paper; and for AD students, reading selected texts in Hebrew).

An exploration of religious experience in various Hindu traditions, within the context of an overview of relevant beliefs and practices. Lecture, discussion, exam and critical reflection papers.

An exploration of religious experience in various Hindu traditions, within the context of an overview of relevant beliefs and practices. Lecture, discussion, exam and critical reflection papers.

This course explores the nature of religious experience (spirituality) in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral significance of such comparative study.

This course explores the nature of religious experience (spirituality) in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral signlficance of such comparative study.

This course explores the nature of religious experience (spirituality) in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral signlficance of such comparative study.

This course explores the nature of religious experience (spirituality) in some of the major religions of the world, with special attention to Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Native North American, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It includes some comparative analysis between traditions, and creative reflection on the theological and pastoral signlficance of such comparative study.