Courses

• STH TS 951: Contemporary Social Teachings for the Christian Church
  An in-depth study of major contemporary social issues, utilizing the works of key Christian social ethicists, as expressed in the Protestant, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic traditions and in theologies of liberation. Issues such as sexuality and human reproduction, war and peace, economic and social justice, racism, gender, social class, and the use/misuse and protection of natural resources, will be viewed through the perspective of different religious traditions. Special emphasis will be placed on ecumenical and interfaith social ethics, the rise and significance of the Christian Right, and development of the tools needed to do social ethics in different social and cultural contexts.
• 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.
• STH TS 961: History of Western Ethics and Social Philosophy
  This seminar focuses on the ways 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. There will also be a look at the key figures in philosophy (Hume, Kant, Grotius, and others) who shaped modern Western ethics. Emphasis will also be placed on the development of Western social and political philosophy which led to the modern democratic state (Locke, Bentham, J.S. Mill, A. Smith), utilitarianism and cost-benefit analysis, as well as the works of revolutionary thinkers (Nietzsche and Marx) and also the seminal feminist thinkers (C. DePizan, M. Wollstonecraft, H. Taylor). In addition, there will be efforts to explore the social and 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 the thinking of the writers, as well as a look at some of the readings from a feminist and multicultural standpoint. Particular emphasis will be placed on the relevance of these thinkers in our society. We should be aware of their shortcomings (class, cultural, racial and gender biases), but also be appreciative of their contributions to modern thinking.
• STH TT 704: 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 most Theology II courses.
• STH TT 801: Introduction to Roman Catholic Theology
  An inquiry into the development, nature, and future direction of Roman Catholic theology. The primary focus is on contemporary theologians. Fundamental theological issues and doctrines such as creation, christology, and grace will be considered.
• STH TT 810: TT810 Theology II – Contemporary Christian Theology
  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.
• 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.
• STH TT 816: Atheisms and Theologies
  The general aim of this course is learn about varieties of atheism-older "classic atheism," so-called "new atheism" of recent years, and theologically inspired forms of atheism-and to understand the various theological responses to atheism. Questions of particular importance are: (1) How strong are traditional and new atheistic arguments? (2) Where does or should theology stand in relation to the arguments of atheism? (3) What are the origins of modern atheism? (4) Should postmodern mystical theologies and iconoclastic anti-anthropomorphic theologies that reject a determinate divine being be considered atheistic? If so how does this sort of atheism relate to other types? The class is intended for advanced masters students and doctoral candidates interested in con-temporary theology and its conceptual roots in older theological debates. Meets with STH TT 956.
• STH TT 818: Development of Christian Thought: The Holy Spirit
  A re-examination of Spirit is essential to post-9/11 Christianity and an understanding of God’s presence and activity in our time. This course explores this claim and seeks to provide students with both a historical and constructive study of a doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Tracking the Spirit through the Christian tradition, from the biblical texts in Genesis to the present day, we will focus on the major movements in which a doctrine of the Spirit takes precedence, i.e. the Reformation, Quakerism, the Holiness movement, Pentecostalism, and African-American gospel traditions. Exploring the rich textual imagery and embodied testimonies associated with Spirit, we will explore the connections between Spirit and issues of justice, reconciliation, suffering, and healing.
• STH TT 821: Topics in Philosophy and Religion
  A unique opportunity to engage world figures in the fields of philosophy, religion, and theology in an intimate, informal setting. Topics are updated each year. Course is limited to 15 students; consent of the instructor is required.
• 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. This course examines the primary doctrinal, methodological, and practical commitments of John Wesley’s theology as developed in his sermons, hymns, writings, and life-praxis. The course also explores 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.
• STH TT 828: Liberal Evangelical Christianity
  The general aim of this course is to learn about the history, sociology, theology, and ethics of the tension between liberals and evangelicals that has persisted among Protestant Christians within the United States, under various names, since early in the nineteenth century. The specific aim is to situate a variety of moderate possibilities within this tension. These range from mid-twentieth-century movements such Neo-Evangelicalism (represented by Billy Graham and Carl Henry, among others) and the hearty reception of famous preacher Harry Emerson Fosdick, who defined himself as “liberal evangelical”; through the revolutionary social visions of evangelicals such as Ron Sider and Tony Campolo, the cultural critique of Jim Wallis and the Sojourners Community, and the Christian pacificism of Anabaptists such as John Howard Yoder; to the green evangelicals, liberal evangelicals, evangelical liberals, progressive evangelicals, and radical moderates of today. The class is intended for master’s students interested in the liberal-evangelical tension and especially in the prospects for transcending that tension both in individual faith identities and in congregational contexts. The class should help participants become more articulate communicators and more effective leaders around issues bearing on this tension.
• STH TT 832: Paul Tillich
  Centered on one of the major theological 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.
• 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.
• STH TT 838: Religious Thought East and West: Maimonides in Comparative Perspective
  We will investigate the works of the 12th century Judeo-Arabic philosopher Maimonides in dialogue with texts from Islamic and Christian philosophy and mysticism, Taoism, Chinese and Zen Buddhism, and the process philosophy of A.N. Whitehead. Topics may include: the nature of the Absolute, origin of time and the universe, paradox of transcendence and immanence, role of teachers, sages, and prophets, language and negative theology, reason and the path to realization.
• STH TT 839: Race and American Christianity
  This will be an intensive course taught prior to the first day of Fall 2010 courses. Students taking this intensive course will put it on their FALL PERMISSION TO REGISTER FORMS. The teaching schedule for TT839 is as follows (totaling 7 days/6 hours per day). Monday, August 23 10am-1pm; 2pm-5pm - Tuesday, August 24 10am-1pm; 2pm-5pm - Wednesday, August 25 10am-1pm; 2pm-5pm - Thursday, August 26 10am-1pm; 2pm-5pm - Friday, August 27 10am-1pm; 2pm-5pm - Monday, August 30 10am-1pm; 2pm-5pm - Tuesday, August 31 10am-1pm; 2pm-5pm - COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course explores a variety of experiences and expressions of race in American Christianity, past and present. Using both comparative and narrative modes of understanding, we will look at how race and religion have interacted across both time and space, comparing the Anglo-American and African American jeremiad traditions; tracing the racial story of American Pentecostalism from African American Los Angeles in 1906 to Latino Texas in 2006; and putting antebellum sorrow songs in conversation with both contemporary hip-hop and the praise songs of Korean American evangelical college students. Our texts will include autobiography, blogs, essays, fiction, history, journalism, movies, music, poll data, sermons, visual art, and YouTube, as well as our own experiences of visiting a racially different Christian community.
• STH TT 842: Lab Placement
  
