Religion Degrees Online

Minor Program in Theology (24 semester hours)

Required Courses:THEO 101 Introduction to Theology 3
THEO 210 Introduction to New Testament 3
THEO 220 Church: Yesterday and Today 3
THEO 230 Christian Morality 3
THEO 260 Worship and Christian Life 3

Required/Specified Support Courses HIL 312 Philosophy of Religion 3
HIST 111 World Civilization to 1500 3
HIST 112 World Civilization since 1500 3

Minor Program in Philosophy (18 semester hours)
Students may select philosophy as a minor program. Many of the course offerings in philosophy are interdisciplinary in character, and students are encouraged to relate philosophical knowledge and skills to the area of their undergraduate major. Indeed, the minor program in philosophy is especially suited to students who bring a considerable degree of intellectual initiative and independence to their work.

Required courses HIL 101 Introduction to Philosophical Thinking 3
PHIL 202 Philosophy of the Human Person 3
PHIL 312 Philosophy of Religion 3
Electives in Philosophy 9

Program Requirements
65 credits for the Associate of Arts degree

Biblical and Theological Studies: (37 Credits)
BIBL 150 Old Testament History Literature 3
BIBL 151 New Testament History and Literature 3
BIBL 152 Life of Christ 2
BIBL 153 Acts 2
BIBL Old Testament Bible Elective 3
BIBL New Testament Bible Elective 3
BIBL 253 Hermeneutics 3
HITH 151 Pentecostal Heritage 2
ITCS 101 Introduction to Missions 2
PMIN 150 Personal Evangelism 2
THEO 161 Introduction to Theology 2
THEO 162 Christianity and Culture 2
THEO 251 Systematic Theology I: Scripture, God, Creation 3
THEO 252 Systematic Theology II: Humanity, Sin, Christ, Salvation 3
THEO 254 Ethics 2

General Education: (28 Credits)
BUSI 158 Personal Finance 3
COMM 210 Fundamentals of Speech 3
ENGL 111 English Composition I 3
ENGL 112 English Composition II 3
HIST History Elective 3
MATH 111 College Math OR 3
MATH 200 College Algebra
PHED 110 Health Concepts 1
PMIN 101 Spiritual Formation 1
PSYC 101 Introduction to College 2
PSYC 210 General Psychology 3
SOCI 213 Marriage and Family 3

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.

Theology Major
RLS 121 Introduction to Theology OR RLS 124 Catholic Beliefs and Practices3
RLS 201 Introduction to the Old Testament 3
RLS 202 Introduction to the New Testament 3
RLS 210 Church: A Community of Faith3
RLS 211 Morality in the Catholic Tradition 3
RLS 311 Sacramental Theology 3
RLS 425 Christ: Human and Divine 3
Select 2 Courses in Scripture Electives (6 credits)
RLS 204 Synoptic Gospels3
RLS 301 Prophetic Literature3
RLS 401 Gospel of John3

Select 2 Courses in Theology Electives (6 credits)
RLS 214 Franciscan Theology & Spirituality3
RLS 275 Major Religious Traditions of the World3
RLS 316 Ecclesiastical History3
Select 1 Courses in Philosophy Electives (3 credits)
PHL 110 Critical Thinking3
PHL 201 Philosophy of the Human Person3

An academic minor program or second major must be completed in conjunction with this program.
Total Program Credits 36

Theology Minor
RLS 121 Introduction to Theology OR RLS 124 Catholic Beliefs and Practices3
RLS 201 Introduction to the Old Testament3
RLS 202 Introduction to the New Testament3

One Religious Studies Elective (any RLS course of your choice) 3
Select 2 Courses in Scripture Electives (6 credits)
RLS 204 Synoptic Gospels3
RLS 301 Prophetic Literature3
RLS 401 Gospel of John3

Select 2 Courses in Theology Electives (6 credits)
RLS 210 Church: A Community of Faith3
RLS 211 Morality in the Catholic Tradition3
RLS 311 Sacramental Theology3
RLS 425 Christ: Human and Divine3
Total Minor Credits 24

