Courses

• STH TT 829: Thomas Aquinas
  Thomas Aquinas is one of the most important figures in the history and development of Western philosophy and Christian theology. On nearly everything he writes about -- from virtue to the sacraments, metaphysics of identity to the incarnation, war to soteriology -- he has something interesting, important, and illuminating to say. And whether one agrees with his particular conclusions or not, it is difficult to engage his work without growing as a thinker and reader. This doctoral seminar constitutes an extended engagement with Thomas's thought, primarily through attention to his Summa theologiae. Engagement with secondary sources will be sparing so as to keep our focus on the text itself. We will be reading with an eye to understanding Thomas both on his own terms and as a resource for contemporary work in philosophy, theology, and religious studies. The course's focus this year is on Thomas's ethics (especially his conceptions of virtue, habit, and human action); the relations between his ethics and his overarching theological and intellectual project; and the ongoing philosophical and theological interest of these dimensions of his thought. The course is suitable both for advanced Aquinas students as well as those new to his thought.
• 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. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• STH TT 833: Religion and Science
  This course examines the relationship between religion and science (R&S) through three main lenses. The first is historical: it surveys antique, medieval, and modern developments in the interaction between R&S in the West. The second is methodological: it focuses on ways of construing the R&S relation today, with an emphasis on dialogue and integration approaches. The third is applied: it concentrates on a specific issue in current R&S research--namely, God, evolution, and suffering in nature (sometimes called the "problem of natural evil"). The course is open to all graduate students. No background in science is necessary. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• STH TT 835: Nicholas of Cusa’s Mystical Theology
  This course explores theological, philosophical, and experiential aspects of late medieval Christian mystical thought in the Dionysian tradition. It does so through an in-depth study of the writings of fifteenth century German mystic Nicholas of Cusa. In addition to closely analyzing primary texts that convey quintessential Cusan theological notions (such as the "coincidence of opposites" and God as "Not-Other"), students will investigate the writings of important predecessors who influenced his thought, and will consider, too, trends in the contemporary study of Cusa's mystical theology.
• STH TT 837: Doing Theology in a Global Context
  Methodological course which aims to construct a theological method that is appropriate and helpful to theologians and pastors in a post-colonial and globalized world. This would involve mapping the global/post-colonial context and examining the various sources, methods, and norms of theology in light of this new context. Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• STH TT 838: Mysticism: East and West
  What is mysticism? In this interactive seminar, we will engage in close reading and analysis of texts describing direct communion with a divine or absolute reality. Texts drawn from Chinese, Indian, Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and Neoplatonic traditions.
• STH TT 840: Images of Christ in World Christianity
  This is a course in Christology, approached from a world Christianity perspective. I introduce students to a variety of images of Christ from all over the world - mostly in the form of paintings, sculptures, and other pieces of art and some writings - and help them to reflect on the content and method of christological reflection. This is done without neglecting the African-American and Feminist/Womanist concerns. Students are given the option of turning in a piece of art portraying their own image of Christ in lieu of a final paper. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• STH TT 841: Christian Encounters with Hinduism
  This course begins with a survey of Hinduism - its history, beliefs, and practices - and moves on to trace the history of Hindu-Christian encounter both in India and the US. Three pieces of writing are studied as samples of encounter - my book on The Crucified Guru, John Thatamanil's book The Imminent Divine, and Francis Clooney's Christian God, Hindu God. The course ends with examining the various theologies of religions and constructing a appropriate theological stance for a healthy encounter with Hindus today. The course will involve both visit to Hindu temple, and meeting Hindus as guest speakers in the class. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• STH TT 842: Lab Placement
  This is a course for students in a variety of Boston University School of Theology and Division of Religious and Theological Studies degree programs who are registered for laboratory placements. It is not available to students at other schools in the Boston Theological Institute.
• STH TT 844: War and the Human: Theological Responses to 21st century War
  What motivates us to fight? What are the practices of war saying about who we are, as persons and as a nation? What is the impact of war? This course brings theological insights to bear on current practices of war. Beginning with analysis of the dimensions of 21st century war, we will explore perennial human questions raised within the context of war: love/hate, shame/guilt, conscience, justice, community, identity, and death. This course aims to deepen theological exploration and also seeks to empower students to develop constructive theological responses to war. The course focuses on current practices of war by the U.S. and features site-visits and engagements with different sectors of society directly involved in war/healing work. Topics addressed include: terror & the role of religion in war post 9/11; religion in the military (chaplains, race, class, gender, religious pluralism); the discourse of war - just war, pacifism; technology, intelligence, & the media; trauma and war; the function of race, class, and gender in war; peace, protest, and religious communities. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• 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. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• STH TT 849: Queer Theology
  This course examines the emergence of queer theology as it has been derived from queer theory and LGBTQ social justice activists. It will acquaint students with the history of the term "queer", its challenges, its reappropriation and the impact queer theology is having on the Christian faith and practices. We will especially investigate how "queering" may contribute to theology as academic discipline, church practice and as an instrument of social justice. This course will privilege an intersectional analysis. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• 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. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• 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. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• STH TT 855: The Theology of Christian Mysticism
  This course explores theological, philosophical, and experiential aspects of late medieval Christian mystical thought in the Dionysian tradition. It does so through an in-depth study of the writings of fifteenth century German mystic Nicholas of Cusa. In addition to closely analyzing primary texts that convey quintessential Cusan theological notions (such as the "coincidence of opposites" and God as "Not-Other"), students will investigate the writings of important predecessors who influenced his thought, and will consider, too, trends in the contemporary study of Cusa's mystical theology. (Requires TF 701/TF 702 as prerequisite.)
• 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. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• STH TT 857: Postmodern Theology and Spirituality
  While postmodern thought is often accused of being relativistic and even nihilistic, contemporary theologians have depended on insights from postmodern thinkers to construct theologies that address injustice and advocate for change. This course aims to examine the philosophical and theological critiques of modernity, with an eye towards the constructive possibilities emerging from thinkers such as Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, and Judith Butler. The course examines theological proposals that draw on postmodern thought to re-conceptualize divinity in the midst of central challenges of our time: the value of life, alterity/difference, historical trauma, and the future. It aims to provide students with a better understanding of postmodern theories with an eye to their theological significance.
• 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. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• STH TT 861: Varieties of Religious Naturalisms
  The aim of this seminar is to learn about varieties of religious naturalism and how they have been, and can be, incorporated into philosophical and theological reflection. The seminar will read a variety of works in contemporary religious naturalism, from twentieth-century classics to current contributions, and from theoretical analyses of the meaning of naturalism to surveys attempting to map out the territory of plausible viewpoints. We will also track the close relationship between religious naturalism and both ecologically-rooted forms of spirituality and nature-centered forms of mysticism. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)
• 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. (Requires TF 701/702 or equivalent)

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