THE - Theology

Study of the basic characteristics of religion and theology as exemplified in major religions of the world. The intent is not to compare religions but to understand and appreciate religion in the experience of many cultures and civilizations. Closed to students entering after Spring 2013.

This course introduces the academic discipline of theology, its lenses and sources, in examining questions of faith and human existence. Students are invited to investigate how the Christian tradition has answered these fundamental questions by means of its focus on the person of Jesus Christ, the Christian understanding of God, and key issues of our contemporary world.

This course introduces students to the historical, cultural, and thematic aspects of the Bible while providing them with the basic skills for biblical literacy and methods of interpretation. Through this learning process students will focus on the study and uses of the Bible as a privileged source for Christian theology.

This course traces the development of prophecy and the prophetic tradition in biblical and contemporary times.  Selected prophetic texts focus on the character, personality, and mission of various prophets.  Other topics include prophetic imagination, creativity, religious experience, justice, compassion, hope and the portrayal of God.  Central to the course is the prophets' transformative vision for all times.

This course explores the wisdom writings of ancient biblical and contemporary gurus to discover how wisdom is a gift received from God and daily life.  The course invites personal and group reflection aimed at celebration of life and the exploration of contemporary situations in need of wise decision-making skills.

As a first century missionary, theologian and letter writer, Paul of Tarsus (St. Paul) articulated many of Christianity's basic beliefs and presided over some of Christianity's earliest controversies.  This course examines his letters as a way of gaining access to the concerns, the theology, and the growing pains of some of the very first Christians on record.

Our most important information on Jesus comes from the Gospels.  This course examines the theology and history contained in the gospels in order to gain an understanding of who Jesus was and how his message was received and developed by the early church.  In alternating semesters, the course will focus on John, or on Matthew, Mark and Luke.

During the first century of Christianity, the Roman Empire was a complex marketplace of ideas on sexual morality.  This course explores the roots, the development and the legacy of early Christian theology on sexual practices and gender relations.

This course examines the Jewish roots of Christian "apocalyptic" theology, and discusses the ethical implications of living in an "end time" community, both then and now.  Aside from writings in the New Testament, attention will be given to the Old Testament book of Daniel, the Dead Sea Scrolls and modern apocalyptic movements.

This course explores questions and issues around gender in the biblical text and how these issues and questions relate to contemporary life.  Content focuses on the cultural background of both men and women in the ancient world, and how various attitudes have influenced cultures, decisions, and worldviews down through the ages.  Emphasis is on liberation and transformation.

What does it mean to be holy?  Who are the saints and sinners in the Bible?  How does God relate to them?  What is meant by the sacredness of all creation?  This course explores such themes as the spirit, the heart, prayer, sacred space, etc. in the context of a biblical-based contemplative and mystical understanding of life.

The ethical question, "who is the good person?", is founded on the premise that being a Christian makes one a certain type of person with certain values.  This course offers a historical study of various philosophical and theological descriptions of the nature of the good person.

Analysis of several contemporary Catholic ethicists, including Curran, O'Connell, Regan, and McCormick, who have influenced the development of Catholic ethics. A critical examination of natural law, human freedom, conscience, authority, and the moral and rational capacity.

Contemporary American Christian thought on the nature of morality and society. An attempt to reveal the dynamics of faith that calls us to do justice. Special consideration given to the development of pacifism in American churches.

The issues of justice from a Catholic perspective as they affect society locally, nationally, and internationally.

Inquiry into the theological, philosophical, psychological, and social aspects of Christian marriage with specific emphasis on commitment and the bond of love. The moral problems of abortion, divorce, and homosexuality, special to the modern context, will be discussed.

This course explores the field of environmental ethics and its growing impact on the Christian theological-ethical tradition.  The course will consider our current environmental situation, survey the history of environmental ethics, examine the positions of major contemporary eco-ethicists, and develop the theological foundations for a Christian environmental ethic.

This course explores contemporary Christian theology and its response to environmental and ecological issues.  It investigates the scope of our environmental crisis and the emerging insights by Christian theologians concerned about our global environment.  Emphasis will be given to ecological issues in the Pacific Northwest, the theology of human existence, the nature of God and the future prospects for sustainability.

