Religion Degrees Online

Can you explain and defend what you believe? Religion and Theology studies will help you to understand the foundations of the Christian faith.

Within the three programs available, you will find courses that guide you through the development of Christianity over the centuries, courses that explore certain themes or doctrines in the Bible, and courses that help you address the big questions facing Christians. While Religion and Theology studies are solidly rooted in the Reformed Protestant tradition, you will benefit from the rich diversity of denominations that make Redeemer such a vibrant place to learn.

The Religion and Theology major is designed to help you understand the development of Christianity within its global and historical context. Through classroom investigations and discussions with students from over 40 denominations, you will explore a wide variety of topics, including Old and New Testament Theology, Christian Ethics, World Religions and contemporary faith issues.

Theology
Introductory Courses

Religious Studies 114 – Introduction to Theology
Fall, spring
Introduction to major claims in Christian theology through a close examination of historical and contemporary Catholic and Protestant theologies. Topics include: methods in doing theology and in biblical interpretation; images of God and of Jesus; the human condition; different marks and models of the church; and religious diversity. Readings address the interplay in theological reflection between religious tradition and social location, and analyze the implications and challenges of Christian claims in light of gender, race and poverty. One unit.

Religious Studies 115 – The Church in the World
Fall
A basic presentation of how the Catholic Church sees itself, its mission, and its ministry in today’s world in light of the major decrees of the Second Vatican Council. Topics include: different models of the Church and the Church’s approach to contemporary issues of justice and peace as reflected in Catholic social teaching of the popes and national conferences of bishops. One unit.

Religious Studies 116 – Introduction to Catholicism
Alternate years
Introduction to the basic doctrine of Roman Catholic Christianity and to the situation of the church in the contemporary United States. Topics include: differing approaches to Catholicism; doctrinal foundations of the Church; structure, authority, and diversity; spirituality, worship, and the sacramental tradition; Vatican Council II; Catholic moral teaching; the role of women; Catholicism and other religions; and current issues in Catholicism. One unit.

Religious Studies 117 – History of Christianity 1
Fall
A survey of the origins and development of Christianity, both its theology and its structures, from the apostolic period to the eve of the Reformation. Special attention is paid to the evolution of Christian doctrine and worship during the early and medieval periods of the Christian history. The interplay between orthodoxy and heterodoxy will be stressed in a close examination of heretical movements and their impact on the formation of the tradition. The interaction between Church and society will also be addressed. One unit.

Religious Studies 119 – History of Christianity 2
Spring
A survey of the development of Christianity, both its theology and its structures, from the Reformation period to today. Special attention is paid to the development of the various Protestant traditions, and their doctrine and worship. The interplay between Roman Catholicism and the Protestant churches is discussed. The impact of these Christian traditions on American society is also addressed. One unit.

Religious Studies 133 – Contemporary Christian Spirituality
Fall
An introduction to Christian spirituality understood as discipleship. Examines the lived experience and writings of influential 20th-century Christians such as Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Gustavo Gutierrez. Focuses on the quest for justice as an imperative of faith. One unit.

Religious Studies 139 – Understanding Jesus
Fall, spring
An examination of the figure of Jesus as presented in the gospels with attention devoted to historical questions about Jesus’ life and teaching, the theological claims about Jesus being made by the evangelists, and the direct challenge which the gospel story presents to the church and the world today. One unit.

Intermediate Courses
Religious Studies 200 – Reformation & Counter Reformation
Alternate years in spring
The most significant political, intellectual, and religious developments of the Protestant and Catholic Reformation movements in 16th- and 17th-century Europe. Cross-listed in the Department of History as History 248. One unit.

Religious Studies 217 – Eucharist: History and Theology
Alternate years
Provides a detailed study of the historical development and theological significance of the Eucharist in Christian tradition. Treats underlying concepts in sacramental theology in terms of Eucharistic ritual. Special attention is paid to the Roman Catholic experience, but other Christian traditions will be discussed. One unit.

Religious Studies 218 – Sacramental Theology
Alternate years
Provides a general study of the historical development and theological significance of Christian sacraments. Begins with discussion of key underlying concepts in sacramental theology: the experience of the sacred; sign, symbol, ritual; and Christ/Church as sacrament. Special attention is paid to the Roman Catholic experience, but other Christian traditions are discussed. One unit.

