Academic Course Descriptions
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References to the timing of course offerings which follow
apply only to day courses. Evening and summer school course offerings
are scheduled according to need. Christian Brothers University reserves
the right to cancel classes at any time due to insufficient enrollment.
RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES
Students are required to take one course at the 200 level
before taking courses at the 300 level or above.
RS 200. UNDERSTANDING RELIGION
An inquiry into the nature of religious experience guided by the observation
that the religious consciousness of individuals and cultures is reflected
in story, myth, and symbol. Questions of meaning and value will be raised
and examined. This course culminates with the student describing his/her
own religious journey in a term paper. One semester; three credits
RS 217. OLD TESTAMENT (HEBREW SCRIPTURES)
Using the Old Testament as a text and a guide, the course explores the
origins and early history of the Jewish people to the destruction of
the Second Temple (70 C.E.) and encompasses concepts such as Covenant,
Prophecy, Messiah. One semester; three credits
RS 218. NEW TESTAMENT
A discussion of the Christian scriptures from literary, historical,
and theological points of view concentrating on the life and teachings
of Christ and the spread of Christianity after His death and resurrection.
Offered in the Fall semester. One semester; three credits
RS 219. PAUL: HIS LIFE AND HIS LETTERS
An historical and theological examination of the Apostle Paul and the
Pauline letters, especially as they reflect the concerns of developing
Christianity, including such issues as apocalypticism and the relation
of Christian communities to the Jewish faith and the Roman Empire. One
semester; three credits
RS 220. CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN THOUGHT (Formerly
RS 222)
An examination of major themes and issues in Christian theology from
the time of the early Church through the Reformation. Major theologians
such as Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, and Calvin will be studied among
others. One semester; three credits
RS 221. MODERN CHRISTIAN THOUGHT
An examination of major themes and issues in Christian theology after
the Reformation to the early twentieth century. The focus will be on
responses within Christian theology to modern science and to the emergence
of democracy and capitalism. One semester; three credits
RS 225. THE GOSPELS
A study of the four Gospels using contemporary techniques of biblical
interpretation with particular emphasis on the developing Jewish tradition
in the early Christian Community. One semester; three credits
RS 230. CHRISTIAN ETHICS
A critical investigation of the theological convictions grounding Christian
understandings of doing what is right and being a good human person.
This will include approaches to ethics from within both Catholic and
Protestant Christianity, along with analysis of selected moral issues.
One semester; three credits
RS 240. THE RELIGIOUS DIMENSION OF WORK
(Formerly RS 315)
A study of the relationships between work and religion in western society.
Career, studied from several perspectives, will be viewed ultimately
as a vocation-a call from God. One semester: three credits
RS 245. HONORS RELIGION AND SCIENCE
This interdisciplinary course focuses on the way religion and science
jointly contribute to our knowledge. It is based on the premise that
no one source of knowledge, theological or otherwise, can alone provide
a complete description of reality. Readings and guest lecturers from
other disciplines will cover a wide-ranging dialogue dealing with issues
in astronomy, physics, biology, and ecology. A spectrum of possibilities
for the relation between religion and science will be considered, including
the options of conflict, independence, dialogue, and interaction. Prerequisite:
Membership in the Honors Program. One semster; three credits
RS 254. CHRISTIANITY AND PEACE
An analysis of historical Christian attitudes toward war and peace.
