Syllabi Archive

A course by Alfred Freddoso at the University of Notre Dame is designed " to see in some depth the relation among the main elements of St. Thomas's general moral theory as laid out in the First Part of the Second Part of the Summa Theologiae, viz., the treatises on beatitude, action, passion, habit, virtue, sin, law, and grace, and (b) to explore in more detail certain specific aspects of these treatises." The distinctions between Aquinas' moral theory and deontologism and consequentialism are also discussed.

A 2008 course by Catherine Wessinger at Loyola University New Orleans aims to "understand the ways women's roles in society and religious beliefs are interrelated and affect one another . . . through the historical study of some of the major religions of the world."

A 2011 course by Janet McDaniel at Florida International University surveys "the construction of gender and roles of women in the Hebrew Bible, New Testament and early Christian communities. The course will utilize Feminist Reconstruction methodology by examining the historical, cultural and religious settings of the texts, including their subsequent transmission through Western Civilization into the present."

A 2006 course by Catherine Wessinger at Loyola University New Orleans seeks to understand "in historical terms of the tension between the significant religious opportunities available to women in the Christian tradition, and the subordination of women in Christian institutions. An understanding of the history of women in the Christian tradition will contribute to an understanding of women’s roles in contemporary American society and in American Christian churches."

A 2011 course by Kelley Flannery Rowan at Florida International University explores "the various experiences of women throughout the world’s religious traditions. . . . includes an exploration of the religions and the rules, rituals, and views that have developed concerning women’s lives, bodies, and their acceptable roles in both society and religion. We will look at how women have confronted, ignored, or found alternate paths in which to grow in their spiritual lives . . . ."

A course by Martha Reineke at the University of Northern Iowa explores "from a psychoanalytic perspective the emergence of the capacity for religious belief in children," with particular attention to Freudians, "object relations theorists," and Lacanians.

A 2014 course by Phil Harland at York University "investigates the origins, development and legacies of apocalypticism within Judean culture and early Christianity. . . . . [it] will also survey the legacies of apocalypticism in religious movements, popular culture (including music and film), and artistic representation to the present day."

A 2010 course by Frances Adeney at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary uses "biographies of prominent figures in mission and evangelism . . . [to] learn about calling, motivation, contexts, and purposes of local and global mission." Focus is on "late nineteenth and twentieth century persons from various traditions."