Academic Catalog 2010-2011 - Union Presbyterian Seminary

Union Presbyterian Seminary Academic Catalog 2010-2011THE207/617 Theology of John Calvin. Prerequisite: THE101. The purpose of this course is to help studentsunderstand the main themes of Calvin’s theology. To that end we will engage in a close reading and discussionof the 1559 edition of the Institutes. Classes will include some lectures, but will primarily be discussion. A seriesof short papers will be required.TBA.COURSESTHE210 Reformed Theology. The purpose of this course is to explore themes, thinkers, and writings in thebroad theological tradition of Reformed Christian communities. Readings from John Calvin, The Book of Confessions,Jonathan Edwards, Richard Baxter, Freidrich Schleiermacher, Karl Barth, Allan Boesak, and more will becorrelated with elements of the Service for the Lords Day in The Book of Common Worship' (1993). The generalgoal is to obtain a background in Reformed theology suitable for parish ministry. Lectures, discussion, film. Requiredterm paper or notebook.TBA.THE211/606 Contemporary Theological Ethics. Prerequisite: A basic course in Theology or Ethics. This courseis designed to be a M.Div. course, but Ph.D. and Th.M. students may take it with the permission of the instructor.Participants in this seminar read, analyze, and evaluate the writings of contemporary theological ethicists.The authors selected for this year are Gilbert Meilander and Lisa Sowle Cahill. In addition to an important introductionto Christian ethics, Meilander has addressed medical ethics, friendship, and the virtues. Cahill has focusedon sources of ethics, gender issues, and historical dimensions of contemporary problems. Each is aprolific writer who differs from the other. Participants will draw comparisons and contrasts as an aid to constructingtheir own normative positions. Course format includes assigned readings and a final paper.TBA.THE215/625 God and Evil. Prerequisites: THE101 and THE201. A critical review of the most importantChristian writings, classical and contemporary, on the problem of evil. A paper on one of the major positionswill be required, and a final examination on all the assigned readings.Spring 2011.THE217 The Theology of Prayer. Prerequisite: Open to any student who has completed at least one other coursein theology. This course will examine the ways in which the act of prayer has been conceived theologicallythroughout Christian history. This seminar will center around reading and discussion of texts in theology andmysticism.TBA.THE218 Paul Tillich’s Systematic Theology. Prerequisite: THE101. Enrollment limited to 15 students. The purposeof this course is to obtain a strong knowledge of the theology of Paul Tillich. Toward that end, we will readand discuss the three volumes of Paul Tillich’s Systematic Theology, as well as some additional articles and sermons.TBA.THE222 Love, Power, and Justice. Prerequisite: One basic course in theology or ethics. A multicultural analysisof three salient themes of theological-political ethics. The writings of Plato, Machiavelli and John Rawls are contrastedwith those of John Howard Yoder, Paul Tillich and Martin Luther King, Jr. The primary object is to incorporatethe three themes into a sophisticated and pragmatic framework for Christian ministry engaged in thepublic world. Reflection papers and a final term paper will be required.Fall 2010.THE230/231 Colloquy in Reformed Theology. The Institute for Reformed Theology at Union PresbyterianSeminary sponsors this year-long colloquy, which invites scholars, church leaders, and Union Presbyterian Seminarystudents to explore enduring themes in Reformed theology. Each spring, the specific topic and colloquy3-21