Course Descriptions: Philosophy, Theology, and Ethics
Area A: Biblical and Historical Studies
Area C: Religion, Culture, and Personality
Area D: Ministry in Church and Society
AREA B: PHILOSOPHY, THEOLOGY, AND ETHICS
Chairman Wesley J. Wildman
Professors Chung, J. Hart, R. Hart, Neville
Associate Professors Berthrong, Eckel, Wildman
Assistant Professors Green, Rambo, Wegter-McNelly
Lecturers Faramelli, Petersen, Porter
Discipline Designators for Area B
TS Social EthicsTT Philosophy and Systematic Theology
STH TS 814 Sociocultural Analysis
A lecture course introducing students to the sociology of culture as an empirical approach to social problems. Staff.STH TS 817 Black Religious Experience
Comparative and historical survey of features distinctive to the black religious experience. Attention to African and Caribbean roots and contemporary expressions. Staff.STH TS 818 Social Analysis and Ethical Reflection
Social analysis as a tool for theological reflection and praxis. A critical exploration of the meaning of American society in transition and of the political economy of globalization for the ministry for human dignity and justice. Chung.STH TS 822 Life and Thought of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The development of the thought of Martin Luther King, Jr., in its social-historical context and his role in twentieth-century social philosophy. Staff.STH TS 824/924 Religious Ethics and Politics
The purposes of the course are to help students examine critically theological and ethical perspectives on politics and government, and to develop creatively their own perspectives on these problems—especially in view of the fact that the purposes and functions of government and the practices of politics are among the most vigorous and important public debates in these times. The course will give primary attention to Christian perspective on politics, but will also incorporate other religious and philosophical views for purposes of comparison and appreciation. Staff.STH TS 829/929 Christian Ecological Ethics and Political Issues
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the character and dimensions of the ecological crisis, and to help them reflect theologically and ethically on ecological problems and proposed solutions, especially in public policy. The course will explore: The multiple forms of ecological problems and the ethical issues in each; the implications of the central affirmations of the Christian faith for the formation of ecological ethics; the nature of Christian love and justice in ecological contexts, current national and international policy debates in ecological concerns; directions for public policy that are theologically, ethically, socially, ecologically, and strategically coherent; and the role of the churches in responding to ecological concerns. Hart.STH TS 834 Women in American Religion
Students will explore the many ways in which religious ideas, practices, and institutions are gendered. Using both historical and contemporary cases and issues, we will look at how religion has been both a source of power and a source of oppression for women. Having completed this course, students will be able to identify significant female religious leaders and religio-social movements that have been led by women; and they will be able to analyze the social forces that shape and are shaped by the religious experiences of women. Ammerman.STH TS 837 Comparative Religious Ethics
Philosophical and religious perspectives in the meaning of the good life and the good society. Comparative study of social ethics in Christianity and other world religions with particular attention to one or two selected contemporary issues, such as the erosion of community, economic problems, humanity’s relationship to the environment, and human rights. Chung.STH TS 840 Seminar in Religion and Social Change
An exploration of the relationship between religion and social change, including the problems of modernization and globalization. Particular attention to the ways in which religion either supports the status quo or promotes social change, involving such problems as fundamentalist and utopian movements in the worldwide and contemporary setting. Chung.STH TS 841 Seminar: Modernity I
Deliberately and systematically crosses disciplinary boundaries to explore the origins, nature, and fate of modernity. Discussions of modernization and development in the social sciences of modernism and post-modernism in literacy and cultural studies. The nature of modern man and thought in philosophy and theology are included, and these as well as other concerns are considered from every relevant perspective. Stamped approval required. Credit given only after completion of STH TS 843. Greenfeld.STH TS 843 Seminar: Modernity II
