MLA-Theology

The four Gospels will be studied in this course with the different methods used by the Catholic Church for understanding them in the light of faith. This course explains the background, the structure, the main contents, and the major themes of each gospel.

Introduction to the Christian faith from a Protestant perspective: articles of the Nicene Creed, role of the Bible, providence, faith, conversion, sanctification, Baptism and Lord’s Supper. Prerequisites: THEO 1300/3300 & 2300/3310. Fall.

Reflection in light of scripture and Vatican II on the Catholic Church as one, holy, catholic and apostolic; discussion of authority and the papacy; ecumenism; the laity; the role of the Church in the modern world.

Study of the sacramental principle: relationship of the sacraments to Christ and the Church; and biblical, historical and doctrinal introduction to the seven sacraments, with special emphasis on their role in Christian life. Spring.

Worship, ritual and the human condition; Christian worship and the history of salvation; spiritual worship and liturgical action: objective and subjective aspects; play and festivity; sacred actions, times, and places; liturgy and holiness. As needed.

Systematic study of the concepts and practices of the Christian spiritual life, illustrated by reading selected texts from the great spiritual masters and writers of the Church.

Basic themes concerned with the person and work of Jesus Christ as they emerge in scripture and tradition; emphasis on Jesus’ public ministry, the paschal mystery, and the Christology of both the early and contemporary Church; modern problems regarding the meaning of salvation. Spring.

All Christians called to holiness; common principles and various paths by which this vocation is realized; lay men and women; ordained ministry; consecrated life. As needed.

Christian ethics as a morality of response and responsibility; nature and extent of Christian love, law, freedom and conscience; the theological virtues of faith, love, hope. Prerequisites: THEO 1300/3300 & THEO 2300/3310. Fall.

Prophecy in the Old Testament in its historical and religious contexts; critical methods of studying the prophets; current interpretations of the prophetic books. Prerequisites: THEO 1300/3300 & 2300/3310. Fall, odd years.

The Pauline letters in their historical and religious contexts; critical methods of studying the letters; current interpretations of Pauline theology. Prerequisites: THEO 1300/3300 & 2300/3310. Spring.

The Torah in its historical and religious contexts; the development of pentateuchal criticism; critical methods of studying the Pentateuch; theologies of the different traditions and their relations to biblical theology as a whole. Prerequisites: THEO 1300/3300 & 2300/3310. Spring, odd years..

The synoptic gospels in their historical and religious contexts; critical methods of studying these gospels and their relations to biblical theology as a whole.

Contemporary exegetical approaches to Psalms, including the genre of “psalm” with a comparison to similar literature from the ancient Near East; types of psalms; relation of the Psalter to temple and synagogue worship; interpretations of individual psalms.

This course examines the ways in which the Catholic faith is presented and illuminated through the literary arts.

Introduction to the tradition of Catholic reflection on liberal education. The course considers the nature of the liberal arts, the relationship between theology and the other disciplines from a theological point of view, the question of the unity of knowledge, and the spirituality proper to the life of learning.

Church history and Christian thought from apostolic times to the end of the 13th century.

Church history and Christian thought from the end of the 13th century to the present. Prerequisites: THEO 1300/3300 & 2300/3310. Spring.

The fourth gospel and the epistles of John; critical methods of Johannine study; current status of Johannine scholarship; theological messages of the gospel and epistles.

Study of the major Eastern religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. Fall.

Major ideas, customs, ceremonies and traditions of Judaism. (This course is sponsored by the Jewish Chautauqua Society.) Prerequisites: THEO 1300/3300 & 2300/3310. Spring, odd years.

The one God and his attributes; mystery of the Trinity and development of the Church’s understanding of this mystery; participation in the triune life of God. Fall.

A clinically-oriented course on moral issues that arise in modern health care. Topics may vary each semester.

Exegetical examination of Luke and Acts in light of their relationship, including: Luke-Acts scholarship (Cadbury to the present) and the critical method it engendered; genre of Acts; literary and theological unity of Luke and Acts. Spring, even years. Prerequisites: THEO 1300/3300 & 2300/3310.

Survey of the utterances of Jesus as found in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) and the Gospel of Thomas. Background issues are discussed (synoptic problem, redaction criticism, etc.), but principally the course examines key aspects of Jesus’ utterances: their extent, form, authenticity, interpretation and theology. Spring.

A theological examination of ethical issues relating to the making and application of the law: e.g., the concept of justice; legal positivism and the relation of civil and criminal law to ethics and the legitimacy of the adversary system; obligations relating to confidentiality, equal access to legal services, punishment and sentencing, contracts; the practice of law as a Christian calling.

Catholic teaching on social, political and economic issues: freedom; law; conscience; marriage and family; political authority; just war and nuclear arms; human dignity and rights; work; private property and social justice.

Christian understanding of the human condition and God’s transforming grace; human nature as fallen and elevated; justification and new life in Christ. Spring. Prerequisites: THEO 1300/3300 & 2300/3310.

Systematic study of the concepts and practices of the Christian spiritual life, with a special emphasis placed upon an understanding of Celtic Spirituality and the influences of Anglo-Saxon spirituality on it. This study will be undertaken by a reading and study of selected texts by the great spiritual masters and writers of the Church from the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon tradition.

Systematic study of the concepts and practices of the Christian spiritual life, with a special emphasis placed upon an understanding of Celtic Spirituality and the influences of Anglo-Saxon spirituality on it. This study will be undertaken by a reading and study of selected texts by the great spiritual masters and writers of the Church from the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon tradition.

Lives and thoughts of the great saints and scholars of the first millennium who shaped the Church’s teaching and life. Reading their works is essential to the course. Among those to be discussed are the Desert Fathers, Origen, Basil, Ambrose and Augustine. As needed. Prerequisites: THEO 1300/3300 & 2300/3310.

Introduction to the writings of John Paul II on the sacramental nature of creation, and in particular, the human body, male and female. Marriage as sacrament of the Communion of Persons in the Trinity. The ethics of human sexuality as integral to the responsible relationship between persons and the theology of the total, reciprocal gift of persons. Spring, odd years. Prerequisites: THEO 1300/3300 & 2300/3310.

Introduction to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Qoheleth, Song of Songs, Wisdom and Sirach.

A study of the thought and influence of John Henry Newman through a selection of his writings, including The Idea of a University.

Mary’s role in the salvation of humanity. Mary in scripture and in the tradition of the Church. The teaching of the contemporary magisterium: Pius XII, Vatican II, Paul VI, John Paul II. Mary in contemporary theology.

The way in which Jews have read the Hebrew Scriptures through the ages. (Jewish Chautauqua Endowed Lectureship in Honor of Rabbi Robert I. Kahn) Spring, even years. Prerequisites: THEO 1300/3300 & 2300/3310.

Student research on a selected problem in the field, pursued under the guidance of a faculty member. Requires permission of the department chair.

Selected topic of mutual interest to the faculty member and students. Offered irregularly.