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Fall 2008 OFFERINGSREL 202: Interpretation of the Old Testament
Meets with UND THEO 176-1
Thomas Ryba
Div. 1 TTH 10:30-11:45
An investigation of the religious content of documents Christian call the "Old Testament" in light of the historical, social, and intellectual contexts out of which they arose. The student will be introduced to problems and methods in their interpretation.
REL 230: Religions of the East
Meets with PHIL 330/H
Donald Mitchell
Div. 1 MWF, 3:30-4:20
A study of the history, teachings, and present institutions of the religions of India, Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. This will include Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Zoroastrianism.
REL 231: Religions of the West
Meets with PHIL 331
Jacqueline Marina
Div. 1 MWF, 12:30-1:20
A comparative study of the origins, institutions, and theologies of the three major Western religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
REL 317: Ancient Judaism & Early Christianity
Meets with HIST 492S
Stuart Robertson
Div. 1 TTH, 3:00-4:15
This course is a study of the emergence of Judaism and the rise of Christianity out of roots in the history of ancient Israel. This will include noticing the effects of Greek culture, evidence of anti-Semitism and admiration of the Jews, conversion in a setting of religious pluralism, and the development of Jewish and Christian self-definition in this climate.
ENGL 264: The Bible as Literature
Dorothy Deering
Div. 1 MWF, 9:30-10:20
A study of selections from the Old and New Testaments as examples of Hebrew and early Christian literature.
HIST 317: A History of the Christian Church & the Expansion of Christianity I
Deborah Fleetham
Div. 1 MW, 5:30-6:45
A history of the emergence of Christianity, the development of the Christian church, and the impact of Christian thought and institutions upon western Europe prior to the Reformation.
HIST 492S: Ancient Judaism & Early Christianity
Meets with REL 317
Stuart Robertson
Div. 1 TTH, 3:00-4:15
This course is a study of the emergence of Judaism and the rise of Christianity out of roots in the history of ancient Israel. This will include noticing the effects of Greek culture, evidence of anti-Semitism and admiration of the Jews, conversion in a setting of religious pluralism, and the development of Jewish and Christian self-definition in this climate.
PHIL 206: Philosophy of Religion
Michael Bergmann
Div. 1 TTH, 8:30-9:20
1 W 8:30-9:20
2 W 9:30-10:20
3 W 10:30-11:20
4 W 11:30-12:20
5 W 12:30-1:20
6 W 1:30-2:20
This course will compare two major worldviews: theism and naturalism. According to theism, the natural world was created by a perfect supernatural person (God). According to naturalism, the natural world is a closed system—in other words, there are no supernatural entities. The primary goal of this course will be to investigate the claims made by each of these two worldviews and to critically examine the evidence and arguments for and against them.
PHIL 206Y: Philosophy of Religion
Martin Matustik
This is a long distance learning course offered by Purdue University, West Lafayette on its open campus on line @ blackboard-vista 4. To register, go to https://www.continuinged.purdue.edu/
While classical philosophical theology explored the existence and nature of God, modern doubts and suspicion about God gave rise to the philosophy of religion. The course will follow this historical development in reverse:
(1) From the 19th-century discourses on religion after “the death of God” to
(2) classical arguments for God’s existence to
(3) the Continental philosophy of religion that shifts emphasis from the “problem of God” to the task of spiritual self-transformation.
Required textbook:
David Stewart, Exploring the Philosophy of Religion, 5th ed. Prentice Hall, 2001. ISBN0-13-019519-7
PHIL 330/H: Religions of the East
Meets with REL 230
Donald Mitchell
Div. 1 MWF, 3:30-4:20
A study of the history, teachings, and present institutions of the religions of India, Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. This will include Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Zoroastrianism.