Continues and presupposes STH TS 841. Stamped Approval Required.STH TS 845 Christian Social Ethics
Comparative study of historical and contemporary approaches to the nature, sources, methods, and concepts of Christian morality in Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox tradition. Hart.STH TS 846 Religion and Society in East Asia
Comparative and historical study of the interaction of religion and society in East Asia. Particular attention to the relation of Christianity with Asian religions and the role of religion in modernization. Chung.STH TS 852 Leadership in Church and Community
The social sciences are used in the study of both church and community. Approaches to the church’s ministry in metropolitan through rural areas are examined in readings, discussions, and site visits. Attention is also given to community organization and organizational development theory and practice through such leadership tasks as analysis, planning, and conflict management. Ammerman.STH TS 854 Boston University Ethical Tradition
The seminar will orient the participants to the Boston University Ethical Tradition, beginning with the Boston Personalists, with particular emphasis on the work of Borden Parker Bowne, Edgar S. Brightman, Walter Muelder, and others, and the important contributions made by Howard Thurman and Martin Luther King, Jr. The course will culminate with the works of contemporary exponents of the BU tradition. Throughout the course, there will be a special emphasis on the relationship of the BU tradition to the issues of war and peace, economic and social justice, and in particular, racial justice. The BU tradition is based on the belief in a personal God who cares about all people, and that each person is made in the divine image and is endowed with inherent value and dignity. There will be explorations of what this tradition can offer in meeting the new challenges of race, class, gender, bio-ethics, and respect for the natural environment, as well as in formulating a new social ethic for the institutions in our society. Faramelli.STH TS 863 Literature of Memory III: Literary Responses to Oppression
Under circumstances of tyranny or persecution, often the only possible gesture of defiance is the creative act. This class will explore the theme of writing as an act of witness, as resistance, and as an attempt to awaken conscience. We will carefully read examples of works produced from within situations of oppression in order to find the secrets of courage and hope. Discussion section and stamped approval required. Wiesel.STH TS 870 Literature of Memory IV: The Book of Genesis
A source of faith and disquiet for generations, the Book of Genesis has inspired philosophers, theologians, poets, and students to grapple with seminal life questions. This class will explore themes and characters from Genesis through careful readings of the text itself as well as secondary literature from diverse traditions and genres. Discussion section and stamped approval required. Wiesel.STH TS 875 Religion and Sociology of Knowledge
Phenomenological approach to religious experience and its relation to sociological theory: the nature of religious institutions and religious experience as well as the social context of each. Social psychology of belief and conversion, religion and morality. Comparison of the works of Otto, Schutz, Durkheim, and Weber, among others. Staff.STH TS 877 The Principles and Practices of Restorative Justice for Church and Society
Emphasis will be on the fundamental principles and practices of restorative justice as applicable to church and society. The course explores the needs and roles of key stakeholders (victims, offenders, communities, justice systems), outlines the basic principles and values of restorative justice and introduces some of the primary models of practice. It also identifies challenges to restorative justice—the dangers, the pitfalls—as well as possible strategies to help prevent restorative justice from failing to live up to its promise. This is done in the context of a Biblical understanding of justice leading to the development of a theology of the church and of a public theology that is restorative and not retributive. The course is organized around the issue of crime and harm within a western legal context. However, attention is given to applications and lessons from other contexts. Of particular interest is the contribution of traditional or indigenous approaches to justice as well as applications in post-conflict situations. Ultimately, the course explores restorative justice as a way of seeking justice in all contexts and as a way of life. Petersen/Porter.