Religious Studies 219 – Christian Prayer in Theory and Practice
Alternate years
Considers Christian prayer as both a topic for theological study and a body of disciplines and practices. Topics include various ways of understanding Christian discipleship, different approaches to the meaning and purpose of prayer, various techniques for prayer, (including the contexts in which they have been developed and the practical advantages and problems that they carry), and relationships between prayer and theology. Readings draw from both classic sources and contemporary interpretations of Christian prayer. Weekly practicum sessions focus on observing and/or participating in various forms of Christian prayer. One unit.

Religious Studied 224 – The Church and Homosexuality
Annually
Self-affirming homosexual persons today challenge the Church’s traditional teaching about homosexuality and its understanding of the relationship between God and homosexual persons, producing a sharp debate in churches and societies around the world. This course aims to provide students with a clear understanding of the Catholic Church’s official teaching on homosexuality and the major criticisms made of the teaching. One unit.

Religious Studies 227 – God and Human Experience
Alternate years
Studies the important religious concept of revelation, but does so with an eye to the ordinary ways in which the divine mystery presents itself to human beings. Examines biblical writings and other narratives of faith in which men and women describe the religious dimension of their lives. One unit.

Religious Studies 231 – Early Christian Writers
Alternate years
This seminar examines a number of writers from the second to the fifth centuries who shaped the Christian theological tradition in various ways: Irenaeus, Athanasius, Origen, Augustine, John Chrysostom, Gregory of Nyssa, as well as the Fathers and Mothers of the Desert. In particular, the course looks at how these writers interpreted the Bible, how they related faith and culture, the contributions they made to the Church’s understanding of Jesus, their analysis of human nature, their doctrine of sin and grace, their approach to the interior life, and how they were affected by the intellectual currents of their time.

Religious Studies 234 – Conflicts in the Church
Fall
Examines selected issues which have generated considerable controversy in the contemporary Catholic church (i.e., liberation theology; women’s leadership; birth control; abortion; divorce and remarriage; homosexuality). Topics are considered in relation to differing views on the origin, structure, and purpose of the church itself. Readings draw from official Catholic church teaching as well as writings of so-called “progressive” and “neoconservative” theologians. Concepts covered include: infallibility; teaching authority of theologians and the magisterium; the sensus fidelium; legitimate dissent and the development of doctrine. One unit.

Religious Studies 236 – Makers of Modern Theology
Alternate years
This seminar examines authors or schools of thought which have helped to shape modern theological thinking. Authors examined in years past include: Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoefer, Rudolf Bulltmann, Paul Tillich, Karl Rahner, Edward Schillebeeckx, Rosemary Ruether, Hans Küng, James Cone, Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz. Schools of thought represented include: liberal Protestant theology, process thought, transcendental Thomism, liberation theologies. One unit.

Religious Studies 243 – Theology of the New Testament
Alternate years
Drawing on contemporary biblical exegesis, this course explores both the major theological questions which the New Testament writers were addressing in their own time and place and the theological questions those writings force the Church of today to raise in light of our present historical and cultural circumstances. What is faith? What is salvation? What does the New Testament tell us about the mystery of God? Why does Christian religious experience lead us to think about the Church? How does the New Testament as a whole help us to face the concerns of today, such as Christianity’s relationship to the other world religions, environmental justice, as well as the perennial thirst for the transcendent? One unit.

Religious Studies 261 – Feminist Perspectives in Theology
Alternate years
Introduces students to the critiques and alternative reconstructions that feminist/womanist/mujerista theologians present with respect to traditional Christian understandings of scripture, God, Jesus, creation, human personhood, sin, grace, the church, spirituality, and theological method. One unit.

Religious Studies 262 – The Living Church
Fall
This seminar is an exploration of ecclesiology—the church’s theological understanding of itself—and also an exercise in observational learning. Examines the nature of church through readings of a variety of recent theological and sociological works and official documents. Students are guided through semester-long fieldwork projects to explore aspects of church as lived and practiced in local communities. Seminar sessions discuss these observations in light of the course readings. One unit.

Religious Studies 275 – Latin American Liberation Theology
Spring
Based on the principle of God’s special identification with history’s outcasts, liberation theology explores the problems of biblical interpretation, Church teaching and Christian commitment in the contemporary world. With special reference to Latin America, this course examines the relationship between the sociopolitical consciousness of marginalized peoples and their Christian faith. One unit.

Religious Studies 285 – Jesuit Spirituality
Alternate years
Examines the distinctive characteristics of Jesuit Spirituality as reflected in the four weeks of the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, his autobiography, and other early Jesuit writings. Examines the religious experience that gave birth to the Society of Jesus, the Society’s keen interest in education, and contemporary expressions of the Ignatian vision. One unit.