Explores contemporary Christian and Jewish theological reflections on the Nazi genocide campaign to eliminate the Jews of Europe. Special emphasis on the documents of the churches until now, on the Austrian and German efforts to cope with this part of recent history, and on the relation of early anti-Judaism in Christian cultures to racism and anti-Semitism.

Exploration of liturgy as Christian worship, considering ritual symbolism as "the language" (word and action) of worship, and worship as Christian faith in dialogue with God. A critical evaluation of contemporary liturgical reforms in ecumenical perspective.

A historical and theological examination of the Catholic Mass (Lord's Supper) in Church teaching and ecumenical perspective. Special emphasis to be given to the intrinsic nature of its parts in Word and Eucharist, to the devout and active participation by the faithful, and to its significance as source and summit of Christian spirituality in contemporary time and culture.

Biblical and theological study of Catholic liturgy in light of the historical tradition, the liturgical movement, and the Second Vatican Council. Special emphasis given to contemporary reforms and their impact on Catholic life today.

Enrich an awareness of God's presence in the world through a theological and historical exploration of Christian spiritual practices such as lectio divina, meditation, and contemplation.  Students will examine key concepts that inform these practices, such as discernment and gratitude, through active and self-reflective participation in spiritual practices.

An exploration of Christian spirituality in terms of images of God, Christian anthropology, prayer, and social and ecological concerns. A critical and dialogical engagement with selected classical texts from the Christian tradition that suggest ways of being in right relationships with God, self, others and the natural world within the context of the 21st century.

Explores several different approaches to human development, including faith and moral development as well as the process of socialization and the social roots of knowledge as these influence the fields of religious education and theology.

This 1 credit course is a formation requirement each semester for students in the Faith and Leadership House. Under the guidance of the Faith and Leadership Staff, the course engages diverse resources of the University and surrounding community to assist students in integrating the program pillars of Faith, Service, Prayer, Community, and Intellectual Life. (Restricted to members of the Faith and Leadership House.)

This course surveys issues of suffering and death from biblical, systematic, and ethical perspectives of Theology, as well as psycho-social, legal, and ethical perspectives of the health care profession, especially nursing.  Focus is on exploring the human experience of loss and the many dimensions of grief employed in dealing with loss. (Nursing students only.)

Judeo-Christian theologies of death and their impact on a contemporary religious understanding of death and bereavement. Particular attention given to pastoral liturgical research on the role of religion and religious ritual in the grieving process.

What does it mean to be human in light of the mystery of Christ?  As they examine the nature of human freedom through the traditional categories of creation, sin, grace and eschatology, students will be challenged to employ the riches of the Roman Catholic tradition in articulating the meaning and destiny of their own humanity.

Introduction to the classical and contemporary discussion of the interaction between human reason and religious faith in the Christian tradition, including arguments for and against the existence of God. Emphasis on the philosophical foundations of modern theologies.

Historical development of conflicts, especially over the theory of evolution, and the variety of positions presented today by theologians, scientists, and philosophers.

How the traditional idea of God was developed and why it no longer seems adequate to either religious or cultural experience. How Christian theology might imaginatively reformulate the idea of God in order to serve Christian faith and action more adequately.

Systematic reflection upon the doctrine of Christ in its biblical, classical, and contemporary historical perspectives.  Students will gain insight into the Church’s proclamation of Jesus as the Christ by examining the faith experiences of communities past and present in relation to their own experience of faith.

This course will explore the Catholic theological tradition, primarily as it finds expression in five novelists whose writing is influenced by that tradition.

An examination of elements of theological reflection in the Roman Catholic tradition, with emphasis on theological method and the development of doctrine. From the starting point of an experience of faith that is personal and communal, historical and eschatological, students will explore the interrelationships among such theological categories as Revelation, Scripture and Tradition, Grace, Christology, and Ecclesiology.

This course takes as its starting point the suffering of women amidst the reality of globalization.  Feminist and Eco-feminist theologies in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and varied North American and European contexts will be examined in search of an inter-contextual Christology that both arises from and addresses the global suffering of women and the earth.