STH TS 950 History of the Social Teachings of the Church
Social ethics of the church from its beginning to recent times. Interrelationship with political philosophy and development of social theory. Faramelli, Hart.STH TS 951 Contemporary Social Teachings of the Christian Church
An examination of the five contemporary approaches to Christian social ethics: the social gospel movement (Rauschenbusch), Christian realism (Reinhold Neibuhr), liberation perspectives, feminist social ethics, and Roman Catholic social teachings tradition. Faramelli.STH TS 957 Seminar: the Church and Human Rights
Philosophical, religious, and social problems of defining human rights and the related ideas of human dignity, justice, and the common good. Special attention to comparative understanding of human rights in Confucianism, Christianity, and Islam, exploring an alternative economic order and society that would serve the human person. Chung.STH TS 961 History of Western Ethics and Social Philosophy
This seminar focuses on the way Greek philosophy (Plato, Aristotle, Stoics) influenced Christian theology and ethics (Augustine and Aquinas), and how that Christian theological and ethical tradition influenced Luther, Calvin, and other Reformers. We will also look at the key figures in philosophy (Hume, Kant, and others) who shaped modern Western ethics. Emphasis will also be placed on the development of Western social and political philosophy which led to modern democratic revolutionary thinkers (Nietzsche and Marx). In addition, there will be an effort to explore the philosophical roots of the movements that led to the abolition of slavery as well as to the promotion of gender equality. Consideration will be given to the social/political/economic context that influenced their thinking. Particular emphasis will be placed on the relevance of these thinkers in our society which should be aware of their shortcomings (i.e., class, racial, and gender biases), but also be appreciative of their contributions to modern discourse. Faramelli.STH TS 964 Seminar: Social Theory
This seminar will explore a variety of theoretical perspectives on the social formation of modern persons, asking how those insights inform our understanding of individual religious identity. We will examine how identity is shaped by particular social locations and how identities change and we will address questions surrounding the role of religious institutions in forming and maintaining religious identities. The final weeks of the seminar will be devoted to examining these questions as they are differently present in various streams of American religious tradition. Ammerman.STH TT 704 Theology I: History of Christian Theology
A survey of the major philosophers of the West whose thought has contributed to the development of Christian theology. One-hour study section is required. This course is a prerequisite for STH TT 810 and all Theology II courses. Staff.STH TT 801 Introduction to Roman Catholic Theology
Survey course in ancient, medieval, and modern Roman Catholic thought. Course presumes some background in philosophical theology and church doctrine.STH TT 810 Theology II: Contemporary Christian Theology
Prereq: STH TT 704 and STH TH 718. Introduction to the basic themes of Christian theology geared toward the two-fold task of acquainting students with the historical development of doctrine and of encouraging them to add their own voices to the contemporary debate. Class sessions alternate between “summary” days, when the doctrines, their histories, and the contemporary debate are introduced, and “focus” days, when one or more important issues within each doctrine are addressed. Wegter-McNelly.STH TT 812 Study of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto
Focus on the world view of each tradition and the historical development of that world view. Berthrong.STH TT 815 The Confucian Way
An introduction to the history of the intellectual and spiritual development of the Confucian tradition from its beginnings to the modern period in China, Korea, and Japan. Special emphasis is placed on the classical and Neo-Confucian phases, as well as on contemporary Confucian-Christian dialogue. Berthrong.STH TT 817 Varieties of Ancient Christianity
Historical examination of the development of Christianity from its origins to its cultural dominance in the medieval West. Fredriksen.STH TT 818 Development of Christian Thought: The Passion in Early and Medieval Christianity
In this course, we will survey key works in the Christian tradition related to the passion, addressing the central question: Why did Jesus die on the cross? We will trace the themes of suffering and love, and the connection between them, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the role of the cross in both the history of Christianity and in its contemporary expressions. The reading will be weighted towards the medieval period and will include such thinkers as Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, Anselm of Canterbury, Bonaventure, Julian of Norwich, Pseudo-Dionysius, and Mechthild of Magdeburg. Rambo.STH TT 821 Philosophy and Religion
Unique opportunity to engage world figures in the fields of philosophy, religion, and theology in an intimate, informal setting. Topics updated each year. Course limited to 15 students and consent of the instructor is required. Green.STH TT 825 John Wesley’s Theology Today
The theology of John Wesley, though projected from an historical past, is a living and dynamic force in contemporary theology. The Wesleyan tradition is at its best when it remains responsive to its past and open to its future. This course will examine the primary doctrinal, methodological, and practical commitments of John Wesley’s theology as developed in his sermons, hymns, writings, and life-praxis. The course will also explore contemporary trends in Methodism and in Wesleyan theology more generally as they attempt to respond to the present theological situation and to the future prospects of a Christian faith lived out in the twenty-first century. Stone.STH TT 830 Topics in Ancient Christianity