• STH TT 845: Spirituality, Medicine & Health
  The general aim of this science-religion course is to learn about the complex entanglements among religious traditions and spirituality, medical traditions and healing modalities, and norms for physical and mental health. This will involve (i) in Part 1 of the course, gaining a basic grasp on the history of the medical traditions of China, India, the Middle East, and the West, including the metaphysical frameworks that inform those traditions; (ii) in Part 2 of the course, studying the complex controversy over spirituality and health research and attempting to decide whether and how the efficacy of healing modalities is to be evaluated; (iii) in Part 3 of the course, understanding how western biomedicine interacts with the array of medical traditions and spiritually inspired healing modalities that thrive in the West; and (iv) throughout the course, addressing philosophical, theological, and ethical questions about norms for mental and physical health and comparing metaphysical frameworks for health and healing. The class is intended for advanced masters students and doctoral candidates interested in the science-religion dialogue, and particularly in spirituality and health.
• STH TT 852: Theological Thinking for Everyday Life and Ministry
  This course aims to teach theological thinking by doing a lot of it. The class is designed to place the specific experiences of participants in conversation with each other and with the wisdom of the authors of the readings. The aim is to become more effective theological thinkers.
• STH TT 854: Classic Jewish Thought
  Basic human and religious issues as they have been understood within the classical Jewish framework of God, the people of Israel, and Torah: good and evil, creation, the relationship of human beings to God and to one another.

Note that this information may change at any time.

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