This course will explore the Catholic theological tradition primarily as it finds expression in recent Catholic writing.  Some examples of subjects to be discussed include Jesus Christ, Revelation, the Fall of humanity, the problem of evil, the nature of sacraments and the implications of faith for personal relationships.

The course traces Christianity’s meteoric development in the first millennium.  It examines the break from Judaism, the formation of the Christian Bible, the age of martyrs, the theological golden period of the late Roman Empire, and the rise of the papacy and monasticism.  Its tools are chronological tracking, historical vignettes, analysis of selected texts, and profiles of important figures.

The course traces Christianity’s vigorous but fragmented growth in the second millennium.  It studies the grandeur of the medieval cathedrals, the ideas of scholasticism and mysticism, the challenges of the Reformation, the rise of modernity, and the course of Christianity in America.  Its tools are chronological tracking, historical vignettes, analysis of selected texts and profiles of important figures.

Augustine of Hippo (d. 430) grounds the history of western theology, and still informs modern fields like psychology and linguistics.  While situating him in Roman antiquity, the course studies his thought as an account of Christian faith seeking understanding.  We will read in depth his classic, theologically profound conversion story, the Confessions, and study his thought on God, Scripture, and the grace of Christ.

The course traces Christianity’s development, from its origins as an obscure Jewish sect, through acceptance and growth in the late Roman Empire and mature self-definition in the Middle Ages, to the challenges of fragmentation and renewal in the Reformation and the modern world.  Its tools are chronological tracking, historical vignettes, analysis of selected texts, and profiles of important figures.

This course traces the development of prophecy and the prophetic tradition in biblical and contemporary times. Selected prophetic texts focus on the character, personality, and mission of various prophets. Other topics include prophetic imagination, creativity, religious experience, justice, compassion, hope and the portrayal of God. Central to the course is the prophets' transformative vision for all times.

This course explores the wisdom writings of ancient biblical and contemporary gurus to discover how wisdom is a gift received from God and daily life. The course invites personal and group reflection aimed at celebration of life and the exploration of contemporary situations in need of wise decision-making skills.

As a first century missionary, theologian and letter writer, Paul of Tarsus (St. Paul) articulated many of Christianity's basic beliefs and presided over some of Christianity's earliest controversies. This course examines his letters as a way of gaining access to the concerns, the theology, and the growing pains of some of the very first Christians on record.

Our most important information on Jesus comes from the Gospels. This course examines the theology and history contained in the gospels in order to gain an understanding of who Jesus was and how his message was received and developed by the early church. In alternating semesters, the course will focus on John, or on Matthew, Mark and Luke.

During the first century of Christianity, the Roman Empire was a complex marketplace of ideas on sexual morality. This course explores the roots, the development and the legacy of early Christian theology on sexual practices and gender relations.

This course examines the Jewish roots of Christian "apocalyptic" theology, and discusses the ethical implications of living in an "end time" community, both then and now. Aside from writings in the New Testament, attention will be given to the Old Testament book of Daniel, the Dead Sea Scrolls and modern apocalyptic movements.

This course explores questions and issues around gender in the biblical text and how these issues and questions relate to contemporary life. Content focuses on the cultural background of both men and women in the ancient world, and how various attitudes have influenced cultures, decisions, and worldviews down through the ages. Emphasis is on liberation and transformation.

What does it mean to be holy? Who are the saints and sinners in the Bible? How does God relate to them? What is meant by the sacredness of all creation? This course explores such themes as the spirit, the heart, prayer, sacred space, etc. in the context of a biblical-based contemplative and mystical understanding of life.

The ethical question, "who is the good person?", is founded on the premise that being a Christian makes one a certain type of person with certain values. This course offers a historical study of various philosophical and theological descriptions of the nature of the good person.

Analysis of several contemporary Catholic ethicists, including Curran, O'Connell, Regan, and McCormick, who have influenced the development of Catholic ethics. A critical examination of natural law, human freedom, conscience, authority, and the moral and rational capacity.

