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This course will introduce students to the African American faith experience, with particular attention being given to the historical development of spiritualities of liberation in the American Diaspora. Brief lectures and seminar discussions will offer “perspectives” on this rich and heterogeneous tradition from several vantage points within the humanities, social sciences, and theological disciplines. This course was also cross-listed as AMST 30125, HIST 30649, SOC 33002, and THEO 33802.

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This course provides a historical, theoretical and practical overview of the principles and themes of the Roman Catholic social encyclical tradition. It explores views on Christian social responsibility through classic texts and contemporary problems. [This course was originally an e-course, conducted entirely on-line.]

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This is an introductory course to the Bible and historical Christianity that aims to familiarize the student with the contents of the Bible and the development of the early Church. Special emphasis is placed on theological themes of perennial interest and the significance of the Bible for Christian thought and practice as well as the relationship of Christianity to Judaism.

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The course provides an overview of the history of Roman Catholic moral theology by examining how the Roman Catholic tradition developed certain distinctive ways of speaking about moral goods, obligations, and the forms of life. It explores basic principles, values, and patterns of thinking that have formed the tradition of Roman Catholic moral theology including creation, freedom and human dignity, grace, law, virtue, sacrament, prayer, and social justice. Although the basic approach will be historical, the course will alternate between the classic Roman Catholic texts and contemporary Roman Catholic statements on particular moral issues such as economic justice, human sexuality (including discussions of marriage and family), biomedical research, and issues surrounding the use of force in warfare. The course also examines how Roman Catholic thinkers have used various literary genres to speak about the normative and practical implications of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ. This course was also cross-listed as CST 20605.

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In the final days of the II Vatican Council the publication of Nostra Aetate (Declaration on non-Christian Religions) reversed a negative attitude of the Catholic Church toward Judaism and the Jewish people as well as toward Muslims and Hindus. This remarkable change promoted "dialogue" with Jews, and positive changes in the ways in which Judaism was presented in Liturgy and Catechesis. Reactions from the Jewish communities were diverse: from rejection to welcoming. Subsequent documents produced by the Vatican as well as Bishops’ Conferences have brought more Jews into dialogue with the Catholic Church. This course will explore a number of issues which emerge from the history of Christian theology: How did a negative image of Judaism develop within Christianity? In what ways did these unfavorable teachings contribute toward violence against the Jews over the centuries? What is the relationship between Christian anti-Jewish teachings and Anti-Semitism? Is there any corresponding Jewish hostility towards Christians? In what ways have Jewish authors reacted to developments within the Christian tradition? As we survey the past, we shall also want to explore the possibilities of a more constructive theological relationship between the two communities for the future. How can Jews and Christians develop religious responses to modernity? In what senses can a study of Judaism by Christians, or Christianity by Jews, help either community to understand itself better? How can Christians and Jews develop a theology of "the other" which is not triumphalist, but empathetic and based on love and justice? This course was also cross-listed as MI 60410.

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This course will examine the development of Latino religion and theology in the United States and how U.S. Latina and Latino theologians have articulated the meaning and implications for Christian living of core theological topics such as Christology, worship, evangelization, and social justice. This course was also cross-listed as ILS 20801.

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