Course Catalogue 2026-2027

This course will examine the key theological, mystical and philosophical notions of music that are of essential significance in relation to the history of Christian music from ancient to modern. Topics covered will include the relations of music and language, music and morality, music and monasticism, music and magic, the connection of music, body and spirit, and the musical syncretism of the so-called secular and the sacred. Class participation, major essay, final examination.

This course will examine the key theological, mystical and philosophical notions of music that are of essential significance in relation to the history of Christian music from ancient to modern. Topics covered will include the relations of music and language, music and morality, music and monasticism, music and magic, the connection of music, body and spirit, and the musical syncretism of the so-called secular and the sacred. Class participation, major essay, final examination.

Throughout the biblical story, land, economic justice, and food justice are intimately linked. These themes, in turn, are rooted in vibrant a relationship between creation and the Creator, not to mention creation and humanity. This course will explore such biblical themes in light of competing views of land, economics and justice both in biblical times and in our own context, locally and internationally. Interactions with indigenous views of land, land justice and food security for immigrants and the poor in our city, the transition town movement, bioregionalism, and watershed discipleship, will all contribute to a vision for a sustainable creation locally and on a global level.

Throughout the biblical story, land, economic justice, and food justice are intimately linked. These themes, in turn, are rooted in vibrant a relationship between creation and the Creator, not to mention creation and humanity. This course will explore such biblical themes in light of competing views of land, economics and justice both in biblical times and in our own context, locally and internationally. Interactions with indigenous views of land, land justice and food security for immigrants and the poor in our city, the transition town movement, bioregionalism, and watershed discipleship, will all contribute to a vision for a sustainable creation locally and on a global level.

The course will examine various theories which have been proposed recently to explain changes which have occurred in recent years in the church in Western society. The theories will include secularization, rational choice, the Kelley thesis, and other theories found in the work of Callum Brown, Grace Davie and other. The course will involve both understanding the theories and critiquing them, with particular reference to the situation within the Canadian church. Evaluation: Seminar presentation; major paper. (Prerequisite: Introductory Church History Course)

The course will examine various theories which have been proposed to explain changes which have occurred in recent years in the church in Western society. The theories will include secularization, rational choice, the Kelley thesis, and other theories found in the work of Callum Brown, Grace Davie and others. The course will involve both understanding the theories and critiquing them, with particular reference to the situation within the Canadian church.

The course will explore the multifaceted process of "Reading the Signs of the Times": the guidance of scripture, the teachings of the church, the historical lessons of reading and misreading the times, the insights of the artists, the wisdomof the crucified, etc. A major paper of 20-30 pages, topic to be arranged with professor (80%). Class participation (20%).

This intensive course will examine the puzzling phenomenon of death from a variety of perspectives, including theological, biological, philosophical, and political. We will explore the thesis that while all people die there is no single thing called “death,” but that death’s meaning is always governed by some larger narrative of divine and/or human realities. Particular attention will be paid to Christianity’s situating of death in an apocalyptic context, the death and resurrection of Jesus as the undoing of death, and the particular ways in which death is denied or eclipsed in modern liberal capitalism. We will also draw on literary sources, from the ancient Greeks to contemporary novels, to lend depth and texture to our study of “the last enemy.”  Lectures, seminar discussion, small groups. Class participation, précis, final paper

This course is geared to enrolment in the Artists' Workshop of the Institute for Christian Studies' ART in Orvieto offerings in Orvieto, Italy. It aims to integrate, through the writing of a major paper, the practical experience gained in these arts workshops with the more theoretical knowledge obtained through academic courses in the area of art, religion and theology. Building upon the activities undertaken in the workshop (discussion, visual journals, presentation of work and feedback) as well as the arts project accomplished, the paper will serve as a summative statement of what the student learned. It should demonstrate the student's analytical and interpretive skills as it seeks to find the points of intersection between artistic practice and the life of faith.

This course is geared to enrolment in the Artists' Workshop of the Institute for Christian Studies' ART in Orvieto offerings in Orvieto, Italy. It aims to integrate, through the writing of a major paper, the practical experience gained in these arts workshops with the more theoretical knowledge obtained through academic courses in the area of art, religion and theology. Building upon the activities undertaken in the workshop (discussion, visual journals, presentation of work and feedback) as well as the arts project accomplished, the paper will serve as a summative statement of what the student learned. It should demonstrate the student's analytical and interpretive skills as it seeks to find the points of intersection between artistic practice and the life of faith.

This course is geared to enrolment in the Artists' Workshop of the Institute for Christian Studies' ART in Orvieto offerings in Orvieto, Italy. It aims to integrate, through the writing of a major paper, the practical experience gained in these arts workshops with the more theoretical knowledge obtained through academic courses in the area of art, religion and theology. Building upon the activities undertaken in the workshop (discussion, visual journals, presentation of work and feedback) as well as the arts project accomplished, the paper will serve as a summative statement of what the student learned. It should demonstrate the student's analytical and interpretive skills as it seeks to find the points of intersection between artistic practice and the life of faith.

This course is geared to enrolment in the Artists' Workshop of the Institute for Christian Studies' ART in Orvieto offerings in Orvieto, Italy. It aims to integrate, through the writing of a major paper, the practical experience gained in these arts workshops with the more theoretical knowledge obtained through academic courses in the area of art, religion and theology. Building upon the activities undertaken in the workshop (discussion, visual journals, presentation of work and feedback) as well as the arts project accomplished, the paper will serve as a summative statement of what the student learned. It should demonstrate the student's analytical and interpretive skills as it seeks to find the points of intersection between artistic practice and the life of faith.