Religious Studies 292 – Medieval Christianity
Alternate years
This seminar provides an in-depth study of the origins and development of medieval Christianity in Western Europe. It covers theology and structural evolution from the fall of the Roman Empire to the eve of the Reformation. Special attention is paid to the evolution of Christian doctrine, spirituality, architecture and worship during the “high” and “late” Middle Ages, the interplay between orthodoxy and heterodoxy, their impact on the formation of the tradition, and the interaction between church and society. One unit.

Advanced Courses
Religious Studies 333 – Comparative Theology
Spring
An exploration of the meaning and significance of Christianity’s encounter with the Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, and other religious traditions, both new and old. Investigates major theological questions emerging from the dialogue between Christianity and other world religions. One unit.

Religious Studies 353 – Theology and Ecology
Fall
This seminar provides an opportunity to participate in the conversation currently underway regarding religious faith and contemporary ecological concerns; it seeks to develop a greater consciousness of the interdependence between human beings and other living beings, and between all life forms and non-living created matter. What does it mean to do biblical interpretation and Christian theology at the beginning of the third millennium in a global context that is developing an ever greater awareness of the limited nature of natural resources and an ever increasing appreciation of created matter in the cosmos? One unit.

Religious Studies 355 – Contemporary Feminist Theology
Alternate years
This seminar examines U.S. feminist theology, African-American womanist theology, and mujerista/Latina feminist theology with regard to Christian theological anthropology, or religious reflection on the human person. Considers implications of major Christian claims (about God, Christ, creation, sin/grace, church, etc.) for both historical and contemporary Christian understandings of the human person. Examines theological reconstructions of those claims, as developed through feminist/womanist/Latina analyses of gender, race, class, sexuality, and ecology. Analyzes the expanding scholarship in feminist theology and feminist theory regarding the significance of post-modernity for reinterpreting human identity, especially notions of agency, autonomy, and relationality. One unit.

Religious Studies 357 – Modern Catholic Theology
Alternate years
Examines selected theological questions addressed by modern Catholic theologians such as Rahner, Schillebeeckx, Dulles, Tracy, Gutierrez, and Ruether. Several major works are read and discussed in detail. One unit.

Religious Studies 371 – Contemporary Christology
Fall
A comparative analysis of the christological writings of major contemporary Catholic and Protestant theologians, with emphasis given to an examination of each theologian’s understanding of the centrality of Jesus in modern society, the nature of the Scripture and what it reveals about Jesus, and the nature of faith in Christ and in His resurrection. Prerequisite: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. One unit.

Religious Studies 376 – North American Theologies of Liberation
Spring
Explores recent theological reflection on the dynamics of oppression and liberation in the context of the U.S. This course attempts to sketch the outline of a theology responsive to both the liberating message of the gospel and the socio-political and cultural life of the United States with special attention given to Black, U.S. Hispanic and Gay/Lesbian theological works. One unit.

Religious Studies 395 – Saints and Sinners
Every third year
This seminar offers an examination of the historical and theological development of the ideals and practices of Christian life, from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern era. The focus is on “saints” and “sinners” as windows into the attitudes and values, the fears and hopes, the virtues and vices, the piety and the heresy, of western European culture. Special attention is paid to the following themes: gendered perceptions of sanctity and sin; community and solitude; poverty and riches; feasting and fasting as religious and cultural activity. One unit.

Ethics
Introductory Courses

Religious Studies 141 – Contemporary Christian Morality
Fall
A suggested methodology for evaluating contemporary Christian thought and practice in major areas of ethical concern. An in-depth discussion of responsible decision-making in an age of situationism and ethical relativism, with detailed application to crucial moral dilemmas facing modern persons. One unit.

Religious Studies 143 – Social Ethics
Fall
An introduction to Christian ethical evaluation of such issues as impoverishment and economic justice, racism, and First World/Two-Thirds World relations in the struggle against war and the search for peace. One unit.

Religious Studies 151 – Faith/World Poverty
Spring
Investigates the historical and structural foundations of escalating world poverty. It explores the dynamics of 21st-century capitalism and its international institutions as they are understood by the tradition of Catholic social teaching and by Christian communities in the United States and the Two-Thirds World. The challenge facing people of faith has two sides: one is the reality of oppression and domination, and the other is that of liberation and self-determination. One unit.