Religious Studies major requirements
Religious Studies major (10 courses):
RELS 106 Introduction to the Bible
RELS 114 Introduction to Theology
RELS 280 Introducing Christian Traditions
RELS 290 Doing Theology Today
RELS 321 Topics in Scripture
RELS 433 Christian Ethics: Theology and Society
RELS 460 Advanced Seminar

One course from each of the following three groups (only 1 may be a GS course):

1.) Religious Diversity Component:
RELS 318 Feminist Theology
RELS 331 Judaism and Christianity: The Holocaust
RELS 340 World Religions: A Comparative Examination
RELS 342 Asian Philosophy and Religion
RELS 350 Christianity and Cultural Diversity.
2.) Systematic Theology Component:
RELS 316 Who is Jesus?
RELS 325 Providence, Suffering and Freedom

3.) Other Electives:
RELS 242
RELS 255
RELS 268
RELS 310
RELS 312
RELS 322
RELS 324
RELS 326
RELS 338
RELS 347
RELS 360
RELS 389
HUMA 337*
ART 365
HIST 319

Religious Studies majors are not allowed to count any of the above courses as satisfying the GS 1 requirement.

Religious Studies majors may not double count toward the GS 10 requirement unless double majoring.

Religious Studies with Youth Ministry emphasis (13 courses):
RELS 106 Introduction to the Bible
RELS 114 Introduction to Theology
RELS 242 Liturgy and the Sacraments
RELS 280 Introduction to Christian Traditions
RELS 321 Topics in Scripture
RELS 433 Christian Ethics
RELS 460 Advanced Seminar
RELS 494 Internship
Any other 2 RELS courses, or HIST 319, ART 365

3 of the following:
SSCI 220
SOCI 111
COMM 122
WMGS 110
PEAC 200
SOCI 378

Religious studies course offerings

RELS 106 Introduction to the Bible – GS 1 (Lower)
This course provides an introduction to the literature of the Judaeo-Christian tradition. It will include a study of modern critical methods including source criticism, form criticism and redaction criticism as they relate to this literature. There will be a special emphasis on theological themes. Fall and Spring semesters. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (lower) – Religious Studies.

RELS 114 Introduction to Theology – GS 1 (Lower)
This course examines the nature of religion in human experience, the personal and communal dimensions of faith and critically analyzes basic questions in Christian theology. Fall and Spring semesters. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (lower) – Religious Studies.

RELS 200 / CLAS 200 Augustine and the Classical World
This course will survey the life and times of Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354-430), one of the great thinkers of the Western world. With more than 100 books, 200 letters and 500 sermons, he left a lasting impact on Western philosophy, religion and culture. He is seen as a major influence in shaping the theology of Western Christianity. The goal of this course is to understand how the classical heritage of Greece and Rome influenced Augustine’s thinking and in turn his impact on the late Roman world. By reading some of Augustine’s writings (in English translation) and those of modern scholars, we will attempt to understand how the synthesis produced by Augustine is both a final flowering of classical civilization itself and a cornerstone of the Christian civilization of the Middle Ages that was to come. Spring semester, alternate years.

RELS 221 / AMER 221 Religion in America – GS 6
Examines the historical development of religious movements in America, both mainstream and peripheral groups and analyzes the religious perceptions by which Americans have viewed themselves as a nation and culture, including a contemporary assessment. Fall semester. Fulfills General Education Area 6 – Religious Studies.

RELS 242 Liturgy and the Sacraments
This course examines the nature of the liturgy and the sacraments as the forum in which the church expresses and forms its identity and mission in the world. The course examines the historical evolution of the seven traditional sacraments as well as the other major rites of the church. Finally, the course explores the implications of the reformed liturgy for Christian life and ministry in the contemporary world. Fall semester, alternate years.

RELS 255 / PHIL 250 Philosophy of Religion
A course that examines the rational assessment of religious beliefs and concepts and arguments used in their support. The course considers contemporary challenges to belief in God and the responses to these challenges. Spring semester, alternate years.