PHIL 331: Religions of the West
Meets with REL 231
Jacqueline Marina
Div. 1 MWF, 12:30-1:20
A comparative study of the origins, institutions, and theologies of the three major Western religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
PHIL 431: Contemporary Religious Thought
Jacqueline Marina
Div. 1 MWF, 2:30-3:20
An exploration of the work of major nineteenth and twentieth-century philosophers of religion and theologians such as Kierkegaard, Hegel, Schleiermacher, Barth, Rahner, and others.
PHIL 502: Studies in Medieval Philosophy
Jeffrey Brower
Div. 1 TTH, 12:00-1:15
Aquinas on Material Objects. A systematic introduction to Aquinas’s account of material objects. We’ll begin by examining the “hylomorphic” framework within which Aquinas develops his account—namely, his views about matter (hyle) and form (morphe). We’ll then consider the basic development of his account in some detail, focusing on those aspects of Aquinas’s views that distinguish him from other medievals (such as Scotus and Ockham). Finally, we’ll look at various philosophical and theological issues that lead Aquinas to refine and extend his account of material objects in signficant ways. A sustained effort will be made throughout the course to get clear on how Aquinas’s views situate him relative to contemporary debates about the nature of change, composition, material constitution, the ontology of stuff vs. things, and the proper analysis of ordinary particulars.
PHIL 506: Advanced Philosophy of Religion
Paul Draper
Div. 1 TTH, 12:00-1:15
A detailed critical investigation of some central problems in a philosophical approach to religion. Readings will be selected from leading representatives of traditional theism and various contemporary schools. The thought of the representative thinkers will be analyzed, discussed, and critically evaluated. The problems discussed will be selected from the existence of God, the problem of evil, freedom and determinism, the problem of immortality, and the nature of religious language.
SOC 367: Religion in America
Dan Olson
Div. 1 MWF, 12:30-1:20
Div. 2 MWF 1:30-2:20
Div. 3 MWF, 11:30-12:20
Examines the social dimensions of religion in American life; religion in American culture; social profiles of America's religious groups, trends in individual religious commitment; and religion's impact on American life.
SOC 368: The Social Significance of Religion
Div. 1 MWF, 3:30-4:20
Examines religion's relationship with family, work, politics, gender, war and peace, race and ethnicity, health, crime and deviance, education, law, and poverty. Content differs each time course is taught.
SOC 568: Religion and Society
Div. 1 TTH, 1:30-2:45
Examines religion's relationships with other spheres of social life. Other areas include family life, education, economy, politics, health, media, inequality, deviance, and social movements.
The following courses are Notre Dame Theology classes offered at St. Thomas Aquinas Center. Courses may be taken for UND or Purdue credit. Contact Dr. Thomas Ryba @ 743-4652 (or methexis@sttoms-purdue.org for more information or to register.
THEO 176-1: Interpretation of the Old Testament
Meets with REL 202
Thomas Ryba
An investigation of the religious content of documents Christian call the "Old Testament" in light of the historical, social, and intellectual contexts out of which they arose. The student will be introduced to problems and methods in their interpretation.
THEO 497: Directed Readings in Theology
To be arranged by Student & Instructor
This course provides an opportunity for students to explore individually tailored research topics and projects. The emphasis is upon independence, initiative and creativity within limits agreed upon by instructor and student. Students must meet with Dr. Ryba before the end of the second week of class to begin the development of a bibliography and to set regular meeting dates. If two or more students wish to work on joint interests, seminar-style meetings can be arranged. Topics in the past have included: readings in Protestant and Roman Catholic history, business ethics from a Christian perspective, Christianity and non-Christian religions and changing forms of the ministry in the Church. Possible topics for the future are open but subject to approval by the instructor. This is an opportunity for students to design their own courses. Prerequisites: One (or more) philosophy or theology course(s) or professor’s approval. Course Requirements: Bi-weekly meetings, journal, annotated bibliography and major (20+ pp.) paper. Auditors are welcome.
THEO 430/530P: Systematic Theology
T, 7:15-10:00 p.m.