Intermediate Courses
Religious Studies 209 – War and Peace in the Christian Tradition
Fall
An introduction to some of the important ethical issues involved in war/peace studies. Beginning with an examination of the two major religious traditions, just war theory and pacifism/nonviolence, the course then turns to an examination of the experience of war by a focus on World War II and Vietnam. In light of an examination of both approaches to issues of war and peace and the experiences of war, the course concludes with a critical analysis of the American bishops’ pastoral letter, The Challenge of Peace. One unit.

Religious Studies 230 – Theological Perspectives on Medical Ethics
Spring
Deals with the basic issues in contemporary health care ethics from the standpoint of the Christian theological tradition. A central concern is the relation between religious beliefs and individual or social choices regarding health and health care. One unit.

Advanced Courses
Religious Studies 313 – HIV/AIDS and Ethics
Alternate Years
Explores the many ethical questions brought into relief by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, arguably one of the most pressing global public health issues of our time. Focusing primarily on issues of social justice, the course mines the traditions of Christian ethics and Catholic social teaching for resources with which to address topics including HIV prevention, treatment, research, access, and global public health. We will become familiar with key ethical methods and concepts, including casuistry, the common good, solidarity, and the option for the poor. One unit.

Religious Studies 335 – Economics and Ethical Values
Alternate years
Investigates the ethical dimensions of contemporary economic issues such as the restructured labor market, income and wealth distribution, the extent of globalization, the international debt crisis, and alternative economic models. Focus also includes the economic dimensions of race and gender relations and their relevance to economic justice. One unit.

Religious Studies 337 – Character and Ethical Responsibility
Fall
Seminar addresses the problems of moral weakness and the agent’s ethical responsibility for acts of weakness from the perspectives of philosophy, theology, psychology, film and modern fiction. The term moral weakness is a translation of the Greek word akrasia, and refers to a moral agent’s perceived ability to perform an action that he or she knows to be evil, or failing to perform an action known to be good. Thus an inquiry into the problem of moral weakness is ultimately an inquiry into character and virtue. One unit.

Religious Studies 342 – Sexual Ethics
Fall
Seminar provides an opportunity to explore ethical issues of both personal and societal importance. Among the topics covered are historical development of Christian sexual ethics; embodiment; gender; and significance of the relation between sexuality, love and reproduction. One unit.

Special Topics
Religious Studies 199 – Special Topics
Fall, spring
Introductory level courses on special topics in religion, theology, Bible, and ethics. One unit.

Religious Studies 299 – Special Topics
Fall, spring
Intermediate level courses on special topics in religion, theology, Bible, and ethics. One unit.

Religious Studies 399 – Special Topics
Fall, spring
Advanced level courses on special topics in religion, theology, Bible, and ethics. One unit.

Religious Studies 411 – Tutorial
Fall, spring
One unit.

Religion Courses

REL 100 Introduction to Christianity (4)
This study of Christianity explores the formation and structure of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and New Testament and the development of Christianity from the first century to the present, including its theological and ethical traditions.

REL 300 Exploring Biblical Traditions (4)
This course will trace the development of religious consciousness in human experience, examine the foundations of Judaism and Christianity in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, explore the rise and expansion of Christianity in its unity and diversity, and explain its core beliefs and practices.

REL 310 Exploring the Old Testament (4)
This introduction to the literature and setting of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible emphasizes selected writings and themes. Attention is given to the historical and cultural context and the challenge of interpreting these writings in the 21st century.

REL 311 Old Testament: Torah (4)
An examination of the first five books of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, focusing on selected passages and themes, the historical and cultural context of their composition and the challenge of interpreting them in the 20th century.

REL 312 Old Testament: Prophets (4)
An examination of the prophetic books of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, focusing on selected passages and themes, the historical and cultural context of their composition and the challenge of interpreting them in the 20th century.

REL 313 Old Testament: Writings (4)
An examination of Wisdom Literature, Psalms and other writings in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, focusing on selected passages and themes, the historical and cultural context of their composition and the challenge of interpreting them in the 20th century.

REL 315 Biblical Hebrew 1/2 (4)
A two-semester sequence of study leading to a reading knowledge of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. Basic Hebrew grammar and vocabulary are studied in conjunction with questions of cosmology, the understanding of history and the theological perspective of ancient Israel.

REL 316 Biblical Hebrew 1/2 (4)
A two-semester sequence of study leading to a reading knowledge of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. Basic Hebrew grammar and vocabulary are studied in conjunction with questions of cosmology, the understanding of history and the theological perspective of ancient Israel.