RELS 268 Sexuality, Intimacy and God
What is the meaning and significance of sexuality and sex for human fulfillment? How are sexuality, sex, friendship and intimacy related? This course examines Christian scripture and tradition for major theological responses to these questions. Special emphasis is placed on contemporary discussions of the theological significance of embodiment and on the development of a spirituality that takes seriously the pivotal role sexuality plays in human experience and development. The course is interdisciplinary in nature as it draws upon and attempts to integrate the recent findings of psychology, sociology, anthropology and philosophy with current theological discussions. Specific issues addressed in the course include celibacy, marriage, homosexuality, carnal love, birth control, abortion, gender issues and sex and authority.

RELS 275 Medical Ethics

RELS 280 Introducing Christian Traditions
This course examines the history of Christianity in its theological, social and institutional dimensions, from the New Testament era to the present. This development is studied in a variety of historical and cultural contexts, presenting through representative figures and issues both continuity and diversity in Christian thought and life in the midst of society. Course prepares RELS majors/minors for more advanced courses in the RELS curriculum. Spring semester.

RELS 290 Doing Theology Today
This course explores a variety of approaches to theological inquiry from classical methods to the diversity represented in modern revisions of the theological task. The course utilizes differing models of theological method, comparing selected theologians and themes. These methods include traditional as well as contemporary interpretation, the treatment of various sources for theological discourse and the research skills necessary for doing theology today. Alternate years.

RELS 310 Marriage and Family as Vocation – GS 1 (Upper)
This course explores the moral and religious dimensions of marriage and family, with particular attention to resources within the Catholic Christian tradition. It will attend to such questions as: What does it mean to place the marriage commitment and the wider commitment to the family in the context of a relationship to God?; What does it mean to consider marriage a vocation and sacrament?: How does the vocation of marriage develop over time?; How do careers, children, aging parents and other obligations affect the marriage relationship?; What does it take to sustain a lifelong martial commitment in our culture?; and, What are the distinct characteristics and responsibilities of Christian family life? Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 312 Mission and Identity of the Church – GS 1 (Upper)
Why is Christianity essentially a social experience? What makes for strong fellowship and a faith community? Studied in the light of Vatican II and its search for the meaning and nature of the Church models, the course seeks to develop an understanding of the Church as community. The course aims at trying to discover why faith in a community context better fits the definition of the word Christian than a contemporary emphasis on individual experience. Spring semester. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 314 Ancient Israelite Theology – GS 1 (Upper)
This course will focus on the reflections about God found in the Bible, alongside central religious texts from Mesopotamia (e.g. Enuma Elish, hymns and prayers) and the primary sources for Greek and Roman religion (i.e. Hesiod’s Theogony and Homer’s Iliad). The course will examine criticisms of certain aspects of these religious visions by ancient intellectuals such as Plato, Cicero and, most importantly, the anonymous biblical authors who argued forcefully that the God of Moses could not be represented by any kind of figure in the limited human sphere. The course will expose students to a number of influential and classic ancient texts and interpret their varying religious claims. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 316 Who is Jesus?
An attempt to answer the biblical question “And who do you say that I am?” – a central issue of theology. Looking at today’s answers formulated in continuity with scripture and tradition but shaped in the light of contemporary culture and experience. Prerequisite: junior standing. Fall semester, alternate years.

RELS 318 / PEAC 318 / WMGS 318 Feminist Theology – GS 1 (Upper)
This course introduces the student to feminist theology as a theology of liberation, examines its foundations in feminist theory and Christian revisionist sources and explores its contributions to the Christian, especially the Catholic, faith tradition. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 319 319 / HIST 319 / AMER 319 The Catholic Contribution to the United States
This course will explore how and why Catholics of diverse gender, race, class and religious commitment have contributed to the socioeconomic, cultural, political and intellectual development of the U.S.. The course will examine Catholics and their church from Spanish North America to St. Norbert College, from immigration to assimilation and from conflict to consensus. Fall semester, every third year.