An exploration of various social, philosophical, and theological themes in Western patristic literature. Also offered as STH TH 830. Fredriksen.STH TT 832 Tillich
Centered on one of the major works of the twentieth century, the Systematic Theology, this course is designed to assist students to contextualize, interpret, and analyze the thought of Paul Tillich and to assess its significance for contemporary theology. Also offered as STH TT 932 for doctoral-level students. Staff.STH TT 833 Religion and Science
Explores recent developments in the theoretical and cultural relations between religion and science, paying particular attention to strategies for moving beyond the limitations of the pervasive “conflict” view. No specific background in science required. Focuses primarily, though not exclusively, on the interaction between Christian thought and the natural sciences. Wegter-McNelly.STH TT 842 Lab Placement Seminar
Boston University School of Theology’s Lab Placement Seminar (LPS) is intended to provide graduate students from the University and the Boston Theological Institute (BTI), and also exceptional undergraduate students, with the opportunity to gain “hands-on” experience in a laboratory environment. Laboratory placements will be made for each student individually in order to best reflect his/her intellectual interests, prior competencies, and career/life aspirations. All lab placements will combine practical, scientific training with an opportunity to pursue ethical, philosophical, or theological questions. Variable credit course. Also offered as STH TT 843. Wildman.STH TT 852 Theological Thinking for Everyday Life
For theological thinking to avoid superficiality, it is important to have both a solid understanding of the modern world that stimulates our thinking and a serious grasp of theological themes. An ability to think with precision and creativity is also vital. These skills and bodies of knowledge can lead to deep insights and also help us to avoid pitfalls and dead ends as we do our theological thinking. This course aims to teach theological thinking by doing a lot of it. In particular, the class is designed to place the specific experiences of participants in conversation with each other and with the wisdom of the authors of our readings. The result should be a thought-provoking, exploratory process that helps us become more effective theological thinkers. Wildman.STH TT 856 Preaching to the Modern World
Consideration of the ways in which the contexts of preaching today differ from those in which the familiar formulations of theology came into being as well as the theological implications of the differences. Also offered as STH TC 856. Wildman.STH TT 857 Postmodern Theology
The course examines the implications of postmodern theory for the development of theology, specifically focusing on the nature of subjectivity and the transformation of moral philosophy and ethics engendered by postmodernism’s critical reevaluation of the relationship between the Self and the Other. Readings from Ricoeur, Derrida, Levinas, Beckett, Taylor, Kristeva, Wychogrod, and Lanzetta are supplemented with edited collections on postmodernism in general and its relation to religion, theology, and ethics. Staff.STH TT 858 Theologies of Dialogue
Prereq: STH TT 810. An examination of the major contemporary theological options proposed for the theory and practice of dialogue by the churches and theological communities. Berthrong.STH TT 860 Incarnation
The body—what is it? What are its limits? How do we understand the concept in terms of the Word, the Church, Jesus of Nazareth, the brain, the environment, and ourselves? This course attempts a joyful approach to the theological category of “incarnation,” broadly understood. In Christianity, incarnation refers to God’s presence as “man” amongst humankind, the “limiting” of an eternal God in the finite, poignantly frail form made available by the human body. Methodologically, the course moves dialectically between scripture, theological textual sources, and mystical writings on the one hand, and theoretical works from philosophy, cognitive science, and psychoanalysis, on the other. Staff.STH TT 862 Liberation Theology
Theologies of liberation originated in the mid-20th century and have continued in various forms and contexts on into the 21st century. This course examines some of the classic texts in Latin American, Asian, Hispanic, black, womanist, and feminist liberation theology and aims at an understanding of their sources, methods, hermeneutic, and primary themes. The course is a “reading” course and will take place in a seminar format. Stone.STH TT 863 Cognitive Science and Religion
This course undertakes a cultural analysis of the encounter between cognitive science and the study of religious experience. Motivated by recent neuroscience research on religious experience, we will develop, in conjunction with brain science, more nuanced phenomenological typologies of religious experience while examining the neural correlates of these experiences. Here, the implications of varieties of religious experience for current understandings of neural conditioning and the implications of repetition in religious ritual practice for studies of learning and imprinting are also considered. Staff.STH TT 865 Religious Dimensions of Whitehead’s Philosophy
A detailed study of Whitehead’s physical and metaphysical thought provides a framework for a formal consideration of his religious ideas. Hartshorne’s transformation of Whitehead’s metaphysical and religious ideas into pantheism. Philosophical ideas in process theology. Berthrong.STH TT 866 Feminist and Postmodern Theology
Identifies and describes the history and development of feminist and postmodern epistemology and methodology, engages materials normative to systematic theology from the standpoint of the relational, experiential matrix; and presents how these principles can be broadly applied to the challenges facing contemporary culture. Rambo.STH TT 867 African Christian Theology