REL 320 Exploring the New Testament (4)
A survey of the New Testament writings in their first century Mediterranean cultural setting that explores how early Christian communities adapted Jewish Tradition and society, as well as the ideas, culture, and beliefs of ancient Greece and Rome.

REL 321 Matthew, Mark, and Luke (4)
A study of the Synoptic Gospels designed to help students grasp the literary relationships and theological differences these writings present, and to gain an appreciation of the richness and variety of the religious, cultural, and political world in which they emerged.

REL 322 Gospel of John (4)
A study of the Fourth Gospel, particularly the symbols John uses to describe Jesus (shepherd, living water, bread of life, vine) and his followers (sheep, thirsty, hungry, the branches). How do these symbols affect people’s behavior in Jesus’ time and today and do these symbols have political power?

REL 323 Paul and His Letters (4)
An introduction to the study of Paul’s letters and theology in relation to his social world, using historical and literary approaches.

REL 324 Jesus (4)
Who is Jesus? This course begins with the four gospels and asks how each writer understands Jesus in the first century Jewish and Roman worlds. Students then study art and literature from around the world to ask how Jesus is understood in different cultural and political perspectives today.

REL 325 Biblical Greek 1/2 (4)
A beginning study of biblical Greek that builds a foundation in the essentials of grammar, vocabulary, and translation. Includes readings in Mark and Philippians, as well as (in the second semester) discussion of theological implications. (Cross-listed with Greek 325/326)

REL 326 Biblical Greek 1/2 (4)
A beginning study of biblical Greek that builds a foundation in the essentials of grammar, vocabulary, and translation. Includes readings in Mark and Philippians, as well as (in the second semester) discussion of theological implications. (Cross-listed with Greek 325/326)

REL 327 Revelation and Apocalypse (4)
An introduction to the book of Revelation in the New Testament, and other apocalyptic themes in literature from the Prophets to the present times. This course explores the social and political dimensions of apocalyptic literature in particular situations around the globe.

REL 331 History of Christianity I: Ancient and Medieval (4)
A survey of the emergence, growth and development of the Christian church from the time of the apostles to the great schism of the 14th century, including such topics as the development of worship, theology and structure, the conflicts between Greek and Latin Christians, the role of church as a bearer of culture, the rise of the papacy, and the impact of Christianity on the social and political development of Europe. (cross-listed with History 331)

REL 332 History of Christianity II: Reform and Rerformation (4)
A survey of Christian history in the West from the 14th to the 17th century, focusing particularly on reform movement in late-medieval Christianity, the rise of biblical humanism, the Protestant and Catholic reformations of the 16 century, the increasingly tense relationship between religion and science in the early modern period, and the role of religion in fostering national identity and political change. (cross-listed with History 332)

REL 333 History of Christianity III: Modern Challenges (4)
A survey of the continuing impact of Christianity in the modern West, with particular attention to the challenges presented by the Enlightenment, the age of revolutions, and the scientific and economic developments of the 19th century. Primary emphasis will be placed on the European experience of Christianity, but some attention will also be given to European missionary efforts and global Christianity in the modern era. (cross-listed with History 333)

REL 334 Christianity in America (4)
An exploration of the development of religion in America, including major personalities; the origins of denominations, cults and sects; revivalism; utopianism; slavery; black religion; the liberal-fundamentalist controversy; and some contemporary religious movements.

REL 335 Martin Luther (4)
A seminar course introducing the life and thought of Martin Luther (1483-1546), based on lectures, films, and close reading and discussion of his works. The course aims to provide students with a working knowledge of Luther’s main teachings and their impact, and to put both his ideas and his legacy in historical context.

REL 340 Exploring Christian Theology (4)
A survey of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, including their biblical roots, classical formulations, challenges posed by the modern world and some contemporary reformulations.

REL 341 Varieties of Christian Theology (4)
A study of some contemporary currents in Christian theology, such as evangelical theology, the various liberation theologies (feminist, black, Latino, Latin American), and the recent scientific theologies.

REL 344 God in Christian Thought (4)
An examination of traditional and contemporary Christian understandings of God, including the person and attributes of God, God’s creative work, the divine-human relationship, sin, and the traditional problem of evil.

REL 345 Christ and Salvation (4)
A study of traditional and contemporary understandings of the historical person of Jesus, his identity as the Messiah/Christ, and his role in God’s saving work.

REL 346 Science and Christian Theology (4)
An examination of the historical and contemporary relationships that have existed between modern science and Christian theology through study of particular areas of convergence, examples of conflict and integration, and the scientific, philosophical and theological issues involved.