RELS 320 The Christian Tradition – GS 1 (Upper)
This course examines the history of Christianity in its theological, social and institutional dimensions, from the New Testament era to the present. This development is studied in a variety of historical and cultural contexts, presenting through representative figures and issues both continuity and diversity in Christian thought and life in the midst of society. For non-Religious Studies majors/minors only. Spring semester. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 321 Topics in Scripture
Critically examines scriptural themes and genres; may also concentrate on one or more biblical authors or works. Prerequisite: RELS 106. Spring semester, alternate years.

RELS 322 Religious Heritage of the Hebrew Bible – GS 1 (Upper)
This course examines the origin, nature, significance and religious heritage of the Hebrew Bible as the foundation document of both Judaism and Christianity. This course studies the Hebrew Bible both as a revealed and religious scripture and as a profoundly human document. The primary focus will be on the text itself, supplemented by the use of reference, historical and interpretive (both Jewish and non-Jewish) materials. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 323 Biblical Hebrew
This course introduces the student to the language of the Hebrew Bible and the historical and theological methods that arise from studying the Hebrew Bible in its original language. No prior knowledge of biblical Hebrew is assumed and the course begins by introducing the Hebrew alphabet. By the end of the course, students should be able to read many prose passages in the Hebrew Bible (i.e. Genesis 15-50, Deuteronomy, 1-2 Kings) with relative ease and occasional recourse to the aid of a Hebrew-English lexicon. Alternate years. Prerequisite: Religious Studies majors.

RELS 324 / WMGS 324 Women in the Bible – GS 1 (Upper)
This course will have as its main focus the women of the Bible. We will read stories that will surprise, shock and educate us as to the role women played in biblical times. This course will read the Old and New Testament stories of women in light of the interpretative issues present in feminist theology and biblical interpretation. Throughout the course, we will continue to reflect on questions concerning the role of women in contemporary society. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 325 Providence, Suffering and Freedom – GS 1 (Upper)
This course examines various possibilities for making sense of the traditional Christian belief in an omnipotent, all-loving, providential God in light of the contemporary awareness of the immensity and tragedy of human suffering and the growing recognition of the depth and radicalness of human freedom. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 326 Ancient Wisdom and the Modern Search for Meaning – GS 1 (Upper)
What is the good life? What can a person truly know? Is there justice in the world? These are some of the fundamental, universal questions of the human condition. This course will raise these questions and look at how the biblical wisdom literature answers them along with similar writings from elsewhere in the ancient world as well as modern literature and film. As a result of this analysis, students will have the opportunity to construct a coherent and viable structure of meaning for their own life’s journey. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 331 Judaism and Christianity: The Holocaust – GS 1 (Upper)
The examination of the historical and contemporary relation of Jews and Christians, through a study of critical events, comparative literature and correlated theologies, in an analysis which recognizes both interrelated unity and tragic antagonism. The course will ordinarily focus on a specific period, collection of related texts, or themes common to both traditions. Fall semester. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 333 / PEAC 333 Christian Ethics: Theology and Society – GS 1 (Upper)
The course addresses the enduring problem of the relationship between Christian faith and moral questions. It does so in the light of the convictions of a Catholic Christian faith community tradition. It seeks to determine the faith responses to contemporary social ethical issues. The social issues studied will vary. Fall and Spring semesters. Religious Studies majors/minors taking course for major/minor should sign up for RELS 433. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 338 Religion and Literature
( See Infrequently Offered Courses section of the college catalog)

RELS 340 World Religions: A Comparative Examination – GS 11
This course offers a critical and comparative introduction to the world’s non-Christian and mostly non-Western religious traditions. Focusing on Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Islam and several indigenous religions as well as new religious movements, the course investigates and compares these traditions with special attention given to contexts. A key component in this involves examining the phenomenon of globalization and the issues of diversity and interaction between traditions. Fulfills General Education Area 1 – Global Society.