St. Thomas Aquinas
This dual-level (undergraduate and graduate) introduction to the nature, tasks and methods of Systematic Theology is designed to focus on some of its exemplary architects. Selections from the writings of Origen of Alexandria, St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, Francis Turretin, Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Karl Rahner, Hans Urs Von Balthasar, et.al., will be read as examples for the conduct of systematic theological inquiry. Among the issues addressed will be: what a theological system (or the systematic conduct of theological inquiry) is, the relation between faith and reason, the role of experience as a theological datum, rhetoric and logic in theological argumentation, hermeneutical issues in the use of scriptural sources, and the idea of completeness in the relationship between the various theological sub-programs (doctrine of God, soteriology, ecclesiology, etc.).
SPRING 2008 OFFERINGS
REL 231: Religions of the West
Meets with ENGL 232T
Sandor Goodhart
Div. 1 TTH 3:00-4:15
A comparative study of the origins, institutions, and theologies of the three major Western religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
REL 318: The Bible and Its Early Interpreters
Stuart Robertson
Div. 1 TTH 1:30-2:45
This course will start with observation of the development of early themes in later parts of the Hebrew Bible and proceed to the on-going influence of these themes in Jewish literature outside the Hebrew canon (apocrypha, pseudepigrapha, targums, midrash, Josephus, Philo, and other Hellenistic Jewish authors), as well as in pagan literature of this era and in early Christian literature, particularly the New Testament.
ENGL 264: The Bible as Literature
Dorothy Deering
Div. 1 MWF 11:30-12:20
My section of English 264 will read selected portions of the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and Apocrypha. The course will entail a close study of a variety of literary forms and techniques: the structure of historical and biographical narratives (the Garden of Eden, the Exodus from Egypt, the Crucifixion/Resurrection), development of plot and character (in the stories of Abraham, David, Elijah, Jesus), and growth of prophetic and poetic styles and traditions (Isaiah, Micah, Job, Psalms), and the distinctive features of wisdom (proverbs, parables) and apocalyptic literature (Daniel, Revelation). Students will write 10-12 one page papers. There will be no tests or final exam. Students will participate weekly in team discussions of the reading.
HIST 318: History of the Christian Church II
Deborah Fleetham
Div. 1 TTH 4:30-5:45
A continuation of History 317, the Reformation, and the major developments in Christianity and the churches in modern world.
HIST 590B: Art of Darkness: The Dead and the Undead in History
Tithi Bhattacharya
Div. 1 TTH 12:00-1:15
History, in a way, is about dead things. A history of ghosts is hence appropriate and necessary. But a history of ghosts is really a history of the living, because a belief in phantoms and monsters has formed an integral part of every society and culture. Ghosts provide us with clues to society's deepest convictions. This course then, is about belief and imagination. It surveys various belief systems about the after-life, both from theological perspectives and the perspective of popular thought. It is also about how societies imagine the monster. Why do some cultures fear certain specific attributes of the dead than others? Are these attributes stable across space and time? Or can they be explained and understood historically? Why would we continue to believe in ghosts in an "age of reason"? The course will be a survey of ghost-lore across the world. It will study ghost-stories and myths, religious documents about the after-life and social practices such as funerals in order to understand the changing relationship between the dead and the living through time.
PHIL 206: Philosophy of Religion
Paul Draper
Div. 1 TTH 11:30-12:20
1 W 8:30-9:20
2 W 9:30-10:20
3 W 10:30-11:20
4 W 11:30-12:20
5 W 12:30-1:20
6 W 1:30-2:20
This course will compare two major worldviews: theism and naturalism. According to theism, the natural world was created by a perfect supernatural person (God). According to naturalism, the natural world is a closed system—in other words, there are no supernatural entities. The primary goal of this course will be to investigate the claims made by each of these two worldviews and to critically examine the evidence and arguments for and against them.