REL 347 Liberation and Theology (4)
An introduction to theologies of liberation in Latin America and in Ventura County, this course asks how social, economic, and political readings of the Bible can be used both to dominate and to liberate communities.

REL 350 Exploring Christian Ethics (4)
An introduction to contemporary Christian ethics; its relationship to the Bible and Christian communities; and thinking on such important personal and social issues as sexual behavior, human reproduction, racial and ethnic relations, the taking of human life, poverty and economic issues, and the environment.

REL 351 Global Ethics (4)
A variety of issues have arisen which need to be examined from a global perspective: economic globalization, immigration, human rights, the environment, social change, terrorism and war. This course examines these issues from the perspective of global religions, ethics, social theory, and social movements.

REL 352 Environmental Ethics (4)
The care of the Earth demands that complex issues such as population, technology, freedom, aesthetics, politics, justice and the rights and limitations of nations and businesses be addressed. Students attempt to develop a theological ethic of the environment.

REL 353 Violence, Religion and Ethics (4)
A study of various forms of violence, such as sexual and domestic violence, political repression, terrorism and war. The course examines religious justification of and resistance to violence using cases from diverse locations and religions.

REL 356 Sexual Ethics (4)
A study of sexual ethics from religious and philosophical perspectives, moving from an examination of understandings of gender, sexuality, and sexual identities to discussion of issues such as marriage and family; contraception, abortion and reproductive technologies; sexual violence, and HIV/AIDS.

REL 357 Malcolm X & M.L. King (4)
A study of the religious ethics of Martin Luther King, Jr and El Hajj Malik Al Shabazz (Malcolm X) through their own speeches and writings and the works of various interpreters. We examine relevant aspects of African-American history and culture, including the role of women in the civil rights movement.

REL 360 Jews and Judaism (4)
A study of the elements of traditional Judaism in biblical, rabbinic and modern times.

REL 370 Global Religions (4)
A consideration of themes, issues, types of figures and phenomena from the religions of the world, all selected to illustrate the great varieties of religious phenomena and to suggest some of the ways such topics may be responsibly studied.

REL 371 Western Religions (4)
Drawing on the religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, students will examine the varieties of the religious experience, historically and comparatively represented by adherents of these three religious communities.

REL 372 Asian Religions (4)
Drawing on the religious traditions of Asia, students will consider the varieties of the religious experience, historically and comparatively represented by the adherents of these religious communities.

REL 373 Religious Traditions of East Asia (4)
This study focuses particularly on the religious cultures of China and Japan.

REL 374 Women and Religion (4)
A consideration of women and women’s issues within the context of the study of world religious traditions.

REL 380 Jesus in Film and History (4)
A study of the historical person of Jesus through readings in the gospels, historical Jesus research from the past two centuries, and the various cinematic portraits of Jesus from the silent picture era to the present.

REL 381 Religion, Identity and Culture (4)
This course explores the interaction of religion and culture in the United States. We will examine uses of religious symbols and narratives in the formation of personal, gender, ethnic and cultural identities, through analysis of memoirs and novels.

REL 390 Exploring Church Ministries (4)
This course is designed for students interested in exploring the possibility of lay or ordained ministry in the church on either a professional or voluntary basis. Its primary focus in on the theory and practice of Youth and Family ministry and the theology and art of oral communication in religious settings.

REL 392 Liturgy and Worship (4)
An introduction to the Christian liturgical tradition, particularly that of Western Christianity. It will include some comparison with non-Christian religious customs, and will give importance to the development of worship in the Protestant traditions. The course’s approach is historical, but it may also include some practical training if appropriate to student needs. Christian hymnody and liturgical music will also be introduced, with an emphasis on the distinctive Lutheran contributions in those areas. (Cross-listed with Music 392)

REL 435 Faith and Reason ( Capstone ) (4)
Team-taught by professors in philosophy and religion, the course is an interdisciplinary exploration of the perennial tensions and cross-fertilizations between faith and reason, including examination of arguments for and against God’s existence, the problem of evil, the nature of religious language, and the relationship between science and religion. It serves as the capstone for philosophy and religion majors and a senior seminar in the honors program. It is also open to juniors and seniors from all disciplines.