RELS 342 / PHIL 342 Asian Philosophy and Religion
A study of the major philosophical and religious traditions of South and East Asia. The course emphasizes the Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist traditions. The ethical, metaphysical and epistemological aspects of each major tradition are covered. Spring semester.

RELS 347 / PEAC 347 Theology and the Concern for Justice
A critical survey of recent theological movements emerging out of non-traditional contexts that stress the theme of justice and liberation for the poor and oppressed, challenging the way Christians both experience and understand their faith. The course explores a variety of theological issues related to the problem of sociopolitical inequity. Prerequisite: junior standing. Spring semester, alternate years.

RELS 350 Christianity and Cultural Diversity – GS 1 (Upper)
This course explores the dynamic relationship between Christianity and contemporary cultures and societies, especially non-European cultures. It focuses on themes such as multiculturalism, inculteration and the growing development of contextual theologies – theologies which emerge from cultural settings different from those that have traditionally shaped Christian theology. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 355 Theology of Spirituality – GS 1 (Upper)
This course is an introductory exploration of the theology of prayer and the spiritual life. It explores the realm of religious faith and the various means by which humans enter into an explicit relationship with God. Students will be exposed to the various schools of Christian spirituality as they have arisen in the history of the Christian community. In addition, class sessions will be devoted to discussing the relationships of spirituality with the human condition. Spring semester. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 360 The Essentials of Catholic Thought – GS 1 (Upper)
This course examines the key concepts of Catholicism as expressed since Vatican II. These include the credal, sacramental and moral life of the Christian as influenced by this great event. Central to all is the role of Christ in the life of the church. Fall semester. Fulfills General Education Area 1 (upper) – Religious Studies.

RELS 389 Special Topics
This course is an in-depth study of one or more major issues confronting contemporary religion. Students are challenged to make concrete applications of the role of theology and religious practice to issues of the early 21st century and to evaluate the impact of the heritage and tradition on their own thinking and on society in general. Topics will change from semester to semester but may include such issues as the Holocaust, nuclear weapons, abortion, racism and church-state relations. Fall semester.

RELS 433 Christian Ethics: Theology and Society
The course addresses the enduring problem of the relationship between Christian faith and moral questions. It does so in the light of the convictions of a Catholic Christian faith community tradition. It seeks to determine the faith responses to contemporary social ethical issues. The topics will vary and include specific issues such as human rights, sexuality, social justice and biomedical questions. Prerequisite: Religious Studies major/minor. Fall and Spring semesters.

RELS 460 Advanced Seminar
Offers senior Religious Studies majors and minors the opportunity to engage in a research project on a special topic, theme or theologian. Spring semester.

RELS 490 Independent Study
A course allowing staff and students to explore together topics of special interest. Prerequisites: Instructor’s consent and approval of the Associate Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts.

RELS 494 Internship
This course is an action/reflection experience for those seeking skills in the ministry. Students are placed in the local community. In addition to regular weekly service, students are required to meet each week in a supervised class with an instructor from the Religious Studies faculty. In those meetings, students explore the bases of practical theology as that science reflects on the pastoral experience.

Course Offerings
Fall 2008 Undergraduate Class Offerings (only on-campus classes shown):
RS 100 Introduction to Religion
RS 212 Introduction to Judaism
RS 214 Women and Religion*
RS 222 From Adam to David
RS 230 Roman Catholic Theology Since Vatican II
RS 232 Introduction to Theology
RS 242 Religion and Science in the West
RS 248 The Holocaust
RS 255 Theology of Christian Marriage
RS 331 The Christian God
RS 334 Theology of Death and Resurrection
RS 424 The Christian Gospels
RS 434 Christian Ethics
RS 447 Jews and Judaism in the Modern World
HNR 457 Spiritual Autobiographies
ETH 358 Health Care Ethics

Religion, Culture, and Society

The interface between religion, culture, and society, where the primary focus is on how culture (art, science, learning, etc.) and social institutions (government, economics, medicine, etc.) interact with religion.