Contemporary American Christian thought on the nature of morality and society. An attempt to reveal the dynamics of faith that calls us to do justice. Special consideration given to the development of pacifism in American churches.

The issues of justice from a Catholic perspective as they affect society locally, nationally, and internationally.

Inquiry into the theological, philosophical, psychological, and social aspects of Christian marriage with specific emphasis on commitment and the bond of love. The moral problems of abortion, divorce, and homosexuality, special to the modern context, will be discussed.

This course explores the field of environmental ethics and its growing impact on the Christian theological-ethical tradition. The course will consider our current environmental situation, survey the history of environmental ethics, examine the positions of major contemporary eco-ethicists, and develop the theological foundations for a Christian environmental ethic.

This course explores contemporary Christian theology and its response to environmental and ecological issues. It investigates the scope of our environmental crisis and the emerging insights by Christian theologians concerned about our global environment. Emphasis will be given to ecological issues in the Pacific Northwest, the theology of human existence, the nature of God and the future prospects for sustainability.

Explores contemporary Christian and Jewish theological reflections on the Nazi genocide campaign to eliminate the Jews of Europe. Special emphasis on the documents of the churches until now, on the Austrian and German efforts to cope with this part of recent history, and on the relation of early anti-Judaism in Christian cultures to racism and anti-Semitism.

Exploration of liturgy as Christian worship, considering ritual symbolism as "the language" (word and action) of worship, and worship as Christian faith in dialogue with God. A critical evaluation of contemporary liturgical reforms in ecumenical perspective.

A historical and theological examination of the Catholic Mass (Lord's Supper) in Church teaching and ecumenical perspective. Special emphasis to be given to the intrinsic nature of its parts in Word and Eucharist, to the devout and active participation by the faithful, and to its significance as source and summit of Christian spirituality in contemporary time and culture.

Biblical and theological study of Catholic liturgy in light of the historical tradition, the liturgical movement, and the Second Vatican Council. Special emphasis given to contemporary reforms and their impact on Catholic life today.

Enrich an awareness of God's presence in the world through a theological and historical exploration of Christian spiritual practices such as lectio divina, meditation, and contemplation. Students will examine key concepts that inform these practices, such as discernment and gratitude, through active and self-reflective participation in spiritual practices.

An exploration of Christian spirituality in terms of images of God, Christian anthropology, prayer, and social and ecological concerns. A critical and dialogical engagement with selected classical texts from the Christian tradition that suggest ways of being in right relationships with God, self, others and the natural world within the context of the 21st century.

Explores several different approaches to human development, including faith and moral development as well as the process of socialization and the social roots of knowledge as these influence the fields of religious education and theology.

Judeo-Christian theologies of death and their impact on a contemporary religious understanding of death and bereavement. Particular attention given to pastoral liturgical research on the role of religion and religious ritual in the grieving process.

What does it mean to be human in light of the mystery of Christ? As they examine the nature of human freedom through the traditional categories of creation, sin, grace and eschatology, students will be challenged to employ the riches of the Roman Catholic tradition in articulating the meaning and destiny of their own humanity.

Introduction to the classical and contemporary discussion of the interaction between human reason and religious faith in the Christian tradition, including arguments for and against the existence of God. Emphasis on the philosophical foundations of modern theologies.

Historical development of conflicts, especially over the theory of evolution, and the variety of positions presented today by theologians, scientists, and philosophers.

How the traditional idea of God was developed and why it no longer seems adequate to either religious or cultural experience. How Christian theology might imaginatively reformulate the idea of God in order to serve Christian faith and action more adequately.

Systematic reflection upon the doctrine of Christ in its biblical, classical, and contemporary historical perspectives. Students will gain insight into the Church's proclamation of Jesus as the Christ by examining the faith experiences of communities past and present in relation to their own experience of faith.

This course will explore the Catholic theological tradition, primarily as it finds expression in five novelists whose writing is influenced by that tradition.

An examination of elements of theological reflection in the Roman Catholic tradition, with emphasis on theological method and the development of doctrine. From the starting point of an experience of faith that is personal and communal, historical and eschatological, students will explore the interrelationships among such theological categories as Revelation, Scripture and Tradition, Grace, Christology, and Ecclesiology.