PHIL 206Y: Philosophy of Religion
Martin Beck Matustík
This is a long distance learning course offered by Purdue University, West Lafayette on its open campus on line @ blackboard-vista 4. To register, go to https://www.continuinged.purdue.edu/
While classical philosophical theology explored the existence and nature of God, modern doubts and suspicion about God gave rise to the philosophy of religion. The course will follow this historical development in reverse:
(1) From the 19th-century discourses on religion after “the death of God” to
(2) classical arguments for God’s existence to
(3) the Continental philosophy of religion that shifts emphasis from the “problem of God” to the task of spiritual self-transformation.
Required textbook:
David Stewart, Exploring the Philosophy of Religion, 5th ed. Prentice Hall, 2001. ISBN0-13-019519-7
PHIL 330: Religions of the East
Donald Mitchell
Div. 1 MWF 3:30-4:20
A study of the history, teachings, and present institutions of the religions of India, Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. This will include Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Zoroastrianism.
PHIL 402: Studies in Medieval Christian Thought
Jeffrey Brower
Div. 1 MWF, 3:30-4:20
A study of some of the main trends and major figures of the Christian Middle Ages. Emphasis will be on the way thinkers from this period make use of philosophy in theology, especially in developing their views about such issues as the nature and existence of God, the nature and use of religious language, and specifically Christian doctrines such as Trinity, Incarnation, and Atonement. Some attention will also be given to the way in which medieval thinkers attempted to build on developments in the early church, especially those of the socalled Patristics. Readings (in English translation) may include Augustine, Boethius, Anselm, Abelard, Aquinas, Scotus, Ockham, and Suarez.
PHIL 430: Modern Religious Thought
Jacqueline Marina
Div. 1 TTH 12:00-1:15
An intensive study of some of the philosophical and theological problems that arose in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and some responses to them. We will be looking at figures such as Descartes, Locke, Hume, Lessing, and Kant.
PHIL 560: Studies in Eastern Philosophy
Donald Mitchell
Div. 1, W, 8:30-11:20
Chinese and Japanese Philosophy This course is for both undergraduate and graduate students, and will focus on readings from the classical to modern Chinese philosophical traditions, and modern Japanese philosophy. We will reach selections from early Chinese philosophers including Confucius, Mencius, Mo Tzu, Lao Tzu, and
Chuang Tzu, as well as later Neo-Taoist, Buddhist and Neo-Confucian philosophers. In terms of Japanese philosophy, we will survey some of the major figures in Japanese Buddhism, and then focus on the Kyoto School of modern Japanese philosophy. This will be a good opportunity to read and discuss the original writings of famous East Asian thinkers who have greatly influenced Chinese and Japanese cultures.
PHIL 580C: Philosophy of Soren Kierkegaard
Martin Matustik
Div. 1 W, 2:30-5:20
This course examines Kierkegaard in his own right and from the vantage-point of recent returns to him. Our focus will be on Kierkegaard’s second ethics, i.e., self-transformation. Required texts: Works we will consider in full are Fear and Trembling; Stages on Life’s Way; and Works of Love. For course excerpts from
Either/Or; Concluding Unscientific Postscript; Sickness unto Death; Practice in Christianity; and The Moment, we will use The Essential Kierkegaard (ed. H. & E. Hong). All primary works required for the course are in the new translations by H. & E. Hong, Princeton UP, volumes of Kierkegaard's Writings. Recommended commentaries: For FT, see Mooney’s works; for CUP, Westphal’s Becoming A Self and Evans’s Kierkegaard’s Fragments and Postscript. On WOL, see Ferreira, Love’s Grateful Striving and Evans’s, Kierkegaard’s Ethics of Love. For recent rereadings of Kierkegaard, see ed. vols. of Perkins’s International Kierkegaard Commentary; Hannay & Marino, The Cambridge Companion to Kierkegaard; Leon & Walsh, eds., Feminist Interpretations
of Søren Kierkegaard; Matuštík & Westphal, eds., Kierkegaard in Post/Modernity; Rée & Chamberlain, Kierkegaard: A Critical Reader; and Jegstrup's The New Kierkegaard. For background historical reading, see Kirmmse’s Kierkegaard in Golden Age Denmark, and Garff’s biography of Kierkegaard.