113 Religion in America (1 course) This course surveys and analyzes the interaction between religion, particularly Christianity, and American culture from the 16th to the 21st centuries. The study emphasizes the influence of church/state debates, immigration, slavery, wars, science, civil rights, and late 20th- and early 21st-century political realignments upon the religious life and attitudes of the American people. Particular attention will be given to the various ways Americans have negotiated the reality of religious diversity and the desire for cultural unity. THEOL, Offered annually.

123 Faith, Religion, and Culture (1 course) What is faith? What is religion? Are they optional or necessary in human existence? Who, or what, is God, and what does it mean to have a god? How does religion interact with culture? This course addresses these and other basic issues in theology and religion, with primary emphasis on the Christian tradition in the past, present, and future, and with special attention to the role of symbol, myth, scripture, and ritual in religious teachings and institutions. THEOL. Offered annually.

223 Christ, Culture, and Nature (1 course) Who or what is God, and what does it mean to have a God? Who is Jesus Christ? What is the relationship of Christ to culture? Of God to nature? Of the Big Bang and evolution to creation? Of religion to politics? How do Christian claims relate to Buddhist, Muslim, or nontheistic claims? This course is designed as an introduction to theology for students who have a working knowledge of the Christian faith and are interested in a systematic and critical approach to meeting the CHRIS requirement. THEOL. Offered occasionally.

233 Christian Social Ethics (1 course) An investigation into the basic issues, perspectives, and types of historical and contemporary Christian ethics, in connection with social and political analysis of several contemporary social issues. Such issues may include social justice, international politics, gender and sexuality, alternative economic systems, nuclear war, depletion of natural resources, medicine and health care, and ethics in business. HIPHI, Spring semester, even years.

ART-239 Art of the Middle Ages (1 course) An overview of medieval painting, sculpture, and architecture from the early Christian period through the Gothic age (CE 330–1300). Emphasis will be placed on the relation between medieval art, the growth of the Christian church, and the development of the feudal state. ARTS, WRITD, Spring semester.

243 Ethics and Medicine (1 course) An introduction to the study of ethical problems in the context of health care and the practice of medicine. Issues studied will include the problems that arise at the beginning and end of life, the duties of professionals and the rights of patients, the meaning of “health“ and “disease,“ the social causes of illness, medical research, and the adequacy of health care delivery. The inquiry will be informed by the perspectives of contemporary Western moral philosophy, historic and contemporary Christian ethics, and social theory. Prerequisite: any Level I course in religion. SOSCI, Fall semester, odd years.

253 Science and Religion (1 course) The 400-year-old debate between science and religion seems poised for a fundamental change. Until recently it has presupposed a duality between the rationality of science (its factual, quantitative, and objective outlook) and the faith of religion (its valuational, emotional, and subjective outlook). This course will examine postmodern efforts to replace such dualities with an unity, where rationality and faith are found in both science and religion. Prerequisite: any course in religion. HIPHI, WRITD, Fall semester, odd years.

S/A-259 The Anthropology of Religion (1 course) This course reviews comparative anthropological approaches to the study of magic, witchcraft, and religion, primarily in non-Western societies. Focus is on the nature, roles, and varieties of belief and myth; ritual and symbolization; religious experience, including drug and non-drug induced trance states and their psycho-cultural dimensions; and magico-religious social organization. The course will emphasize shamanic and spirit possession religions and radical religious movements, such as nativistic and messianic cults. In relation to all of these, anthropological theories of the origins and functions of magic, witchcraft, and religion in social life and personal experience will be critically examined. NWEST, Spring semester.

273 Religion and Politics in Latin America (1 course) Religion and politics have been interwoven in the Americas since the rise of indigenous American cultures. Starting with the initial clash between European Christianity (missions and conquistadors) and the indigenous cultures, this course will analyze the interaction of religion and politics through time, including struggles for independence, continuing political upheavals, resistance movements, and theologies of liberation and revolution. It asks why so many Latin Americans choose to be Christian. Theological investigations include the role of the poor, conflicts over land, and current popular movements such as Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement. HIPHI, NWEST, Spring semester, odd years.