Theological and moral arguments for the pacifist and just war traditions
will be analyzed, along with their application to forms of state sanctioned
violence such as war and capital punishment and the new challenges to
these traditions such as military intervention and terrorism. (Same
as HUM 254) One semester; three credits
RS 256. RELIGION AND NONVIOLENT SOCIAL CHANGE
An inquiry into the traditions and practice of nonviolence in various
world religions with special attention paid to how religiously based
nonviolence has led to social change. Individuals such as Gandhi, Martin
Luther King, Jr., and Dorothy Day, along with social movements will
be considered in light of their theological commitments, social analysis,
and organizational approaches. (Same as HUM 256) One semester; three
credits
RS 260. PERSON, WORLD, AND GOD
This course will focus phenomenologically on ways to recognize God’s
presence in our everyday lives. How does one person’s religious
experience compare/contrast with another’s? Personality types,
prayer forms, biblical references, and theological studies will be examined
in tandem with lived experiences. One semester; three credits
RS 274. JUDAISM
A study of the beliefs and practices of the Jewish faith with particular
emphasis on the time from the French Revolution to the present. One
semester; three credits
RS 276. LITERATURE OF THE HOLOCAUST
A critical examination of literature of the Holocaust with particular
attention to themes of God and humanity, Hassidism, moral and ethical
action, the importance of memory, and reflections on survival. One semester;
three credits
RS 280. CATHOLICISM
An examination of the teachings, structures, and cultural influence
of Roman Catholicism with emphasis on the development of the American
Catholic community after the influence of Vatican II. One semester;
three credits
RS 285. THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
A study of the theology and organization of various major Christian
churches in terms of their relation with the world and each other. Different
models of being church will be analyzed, including approaches to authority,
worship, and religious pluralism. One semester; three credits
RS 290-299. SELECTED TOPICS IN RELIGION
Selected topics of special interest at an introductory level. Topics
vary with instructor. One semester; three credits
RS 300. JESUS CHRIST
An investigation into the historical features of Jesus’ ministry
and message and His importance in the world today. The course will examine
Christian doctrine about Jesus and probe the reasons for His appeal
through the centuries. Prerequisite: any 200 level Scripture course—217,
218, 219, or 225. One semester; three credits
RS 320. RELIGION IN AMERICA
An examination of the various religious communities of the United States,
how they were shaped by and helped shape the American culture. Prerequisite:
any RS 200 level course. One semester; three credits
RS 324. SPIRITUALITY TODAY
The focus of the readings and class discussions is on integration of
religious principles and theology with personal experience. A focus
of this class is to reclaim the ideas concerning “heaven and earth”
from dualistic thinking to dialectic reality. Regular reflection papers
and a term paper are required. Prerequisite: any RS 200 level course.
One semester; three credits
RS 326. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL THEOLOGIES
A critical examination of contemporary social and political theologies,
such as liberation theology, black theology, feminist theology and womanist
theology. Special attention will be given to the importance of social
context in developing such theologies and their ways of drawing from
and critiquing traditional Christian theological views. Prerequisite:
any RS 200 level course. One semester; three credits
RS 330. JUSTICE AND SOCIETY
A study of issues relating to justice and human rights in contemporary
social life (economic, political, cultural), focusing on the contributions
of developing social justice teachings of the churches. Prerequisite:
any RS 200 level course.One semester; three credits
RS 335. PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
(Same as PHIL 335) Prerequisite: any RS 200 level course. One semester;
three credits
RS 340. RELIGION AND PREJUDICE
A study of how religion has affected justice issues in relation to religious
differences, race, gender, and social class. This course will analyze
ways in which different religious institutions and theological convictions
are involved in creating harm or right relationships between races,
genders, and social classes. Prerequisite: any RS 200 level course.
One semester; three credits.
RS 350. WORLD RELIGIONS
A survey of the great religious traditions of the eastern and western
worlds. Emphasis will be placed on their literature and expression in
contemporary life. The religions studied are Hinduisim and Buddism from
India, Confucianism and Taoism from China, Zen and Shinto from Japan,
Judaism and Christianity from Palestine/Israel, and Islam from Arabia.
Offered in the Spring semester. Prerequisite: any RS 200 level course.
One semester; three credits
RS 375. THE PROPHETS
This course will examine the ideas of the Prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures
(Old Testament) in the historical contexts in which they were presented.
Students will explore the multiplicity of meanings and the many-layered
intentions of the Prophets as understood by scholars spanning thousands
of years. Prerequisite: any RS 200 level course. One semester; three
credits
RS 376. HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE (Formerly
RS 276)
A study of the origins and causes of the deep-rooted anti-Semitism which
erupted between the years 1933-1945 in an attempt to destroy the Jewish
people. The course will also explore lessons of the Holocaust for our
times today. Prerequisite: any RS 200 level course. One semester; three
credits
RS 390-396. HONORS SPECIAL TOPICS
Special topics in religious studies open to members of the Honors Program
or by permission of the instructor. One semester: one to four credits.
RS. 402. CONTEMPORARY RELIGIOUS THOUGHT
A serious study of one or more selected theologians and religious thinkers
from the twentieth century. Prerequisite: any RS 200 level course. One
semester; three credit
RS 405. HONORS CONTEMPORARY RELIGIOUS THOUGHT
This course is designed to study 20th century theologians and their
theologies concerning scripture, tradition, and human experience. Offered
in the Spring semester. Prerequisite: any RS 200 level course and Membership
in the Honors Program. One semester; three credits
RS 485. INTERNSHIP
Combines work in a professional field with academic consideration of
the relationship of that work to Religious Studies. Prerequisite: Permission
of the Religious Studies Internship Director. One semester; one to three
credits
RS 490-496. SPECIAL TOPICS IN RELIGION
Selected topics of interest to individual students or small groups.
Prerequisite: Approval of instructor. One semester; one to three credits
RS 499. SENIOR SEMINAR
The seminar for Religion and Philosophy majors in their senior year
includes an independent study project on a topic related to their previous
years of study in the major. One semester; three credits
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