RockhuRst univeRsity 2012–2014 catalog

170Americans, Mormonism, African-American Christianity,the Nation of Islam, Judaism, and religionson the White-supremacist wing of the “RadicalRight,” among other subjects. Prerequisite:TH 1000. (THII)TH 4300. Contemporary TheologicalControversies (3)A study of selected theological disputes of recentdecades, with special emphasis on those confrontingAmerican Christianity. Special attention isgiven to those debates which concern fundamentalChristian beliefs. Students are encouraged toresearch disputes of special interest to them. Prerequisite:TH 1000. (THII)TH 4320. Endtime Prophets: Apocalypticand Millennial Movements in America (3)A study of the nature, history, and role of apocalypticand millennial movements in America. Millennialmovements, drawing from the last bookof the Bible, interpret history through the gridof an expected thousand-year reign of Christ onearth. This course introduces students to the rootsof apocalypticism in Jewish and early Christianthought, the triumph of history over apocalypticismin the Church of the Middle Ages (with significantexceptions such as Joachim of Fiore), and examplesof apocalypticism in America from the Milleritesof the 19th century to the Branch Davidians oftoday. Special attention is given to understandingthe social and psychological functions performed bymillennial movements and apocalyptic speech, thehermeneutics used to interpret the Bible in thesemovements, and the central ideas in their endtimeprophecies. Prerequisite: TH 1000. (THII)TH 4330. Christianity and Women (3)A study of the history of women in Christianitywith special attention to Christian views of thenature of women and of the “appropriate” rolesof women in churches and in society. The coursealso explores the response of recent feminist theologyto these traditional views of women and theirroles as well as recent feminist interpretations ofbasic Christian doctrines. Prerequisite: TH 1000.(THII)TH 4340. Eastern Christianity: Orthodoxyand Catholicism (3)This course explores the form of Christianitywhich is neither Roman (Western) Catholic norProtestant, commonly known as Eastern Orthodoxyalong with Eastern Catholicism, i.e., Christianityrooted in the Middle East, Eastern Europe,Africa, and Asia. Situated in historical and culturalcontext, “Eastern” theology, spirituality, andchurch organization is studied for its distinctiveexpression of the Christian faith. This enables oneto appreciate Eastern Christianity’s various contributionsto theology and world history. The Orthodoxexperience in America and in the ecumenicalarena is likewise examined. Particular attention isgiven to the Eastern Catholic Churches in com-munion with Rome and their relationship to theOrthodox Churches (not in communion withRome). Prerequisite: TH 1000. (THII)TH 4350. Theology, Morality andHealth Care (3)This course explores the interrelationships betweentheology, morality, and contemporary health care.In addition to methodically examining moral issuesin health care, this course emphasizes the foundationalroles which theology plays in engenderingmoral vision, the development of character, behavior,and formal arguments related to contemporarydebates within and about health care. Prerequisite:TH 1000, junior standing in four-year nursingprogram, candidacy in accelerated nursing program,or instructor approval. (THII)TH 4444. Feminine Face of God (3)This course explores the use of feminine images forGod throughout the centuries within mainstreamChristianity—Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant.Students will study the historical and contemporarytheological issues regarding gender languageand conceptualizations about God. Prerequisite:TH 1000 or TH 1050. (THII)TH 4450. World Religions (3)An introduction to the beliefs and practices offour major world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism,Judaism, and Islam—through a study oftheir scriptures and history. The class concentrateson each religion’s views of the Transcendent andof the nature and destiny of the human person.Students read selections from the scriptures andwritings of major thinkers in each tradition. Astudy of the major events in the history of eachreligion serves as background for a consideration ofits contemporary beliefs and practices. Prerequisite:TH 1000. (THII)TH 4777. Religious Utopian Communesin America (3)A study of the nature, history, beliefs, and practicesof religious utopian communes in America fromthe nineteenth century to the present. Prerequisite:TH 1000. (THII)TH 4888. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (3)Paul’s Letter to the Romans is central to understandingPaul and the early communities of believersin Jesus Christ in their first-century historicalcontext, as well as to interpreting Paul’s theology.This course will focus on a close historical-criticalreading of the text, including investigation ofRoman, Greek, Jewish, and Christian historicaland cultural factors, why Paul wrote this letterand intended to travel to Rome, the historical,rhetorical, and theological messages that arise inPaul’s arguments, and the interpretive traditions,and implications of the various choices maintainedby them. Students will also be introducedto the newer perspectives on Paul that are challenginglong-held views and advancing respectfulinter-faith dialogue and interaction. Prerequisite:TH 1000. (THII)