Seminar exploring African Christian theologies and cultural issues, with special emphasis on Southern Africa. The course covers such themes as the nature of God, the problem of evil, environmentalism, gender, and indigenous churches. Also offered as STH TM 863 and TM 963 for doctoral students. Daneel.STH TT 868 Pluralism and Practical Theology: Bioethics
This course focuses on bioethics, specifically human cloning, as a case study in practical theology. Examining the interface of practical theology and public policy-making, this course will consider Christian, Jewish, and Islamic views on the theological appropriateness, medical risks, and ethical ramifications of human cloning. To ensure an informed discussion, substantial attention will be given to the science of human cloning, namely, attempts to create a child through somatic cell nuclear transfer cloning. Staff.STH TT 871 Science Literacy
It has become difficult to practice theology with a weak understanding of the sciences. This year-long course provides a rapid, yet detailed, introduction to many disciplines within the contemporary natural sciences. Lectures are delivered by scientists who are both specialists in their fields and experienced at conveying scientific information accurately to non-specialists. Weekly tutorials with the professor for remedial work, review, and discussion are also required. Wildman.STH TT 874 Contemporary Theological Systems
An exploration of contemporary systematic perspectives on the Christian faith aimed at facilitating the development of the student’s own ability to think theologically and to construct his or her own theological perspective in light of his or her own theological tradition and the contemporary situation. Wegter-McNelly.STH TT 890 Topics in Speculative Philosophy
A detailed study of the thesis that valuation structures thinking in imagination, interpretation, theorizing, and the pursuit of responsibility. Principal texts are the instructor’s Reconstruction of Thinking, Recovery of the Measure, and Normative Cultures. Neville.STH TT 901 Core Texts and Motifs
An intensive year seminar, in English translation, of key primary texts and philosophical-theological-religious ideas of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Taoism. Particularly well suited to doctoral students. Advanced master’s students with permission of instructor only. Neville.STH TT 908 Seminar in Medieval Theology and Christology
A comparative approach to the nature of theology and the dynamics of Christology in Aquinas and Bonaventure. Attention will be given to key texts, method, and content. Staff.STH TT 909 Modern Western Theology I: The Modern Period
A comprehensive introduction to Western theology from the Enlightenment to the beginning of the twentieth century in seminar format. Significant background in theology is required. Verify prerequisites with professor. Wildman.STH TT 913 Religion and Science
A doctoral-level seminar exploring contemporary theoretical discussions among scientists, philosophers, and theologians. Wegter-McNelly.STH TT 919 Sacramental Theology
Redefinition of sacraments in light of recent ecumenical liturgical developments and bibliographical studies. References to Barth, Schillebeeck, the World Council’s BEM document, and COCU’s Consensus. Also offered as STH TC 919. Staff.STH TT 921 Religion and Science Proseminar
This course introduces doctoral students interested in the interface of science, philosophy, and religion to salient methodological issues associated with the investigation of phenomena from an interdisciplinary perspective. More specifically, we explore how the juxtaposition of disciplines, with their attendant and diverse methodologies, can be approached constructively in the formulation of concrete research projects. The course examines methodology in the context of a dozen or so domains of questions that students may choose to pose, ranging from theology to ethics, and from ontology to epistemology. We also emphasize readings from the Qualifying Examinations Reading List for Ph.D. students in Science, Philosophy, and Religion, to prepare students in this program for the comprehensive examinations. Throughout the course, we remain mindful of the metaphorical aspects of methodological language and the nature of inquiry itself, and we also use metaphors such as the “vertical” and “horizontal” integration of knowledge to help us keep track of movement between planes or dimensions or analysis. Finally, we stay abreast of literature from both western and eastern dialogues between religion and science in order to broaden our scope of inquiry beyond popular levels of discussion in the religion and science area. Wildman, Wegter-McNelly.STH TT 924 Theological Aesthetics
Why is the retrieval of beauty essential in an age of terror? Grace Jantzen suggests that a displacement of beauty in western consciousness can be directly correlated with the increase of violence in post/modernity. Following Jantzen’s call for a theology of beauty, we will explore the significance of aesthetics in the current religious landscape. Using Hans Urs von Balthasar’s theological aesthetics as a lens for exploring the relationship between beauty and the divine, we will examine key works in western thought in which beauty plays a significant role (Plato, Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius, John Damascene, Bonaventure, Kierkegaard). In the second half of the course, we will survey recent discussions of aesthetics in continental philosophy, literature, and ethics as they intersect with the study of religion (using Continental Aesthetics Reader). In these latter sessions, we will focus on specialized topics: sacred space, sacred dance, sacred bodies and advertising, and sacred writing in order to see how the theory engaged in the first part of the course informs contemporary issues. What impact does this theological retrieval have on contemporary discussions of justice, trauma, conflict, and terror? What role could theological aesthetics play in a heavily visual culture? Although we will trace beauty predominantly through Christian thought, students are encouraged to pursue projects in which they explore the aesthetic dimensions of other religions. Rambo.