SOC 367: Religion in America
Dan Olson
Div. 1 MWF 12:30-1:20
Div. 2 TTH 4:30-5:45 Examines the social dimensions of religion in American life; religion in American culture; social profiles of America's religious groups, trends in individual religious commitment; and religion's impact on American life.
The following courses are Notre Dame Theology classes offered at St. Thomas Aquinas Center. Courses may be taken for UND or Purdue credit. Contact Dr. Thomas Ryba @ 743-4652 (or methexis@sttoms-purdue.org for more information or to register.
Theology 173: Introduction to Theology
M 7:15-10:00 (St.
Thomas Aquinas, Room 22)
Among the guiding questions considered in this class will be: How do theologians think? What do theologians argue about? How has theology developed? What are the most important theological ideas? Can we prove the existence of God? Does God have gender? Can God suffer? What is the Trinity? What is the incarnation of God? What are the Christian ideas of salvation? What is the Christian church? How do we know anything about God? Can we say anything meaningful about God? What is grace? Do we have freedom of will? What are sacraments? What is religious experience? Prerequisites: None. Course requirements: Attendance, participation, one book report, one take-home midterm and one take-home final exam. Auditors are welcome.
Theology 497: Directed Readings in Theology
To be arranged by Student & Instructor
This course provides an opportunity for students to explore individually tailored research topics and projects. The emphasis is upon independence, initiative and creativity within limits agreed upon by instructor and student. Students must meet with Dr. Ryba before the end of the second week of class to begin the development of a bibliography and to set regular meeting dates. If two or more students wish to work on joint interests, seminar-style meetings can be arranged. Topics in the past have included: readings in Protestant and Roman Catholic history, business ethics from a Christian perspective, Christianity and non-Christian religions and changing forms of the ministry in the Church. Possible topics for the future are open but subject to approval by the instructor. This is an opportunity for students to design their own courses. Prerequisites: One (or more) philosophy or theology course(s) or professor’s approval. Course Requirements: Bi-weekly meetings, journal, annotated bibliography and major (20+ pp.) paper. Auditors are welcome.
Theology 440/550P: Moral Theology
T 7:15-10:00 (St. Thomas Aquinas, Room 22)
As John Mahoney noted in his The Making of Moral Theology, the term ‘moral theology’ (theologia moralis) referring to a distinctive science systematically separate from all of the other branches of theology is of relatively recent vintage. It has only been in use since the Thomist renaissance at the end of the 16th century, in the wake of the Council of Trent. It is the purpose of this course to investigate the development of Roman Catholic moral theology against its wider historical horizon. This course is an introduction to the study of the basic elements of Christian moral experience and understanding as well as the criteria of Christian moral judgment and action, including the data of moral knowledge, theories of the ultimate end of human nature, ontic and epistemic aspects of sin, moral agency, the conscience, and the theories and methods for moral decision making. This study will be accomplished, historically, through a course of reading of major Christian ethical/moral theological thinkers (and their influences) including: pre-Christian philosophical sources, ancient medieval, modern and contemporary approaches to Christian moral theology/ethics and their philosophical influences. The culmination of this study will be a close reading of The Splendor of Truth, The Gospel of Life, and God is Love, with the previous readings as their backdrop. Prerequisites: Undergraduates: one course in philosophy/theology; Graduates: enrollment in the MA program or equivalent. Course Requirements: Undergraduates: attendance, participation, one book report, one take-home midterm, and one take-home final exam; Graduate students: attendance, participation, annotated bibliography, seminar presentation and one take-home term exam. Auditors are welcome.