REL 482 Selected Topics (1-4)
REL 485 Seminar (2-4)
REL 490 Independent Study (1-4)
REL 492 Internship (1-4)

Church History
Middle Ages and Reformation: Religious Disputation as Identity Marker in Western Christianity (prof. dr. Daniela Müller)The course consists of an examination of the great doctrinal and ecclesiastical continuities and discontinuities between the Middle Ages and the Reformation by looking at the ways in which religious differences were played out through a series of disputes conducted throughout both periods. Defying conventional confessional readings, the focus of this course is on the ‘longue durée’ of several aspects of the intellectual tradition in Western Christianity. Special attention will be given to the development of the theological and social identity of various Christian traditions, groups and key figures marking this development. History of the Twentieth Century: Comparative History of Twentieth-Century Christianity in National Contexts. (dr. Gian Ackermans)

The development of 20th century World Christianity shows remarkable variations across national borders in response to political, demographic and cultural particularities. In order to understand these variations – every theologian should have at least basic knowledge in this respect – one has to study the particular contexts of national Christian communities. Students will become acquainted with major trends in the recent history of world Christianity, especially Catholicism. They will develop skills in the practice of comparative historical research and the analysis of the historical development of Christianity within various national contexts.

Religion Courses
REL 100 Introduction to the Bible – 3 credits
An introductory study of the literature, life and faith of ancient Israel, early Judaism and early Christianity as expressed in the Old and New Testaments.

REL 111 Introduction to Religion – 3 credits
An introductory study of the religious experiences, practices and thought of the world’s communities, with attention to differences as well as similarities.

REL 121 Introduction to Christianity – 3 credits
An introductory study of Christianity; the biblical sources and the central figure of Jesus; Christian theology; the history of Christianity; and Christianity in the modern world.

REL 202 Ethics – 3 credits
The study of the standards which people use in making moral judgments. The student is encouraged to think critically about such concepts as good, evil, right, wrong, moral obligation, and moral responsibility. (Cross-listed as PHI 202)
Offered as needed.

REL 260 World Christianity – 3 credits
A study of the contemporary situation of the Christian religion globally. The course will focus on the emergence and development of Christianity in the traditionally non-Christian, non-western world, paying attention to incultured forms of Christianity, evolving pattern of Christian participation in political action, justice issues, fundamentalism and Pentecostalism in Africa, South-East Asia, and Latin-America.
Prerequisite: REL 100 Introduction to the Bible, REL 111 Introduction to Religion, or REL 121 Introduction to Christianity.

REL 306 Jesus in the Gospels – 3 credits
A study of the portraits of Jesus in the Gospels of the New Testament. Students will be introduced to critical methods of investigating the Gospels as well as to the current state of “life of Jesus” research.
Prerequisite: REL 100 Introduction to the Bible, REL 111 Introduction to Religion, REL 121 Introduction to Christianity or equivalent. Offered as needed.

REL 323 History of Christianity – 3 credits
A survey of the history of the Christian community in its social context with emphasis upon one or more designated periods or topics.
Prerequisite: REL 100 Introduction to the Bible, REL 111 Introduction to Religion, REL 121 Introduction to Christianity or equivalent. Offered as needed.

REL 324 Major Religions – 3 credits
A study of the nature, origin and development of the major non-Christian religions of the world. (Cross-listed as PHI 324)
Prerequisite: REL 100 Introduction to the Bible, REL 111 Introduction to Religion, REL 121 Introduction to Christianity or equivalent. Offered as needed.

REL 342 Christian Thought – 3 credits
A study of the central doctrines of the Christian faith, with attention to their classical formulations as well as more recent interpretations of them.
Prerequisite: REL 100 Introduction to the Bible, REL 111 Introduction to Religion, REL 121 Introduction to Christianity or equivalent. Offered as needed.

REL 352 Christian Thought in the Non-Western World – 3 credits
An investigation of the main trends, themes and contributions to Christian thought of the non-Western world particularly Africa, Latin America and South-East Asia where Christianity is rapidly expanding. Special attention is paid to colonial and post-colonial methods for the study of Christianity, as well as
the historical, socio-economic, cultural and political factors that inform the theological process.
Prerequisite: REL 100 Introduction to the Bible, REL 111 Introduction to Religion, or REL 121 Introduction to Christianity.

REL 399 Special Topics – 1-3 credits
A selected area of study in religion. The topic is announced in the appropriate semester’s course schedule.
Prerequisite: Generally, sophomore standing or permission of instructor. Offered as needed.

REL 432 Supervised Church Work – 1-4 credits
An applied course designed particularly for students wishing to pursue careers in full-time church work. The work will be done under the direction of the supervising pastor (or equivalent) and a member of the Religion Department. Areas of concentration may be chosen in accordance with the student’s interests and vocational objectives. Reading assignments will normally precede and/or accompany the practical experience. At least 40 hours of work will be required for each hour of credit.
Prerequisites: 12 credits in religion and permission of department chair.

