Academic Catalog 2010-2011 - Union Presbyterian Seminary

Union Presbyterian Seminary Academic Catalog 2010-2011ety. Through close readings of speeches, writings and sermons, students will assess the theological importance ofthis 20th century American religious leader and thinker. A final paper will be required.January 2011.COURSESTHE114 Codes of Ethics in Freedom Narratives. This course is an interdisciplinary inquiry into the natureof the religious experience of the Africans who were enslaved in the Americas. A close textual reading ofslave narratives, letters, speeches, interviews, and autobiographies will spell out how this history affected Christiansin previous generations and currently.May 2012.THE116 Ethical Matters of Life and Death. Using a case study method that acknowledges both the complexitiesof ethical issues and the variety of directions from which they can be approached, this seminar exploresthe use of tradition, sacred texts, reason, experience, and revelation in helping people of faith respond to practical,real-life dilemmas.Fall 2011.THE117 Ethics, Ethnicity, and Architectonic Texts. Using the African American religious tradition as aframework, seminarians will explore a variety of art, artifacts and material culture in western Christianity. Thisrich legacy of visual texts is not only used to expand the perimeters of aesthetics in the work of justice but alsotells a “peculiar” history of theological anthropology.May 2011.THE118 Themes and Problems in African American Theological Ethics. The theological project thatseeks to explore the meaning of the African American experience continues within the work of significant scholars.This course explores the current work of black theologians and ethicists with the aim of view of assessingvarious methods, perspectives and solutions to persistent problems. Lectures, close readings of materials, two reflectionpapers and a term paper.TBA.THE121 Readings in the Theology of Martin Luther. This seminar will explore some of the most importantof Luther’s theological treatises including (but not limited to) The Ninety-five Theses, prefaces to the OldTestament and New Testament and passages from his biblical commentaries, the three important treatises of1520 (The Freedom of a Christian, the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, Appeal to the Ruling Class of theGerman Nationality), the Small Catechism, and On the Councils and the Church. Requirements will includebrief papers on the assigned readings.Spring 2012.THE123 Urban Ministry. This course will explore the challenges and opportunities for creative ministry inherentin the urban environment. The class will examine biblical and theological perspectives on the city, reviewcurrent literature on urban ministry, and engage local pastors and practitioners. Class meetings will be at theseminary as well as Richmond Hill, a local retreat center noted for its urban ministry programs. A paper outlininga project will be required.Fall 2010.THE203 Human Being/Being Human. Prerequisites: One course in theology or ethics. The purpose of thisseminar is to promote reflection and discussion about what it is to be a human being. Toward that end, classicaland more recent texts are read and discussed. For example, Genesis 1:1-11:9; Bhagavad Gita; Aristotle’s NicomacheanEthics; Charles Darwin’s The Descent of Man; Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol; Albert Camus’ ThePlague; Mary Midgley’s Beast and Man: The Animal Roots of Human Nature. In each instance, two questions areasked. What more or less descriptive portrait of human being emerges from the text? What does the text eithersay or imply about the project of living a human life or being humane? A short reflection paper is required.January 2012.3-20