This course takes as its starting point the suffering of women amidst the reality of globalization. Feminist and Eco-feminist theologies in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and varied North American and European contexts will be examined in search of an inter-contextual Christology that both arises from and addresses the global suffering of women and the earth.

This course will explore the Catholic theological tradition primarily as it finds expression in recent Catholic writing. Some examples of subjects to be discussed include Jesus Christ, Revelation, the Fall of humanity, the problem of evil, the nature of sacraments and the implications of faith for personal relationships.

The course traces Christianity's meteoric development in the first millennium. It examines the break from Judaism, the formation of the Christian Bible, the age of martyrs, the theological golden period of the late Roman Empire, and the rise of the papacy and monasticism. Its tools are chronological tracking, historical vignettes, analysis of selected texts, and profiles of important figures.

The course traces Christianity's vigorous but fragmented growth in the second millennium. It studies the grandeur of the medieval cathedrals, the ideas of scholasticism and mysticism, the challenges of the Reformation, the rise of modernity, and the course of Christianity in America. Its tools are chronological tracking, historical vignettes, analysis of selected texts and profiles of important figures.

Augustine of Hippo (d. 430) grounds the history of western theology, and still informs modern fields like psychology and linguistics. While situating him in Roman antiquity, the course studies his thought as an account of Christian faith seeking understanding. We will read in depth his classic, theologically profound conversion story, the Confessions, and study his thought on God, Scripture, and the grace of Christ.

The course traces Christianity's development, from its origins as an obscure Jewish sect, through acceptance and growth in the late Roman Empire and mature self-definition in the Middle Ages, to the challenges of fragmentation and renewal in the Reformation and the modern world. Its tools are chronological tracking, historical vignettes, analysis of selected texts, and profiles of important figures.

Guided inquiry for superior juniors and seniors who wish to pursue a particular subject area in Theology more intensely than course offerings permit. By special arrangement with members of the Theology faculty.

Special Offerings.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Research, study, or original work under the direction of a faculty mentor, leading to a scholarly thesis document with a public presentation of results. Requires approval of thesis director, department chair, and the director of the honors program, when appropriate.  Grade will be "IP" until all requirements are fulfilled.

A team-taught course introducing: 1) the biblical and scholastic roots of social teaching; 2) Catholic incarnational, sacramental and analogical reasoning; and 3) general social justice theory, with emphasis on current opportunities for furthering the common good within existing social, political, and economic systems.

This course surveys issues of suffering and death from biblical, systematic, and ethical perspectives of Theology, as well as psyco-social, legal, and ethical perspectives of the health care profession, especially nursing.  Focus is on exploring the human experience of loss and the many dimensions of grief employed in dealing with loss.

This course examines the historical conditions that made the Holocaust possible, including historic Christian anti-Judaism, as well as the larger context of European and German history.  It considers the overlapping ways that the Holocaust remains a theological crisis for Jews and for Christians.  Its tools are chronological tracking, historical vignettes, analysis of selected texts and films, and character profiles.

A sociological, theological and ethical examination of the institution of marriage. Historical changes over time are discussed along with their moral implications. Issues of gender, love, mate selection, cohabitation, decision making, work, and child rearing are considered along with the moral controversies regarding abortion, divorce, and homosexuality.

This course investigates the relationship between theology and science, the science of ecology and the related field of environmental science, the major aspects of our current environmental crisis, the underlying historical and social reasons for this crisis, and current attempts to reformulate Christian theology from the perspective of ecology. This course also explores possible solutions for a sustainable future.

This course explores conflict through a biblical, theological, and social scientific lens. Using the biblical text, topical readings, and conflict theory, the course examines intrapersonal and interpersonal conflict, and provides opportunities to explore a variety of conflict mediation and negotiation skills aimed at developing just and transformative relationships for life in a complex world.

By the first century, instruction in the "art of persuasion" (rhetoric) had become commonplace throughout the Roman Empire, influencing even the writing of the New Testament. This course examines the theories of Greek and Roman rhetoricians and their importance for the interpretation of the New Testament.

Special Offerings.