REL 433 Reformation Era – 3 credits
A study of the sixteenth-century Reformation with special emphasis upon Lutheran, Reformed, and Catholic movements. (Cross-listed as HIS 433)
Prerequisite: REL 100 Introduction to the Bible, REL 111 Introduction to Religion, REL 121 Introduction to Christianity or equivalent. Offered as needed.

REL 435 Contemporary Theology – 3 credits
An analysis and critique of major theologians and decisive theological movements marking the twentieth century.
Prerequisite: REL 100 Introduction to the Bible, REL 111 Introduction to Religion, REL 121 Introduction to Christianity or equivalent. Offered as needed.

REL 479 Special Projects – 1-2 credits
Individualized projects in religious studies which may involve research, participation and reporting.
Prerequisites: Junior standing, 12 credits in religion and permission of department chair.

REL 489 Readings in Religion – 1-3 credits
Extensive reading under the supervision of the instructor in the following areas: 1) biblical studies; 2) church history; 3) theology; 4) life and worship.
Prerequisites: Junior standing, nine credits in religion, and permission of department chair.

The MA in Christian Theology aims to provide you with a broad but coherent programme of study at Masters level enabling in-depth engagement with majot theological issues.

Study details/ module information

At the heart of the programme are five 15-credit modules that explore a series of key theological themes. The first of these, which is absolutely compulsory, is Continuity and Change in Western and Non-western Christianity. This module offers a thematic overview of the development of Christianity in the Western and non-Western parts of the world. This overview is complemented by five modules that develop key theological themes in greater analytical detail. These themes are Christology, Ecclesiology, Christian Worship, Biblical Studies and Contemporary Christian Theology.

Assessments are chiefly by 3,000 word essay – although some modules also require students to prepare shorter written pieces such as observations of worship, or critical reviews of books or articles. Each module is taught across five, three-hour sessions, all of which take place between six and nine pm.

A capacity for independent study is essential; students demonstrate this above all in the final dissertation (c. 15,000) words. However, you may also replace two of the taught modules with a 30 credit Independent Research Project , taken under the supervision of an appropriate academic member of staff. It is also possible to replace one of the taught modules with one of the modules from the companion programme, the MA in Religion & Society.

We also consider it vital to ensure that students are fully trained in study skills at this level / This we do through two modules that are jointly taught with the MA in Religion & Society. The first of these modules initiates students into the level of critical reading and writing required for Masters study; the second equips them with the research methodology essential for the final dissertation.

Research Environment

You will be studying within a thriving research environment. All members of the teaching team are actively involved in cutting-edge research. Recent publications include:

Sex, Gender and Religion: Josephine Butler Revisited by Jenny Daggers & Diana Neal (eds) (Peter Lang, 2006);

A German Exploration of Indian Society: Ziengenbalg’s “Malabarian Heathenism” – An annotated English Translation with an Introduction and a Glossary by Daniel Jeyaraj (the Mylapore Institute for Indigenous Studies, 2006);

First Communion: Ritual, Church and Popular Religious Identity by Peter McGrail (Ashgate 2007);

Alterity, Pain and Suffering in Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel by Mary Mills (T. & T. Clark, 2007);

Liturgy and the Beauty of the Unknown: Another Place by David Torevell (Ashgate, 2007)

Staff lead and participate in a wide range of research centres and groups. A sample includes:

Centre for Transcultural & Diaspora Studies
Andrew. F. Walls Centre for African & Asian Christianity
Archbishop Desmond Tutu Centre for War & Peace Studies
Centre for Millennialism Studies
Religion, Culture & Society
Narrated Spaces
Culture, Criticism & Philosophy

The Department also has international community of over thirty students pursuing MPhil and PhD research in theology and Religious Studies.

Career Opportunities

Several students who have successfully complete the MA programmes of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies have gone on to further postgraduate work such as doctoral research. The MA also fosters a range of transferable skills valued in professional contexts, such as critical and lateral thinking, the ability to formulate arguments, the capacity to work independently, the presentation of research findings and information management. Teachers may follow this course in order to enhance their subject knowledge.

Key information

Award: MA in Christian Theology

Mode of study: Full-time or part-time

Duration: 12-15 months (full-time); 24 months (part-time)

Study pattern: September/ January entry. Evening study

Entry criteria: Normally a good Honours degree in a humanities-related area

Deanery: Arts & Humanities