Philosophy and Systematic Theology

• STH TT 854: Classic Jewish Thought
  This course investigates basic human and religious issues as they have been understood in the classical Jewish tradition: creation and revelation, good and evil, the nature of suffering, the relationship between God and human beings, and the relationships of human beings to one another. We will explore these issues through investigation of sources from the Bible, midrashic literature, Talmud, and Jewish philosophy. Special attention to the role of Torah and its interpretation in Jewish life and thought
• STH TT 855: Theology of Christian Mysticism
  A concentrated venture in philosophical theology. This lecture, reading and discussion course centers on the thought, not the praxis, of selected major mystics in the Christian tradition. Overviews Greek philosophical backgrounds then moves to a close examination of Eckhart, Nicolas of Cusa, Boehme, and William Blake.
• STH TT 856: Preaching for the Modern World: Preaching Theological Challenges
  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.
• STH TT 857: Postmodern Theology and Spirituality
  This course examines the impact of philosophers like Nietzsche, Foucault, Levinas, Irigaray, and Derrida on the study of theology. Rather than shutting down a religious conversation, theologians within this tradition argue that postmodern thought opens up religious questions in new ways. What does postmodernism reveal about religious confessions and practices? How does this conversation help us to understand some of the shifts in spirituality and religious practice in our contemporary world? (John Caputo, Mark C. Taylor, Catherine Keller, and Mark D. Jordan)
• STH TT 858: Theologies of Dialogue
  An examination of the major contemporary theological options proposed for the theory and practice of dialogue by the churches and theological communities.
• STH TT 862: Theologies of Liberation
  Theologies of liberation originated in the mid-twentieth century and have continued in various forms and contexts on into the twenty-first century. This course examines some of the classic texts in Latin American, Asian, Hispanic, Black, Womanist, Queer, and Feminist liberation theology and aims at an understanding of their sources, methods, hermeneutic, and primary themes.
• 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.
• STH TT 866: Feminist and Womanist Theologies
  Feminist and womanist theologians provide some of the sharpest theological analyses of the ways in which power functions both within and outside of religious institutions. This course explores these contributions to an understanding of power, both divine and human, and the ways in which practices and professions of religious traditions can be both death-dealing and life- giving. How does power operate on bodies, in institutions, in global markets? What is the fuel "the power" necessary for social change and transformation? Examining critical moments in 20th century movements of liberation, this course draws on theory, theology, literature, and media to give theological depth and understanding to religious claims about love, power, and justice.
• STH TT 871: Science Literacy and Scientific Boundary Questions
  This course introduces contemporary science to students with research and writing interests in the area of science, philosophy, and religion. It also treats scientific boundary questions, which are philosophical, ethical, and theological questions raised by science yet not answerable within science itself. This is more than a popular science course; it is the course to take when you are ready to go beyond popular science, and you are ready for integrative thinking that connects science, philosophy, history, ethics, and theology. The Fall semester lectures are on the biological sciences. That semester can be taken independently of the Spring semester on physics. The mathematics required for the Spring lectures on physics is taught through the whole year in a separate meeting. You should consult the instructor about your background and readiness to take this course prior to registering.
• 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.
• STH TT 889: Theologies of Sexual Identity
  A study of the conceptual, biblical, historical, scientific, and critical roots of the current issues about sexual identity, focusing on women's ordination and gay marriage as prisms to understand the feminist and gay cultural revolutions. These movements have called attention to sexual identities more generally, and the theology of sexually identity for all human beings will be developed.
• STH TT 890: Topics in Speculative Philosophy: The Axiology of Thinking
  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.
• STH TT 898: Theology and Trauma
  This course aims to bring the recent studies in the interdisciplinary study of trauma to bear on the field of theology. What unique challenges does the phenomenon of trauma pose to contemporary theology? The first part of the course explores recent studies in trauma, focusing on three areas of research: 1) neurobiology of trauma, 2) clinical/therapeutic studies, and 3) literary approaches to trauma. The second part of the course examines theological engagements with issues of radical suffering. The third part brings together the insights from the first two and focuses on the question of what it means to witness theologically to individual, societal, and global trauma. We will look at issues and contexts such as the criminal justice system, war, poverty, and racism. In this final part, students will be working towards constructive theological engagements with issues of trauma through interaction with a variety of mediums: art, literature, spiritual practices, and film. The course is not a counseling course. It aims to provide rich theological reflection around issues of suffering, violence, and trauma, both individual and global.
• STH TT 899: Schleiermacher
  The primary aim of this course is read and understand the theology of Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher, one of the most important and influential European intellectuals of the 19th century, and known variously as the Father of Romanticism, the Father of Hermeneutics, the Father of German Plato studies, the Father of Modern Protestant Theology, and the Father of Liberal Christian Theology. The course focuses on The Christian Faith (CF) but also covers some other of his writings particularly On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers (OR) and Letters to Lücke (LL) and some biographical material. The secondary aim is to help students develop their own theological ideas in detailed conversation with Schleiermacher's, a purpose for which CF is particularly well suited.
• STH TT 901: Core Texts and Motifs: Western Traditions
  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.
• STH TT 902: Core Texts and Motifs of World Religions: East
  Prereq:(CASCC101 & CASCC102) or two courses in religion or philosophy. *An intensive seminar in primary texts and key ideas of theology and religious philosophy as developed in representative world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism. Second course in a year-long sequence. Each semester may be taken independently.
• STH TT 911: The Rise of Neo-Confucianism: Daoxue and Beyond
  This course is an analysis of the rise of Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty and its continued development in the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties in China as well as its transmission to Korea, Japan and Vietnam. The synthesis of Zhu Xi's daoxue [Chu Hsi] (1130-1200) will serve as a major case study of the development and influence of Neo-Confucian philosophy. The course will also pursue the modern developments of New Confucianism in East Asia and the West with the examples of New Confucianism and Boston Confucianism.
• STH TT 913: Science and Religion
  A doctoral-level seminar exploring contemporary theoretical discussions among scientists, philosophers, and theologians.
• STH TT 921: Proseminar: Religion and Science
  This doctoral level seminar provides an advanced introduction to the core literature and issues of the interdisciplinary field of religion and science. The primary texts are Ian Barbour's Religion and Science: Historical and Contemporary Issues, John Hedley Brooke's Science and Religion: Some Historical Perspectives, the edited collection titled Religion and Science: History, Method, Dialogue (Mark Richardson and Wesley Wildman, eds.), and the Oxford Handbook of Religion and Science (Philip Clayton, ed.). The four primary areas considering during the semester are: historical relations, comparative method, disciplinary perspectives, and theoretical debates. The course is a requirement for BU PhD students in the science and religion track of Division of Religious and Theological Studies. Advanced masters students may enroll with the instructor's permission.
• STH TT 923: Philosophical Cosmology
  The purpose of this course is to introduce students to major positions in philosophical cosmology relative to the twin questions of the nature of God and scientific knowledge of the natural world. Connected with both of these is the question of where value lies in the world, if anywhere, given the assumptions of a fact-value distinction in modern science. The main interest will be with discussions in the West, although some comparative points will be made.

Back to full list of Courses