STH TT 925 Topics in Speculative Philosophy: Metaphysics
Certain leading thinkers in American philosophic tradition have positively engaged the nature of religion and conceptions of God in light of late modern developments in the natural and social sciences. In different, but curiously related ways, they construe both inquiry and the practice of humane living to be of a piece, uniting science and religion. They develop philosophical theologies and cosmologies in which value is an objective element of nature. This course will examine central essays of Charles Pierce on religion, scientific method, and cosmology; writings of John Dewey on the social and natural sciences, knowledge of value, and religion; and books of Alfred North Whitehead on science, religion, and a physical cosmology with God. Relevant books of the instructor will be used to bring the study up to date. Neville.STH TT 928 Theology Proseminar
The purpose of this seminar is professional formation of doctoral students in Boston University through the study of certain central approaches to theology and an introduction to program requirements, faculty and library resources, reading lists, and qualifying examinations. Staff.STH TT 929 Proseminar in Comparative Theology
This course will be a study of the development of the new theological sub-discipline known as Comparative Theology (the comparison and contrast between and among different traditions representing diverse cultural regions, both diachronic and synchronic, in form and function). There will be a series of introductory remarks by the instructor (ca. two weeks). For the balance of the course, students will make class presentations based on various readings and more specialized research projects. The goal of the course will be to provide an overview of the field as well as the articulation of individual approaches and methods for constructing comparative theologies. Berthrong.STH TT 930 Modern Western Theology II: 1914 to Present
A comprehensive introduction to theological figures and themes of the twentieth century in a seminar format. Signficant background in theology is required. Verify prerequisites with professor. Staff.STH TT 932 Tillich
Centered on one of the major works of the twentieth century, the Systematic Theology, this course is designed to assist students to contextualize, interpret, and analyze the thought of Paul Tillich and to assess its significance for contemporary theology. Also offered as STH TT 832 for master’s-level students. Staff.STH TT 940 Ecclesiology
See STH TJ 940. Stone.STH TT 946 Advanced Systematic Theology I: God and Creation
A study of creations as the fundamental religious relation between God and the world, defining both. Develops an adequate Christian theology of God and explores alternate conceptions of God. Wildman.STH TT 947 Advanced Systematic Theology II: The Human Condition
Study of the theological dimensions of human life, examining the Christian notions of sin and salvation, and some variants and alternatives to these and other religious traditions. Develops a contemporary Christology. Wildman.STH TT 948 Advanced Systematic Theology III: Holy Spirit
Study of both personal and communal dimensions of the religious life. Examines the church and the religious practices of ritual, symbol making, and paths of spiritual perfection. Develops a systematic doctrine of the Holy Spirit and the church. Neville, Rambo.STH TT 959 Theological Analysis of Worship
Corporate worship is analyzed in terms of love, faith, and hope. Preaching and sacramental and pastoral rites are placed in an ecclesiological and missiological context. Also offered as STH TC 959. Staff.
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