283 Insiders and Outsiders in American Religion (1 course) Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Amish, Black Muslims, Zen Buddhists—just a few of the thousands of different religious groups in America. But who’s “in“ and who’s “out“ when it comes to American religious groups? This course will examine the world of American religion by exploring the tensions between “insider“ and “outsider“ religious groups, how these distinctions are drawn, and whether the distinctions make sense. The course will focus on Christian groups as well as world religions that have found a home in America. We will also explore issues of race and gender as they affect these distinctions. HIPHI, WRITD, Fall semester, odd years.

POL-325 Religion and Politics in America (1 course) This course offers an intensive analysis of the many connections between religion and the American political system. Students will first consider religion’s historical role in shaping American political culture. Other topics to be covered include the constitutional relationship between church and state, the religious dimensions of American political behavior, religious influences on political institutions and decision makers, religious interest group activity and its impact on public policy, and the salience of religious factors in contemporary politics. Prerequisite: junior or senior status. SOSCI, Spring semester, odd years.

373 The Holocaust and Theology (1 course) An examination of the moral and theological implications of the planned and systematic destruction of Jews, Gypsies, and other civilian groups by the Nazis during the 1940s. Attention will be given to the historical events and their background, but the course will focus on the implications of the Holocaust for today: for understanding Western culture, human behavior, moral priorities, Jewish identity, and Christian theology. Prerequisite: one religion course. HIPHI, WRITD, Spring semester.

Major Requirements
For students who wish to major in religious and theological studies, there are two tracks that you can choose – one with an emphasis in religious studies and the other with an emphasis in theological studies. Each program consists of ten courses as follows:

For the emphasis in religious studies:
A. RTS 1000/1001/15xx Introduction to Religious and Theological Studies;
B. Three courses in World Religions;
C. One course in Biblical Studies;
D. One course in Systematic Theology or Christian History;
E. One course in Religion, Society & Ethics;
F. Two electives in Religious and Theological Studies;
H. RTS 4900A – Seminar in Religious and Theological Studies – taken in junior or senior year.

For the emphasis in theological studies:
A. RTS 1000/1001/15xx Introduction to Religious and Theological Studies;
B. One course in World Religions;
C. Two courses in Biblical Studies;
D. One course in Christian History;
E. One course in Systematic Theology;
F. One course in Religion, Society & Ethics;
G. Two electives in Religious and Theological Studies;
H. RTS 4900A – Seminar in Religious and Theological Studies – taken in junior or senior year.

MAJOR GPA
The GPA for the religious and theological studies major will be calculated by taking the average of courses designated RTS.

RTS 1000/1001/15xx Introduction to Religious and Theological Studies is required of all students at Merrimack College. This can be satisfied by taking either:

A. Two 2-credit courses: “Introduction to Theology” (RTS1000) plus one
introductory religious studies course at the 1500 level or
B. “Introduction to Religious and Theological Studies” (RTS 1001—4 credits).

CATEGORIES OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES.
All religious and theological studies courses are classified under the following categories:

World Religions: RTS2500A, RTS2510A, RTS2600A, RTS2610A, RTS2620A, RTS3000A, RTS3500A

Biblical Studies: RTS2100A, RTS2200A, RTS2210A, RTS3100A, RTS3110A, RTS3200A, RTS3210A

Christian History: RTS2300A, RTS2340A, RTS3360A, RTS3370A, RTS3380A, RTS3810A, RTS4000A

Systematic Theology: RTS2310A, RTS2410A, RTS2420A, RTS2710A, RTS3300A, RTS3310A, RTS3320A, RTS3360A, RTS3400A, RTS3410A, RTS3450A, RTS3710A, RTS3810A

Religion, Society & Ethics: RTS2410A, RTS2420A, RTS2700A, RTS2710A, RTS2800A, RTS3210A, RTS3400A, RTS3410A, RTS3450A, RTS3600A, RTS3700A, RTS3800A