Historically, the thought of Paul of Tarsus has been reconstructed in a wide variety of ways. Recognized as the earliest theology of the Christian religious tradition, Paul’s thought has been understood both as having originated in the pre-established categories of Judaism and as having been shaped by a wide variety of religious and philosophical currents. Among the imputed influences on Pauline thought are Rabbinic Judaism Pagan mystery cults, ecstatic religious experience aberrant psychology, Judaic prophecy (and its prophetic mission), and Greek philosophy.

The purpose of this course is to establish—as near as is possible—what the original theology of Paul was. Specifically we will concentrate on his understanding of God, Jesus, salvation, the Church,the means of grace, and the mission to the Gentiles. In the process, we shall also attempt to demonstrate which claims about the origins of his thought are credible and which will not bear close scrutiny. All this will be accomplished through readings of Acts, the Pauline and Deutero-Pauline epistles, the apocryphal exploits of Paul, and some contemporary secondary literature on Pauline theology.

Prerequisites: One course in religious studies or philosophy or professor's approval. Auditors are welcome.

Course Requirements: One midterm, one in-class presentation, and one final exam.

Auditors are welcome.

In this course, we will engage in a comparative study of the systems of belief, thought, and practice traditionally termed ‘Western Religions’ by Western scholars of religions. This will be accomplished through a series of readings on these systems’ histories, philosophies and scriptures.

The approach adopted in this course is phenomenological and comparative. Adopting the phenomenological method in the academic study of religion means that we shall try to study these religions objectively and empathetically. Adopting the comparative method in the academic study of religion means that we shall try to compare and contrast the features of these religions with the intent of observing both similarities, dissimilarities, where meaningful points of comparison occur. The phenomenological method (properly applied) gives us access to a religion’s rationale; the comparative method (properly applied) gives us access to the rationale of Religion.

The traditions studied in this course are: (1) the Judaic tradition, (2) the Christian tradition, and (3) the Islamic tradition. This survey and comparison will take place accordingto a fixed set of categories. Surveyed for each tradition will be: (a) its worldview, (b) its scriptures, (c) its hierology, (d) its cosmology, (e) its anthropology, (f) its soteriology, and (g) its denominations.

 Prerequisites: None.

 Course requirements: four objective examinations; six optional extra-credit assignments.

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 Alexadria, St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, Francis Turretin, Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Karl Rahner, Hans Urs Von Balthasar,etal 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.).

Prerequisites: Undergraduates: one course in philosophy or religious studies.

Course Requirements: Attendance, participation, and seminar presentations.

 Auditors are welcome!