Theology and Religious Studies
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grounds of faith and will learn how and why a concern for social, economic and political justice is rooted not only in Theology and the Christian Gospel but also in fundamental Christian doctrines and liturgical practices. Religious Studies Variable Core: Religious Difference - 1 course Professors: Clark, S.J., Cunningham, Genovesi, S.J. This course will require students to gain a critical (Emeritus), Madges, Wells understanding of one or more religious worldviews that Associate Professor: Caccamo (Chair), Feske, Carpenter, differ from the Roman Catholic perspective. Students will Kerkeslager, Krahmer, Tripole, S.J. (Emeritus), Yazicioglu engage in either in-depth study of the beliefs and practices Assistant Professors: Finnegan, S.J. (Emeritus), Gregerman, of one or more non-Christian religious traditions or take a Jacobitz, Oxx, Sammon comparative religions course that in some measure addresses the issue of religious diversity. This course will Lecturers: Bloch-Smith, Carasik, Calvanese, Cleveland, also address issues related to the construction of religious Conway, Fisher, Fleming, Fodde-Requer, Giannella, Ingiosi, identity in today's pluralistic world. Iser, Johnston, Joyce, S.J., Klose, Lombardi, Mermer, Ochasi, Students will be able to: Ortale, Pigott, Rickards, Sheibley, Sensenig, Sheikh, Wilcox ñ Identify some of the general features typical of Department Mission Statement many religions, such as conceptions of deity, The Department of Theology and Religious Studies is transmission of traditions, religious community, committed to a rigorous presentation of the methods and ritual practice, religious experience, and ethical content of both Christian Theology and Religious Studies norms. as academic disciplines. We view these combined ñ Recognize and discuss examples of the impact of disciplines as an important component within the liberal historical, socio-political, and cultural contexts on arts curriculum of a Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit the teachings, sacred texts and/or material culture, tradition. We strive to engage ourselves and our students and other manifestations over time of at least one in the critical study of theological and religious traditions, non-Christian religious tradition. praxis, and intellectual inquiry, both historically and in the ñ Articulate how some of the categories of the contemporary world. discipline of Religious Studies outlined in the In pursuit of this mission, the department recognizes three previous points are expressed in at least one non- primary goals: Christian religion. ñ Discuss some of the implications of living in a ñ Provide students with an understanding of the religiously diverse world. foundations of Christian faith and its implications for life in society, especially within the Roman Catholic tradition; Some Typical Religious Difference courses include: ñ Instill in students a capacity for the examination of THE 211 The Hebrew Bible theological and religious traditions from a critical THE 336 Jews and Christians: Entwined distance; Histories (when Team-taught) ñ Foster in students and professional colleagues an THE 380 Interreligious Dialogue appreciation for the diversity that exists within the THE 384 Jews and Christians: Theologies contemporary, scholarly study of theology and Compared (when Team-taught) religion and within the department’s faculty and THE 385 Jewish Jesus As Savior (when Team-taught) their research endeavors. REL 101 Comparative Religion REL 211 Hebrew Bible REL 212 Israelite Religion Theology and Religious Studies in the GEP REL 231 Judaism All students must successfully complete the Signature Core REL 241 Islam course, "Faith, Justice and the Catholic Tradition," as well as REL 261 Hinduism any one of a number of courses signified as Religious REL 270 Designated Special Topics in Religious Difference courses. Studies REL 271 African and Caribbean Religions Signature Core: REL 338 Jewish & Christian Responses to the THE 154 Faith, Justice and the Catholic Tradition Holocaust This course is designed to introduce students to central REL 351 Indian Buddhism theological themes (such as the doctrines of Christ, the REL 352 Mahayana Buddhism human person, sin/grace/salvation, and the sacraments) REL 356 Death and the Afterlife in Chinese and moral claims (such as the preferential option for the Religions poor, solidarity, and the common good) typical of the REL 357 Food Practices and Chinese Religions REL383 Ancient Greek Religions Roman Catholic Tradition. Through a critical examination of primary texts, students will investigate the historic Our Majors Objective 1.1: Students will articulate the foundations, The Theology and Religious Studies Department offers two historical development, and ethical ramifications of the majors which are distinguished by virtue of both their basic content of the Catholic faith using sources and primary content and their methodological approach. methods appropriate to the discipline of Theology. Students may choose one of these majors in conjunction with their other studies, or they may double major within Objective 1.2: Students will articulate how the basic the department and get a degree in Theology and content of the Catholic faith relates to that found in other Religious Studies. Christian and non-Christian traditions. Theology majors will focus primarily on Christianity. Goal 2: Students will understand the implications of Theology, which literally means the "study of God," was religious belief for moral decision making and ethical described by Anselm of Canterbury as "faith seeking action in the world; understanding." It entails methodical study of the faith traditions of a believing community. Christian Theology Objective 2.1: Students will demonstrate the theological employs the methods of its sub-fields (e.g., systematic and basis for the promotion of justice and solidarity with the historical theology, ethics, biblical studies) to explore the poor and oppressed. bible, Jesus Christ, the church, tradition history, doctrinal development, liturgy, personal and communal morality, Goal 3: Students will be able to examine theological and and relations with other religions. It is not catechesis, which religious traditions from a critical distance; transmits knowledge about a religion to a believer without critically analyzing the tradition’s beliefs. Theology requires Objective 3.1: Students will analyze biblical, creedal, a process of grappling with and critically examining liturgical, and theological texts according to their particular particular expressions of faith in order to articulate them in literary genres and historical contexts. contemporary contexts. In other words, theology seeks to address the "fears, hopes, griefs, and anxieties" (Second Goal 4: Students will appreciate the diversity of method, Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes, no. 1) of church and content, and history that exists within the contemporary world in the present moment. As a discipline, theology academic disciplines of Theology and Religious Studies converses with the academy, the church, and society. The theology faculty and their students at Saint Joseph’s Objective 4.1: Students will utilize effective methods of University aim to assist each of these communities in research and argumentation within the multidisciplinary appreciating the meaning and implications of the tenets context of the academic study of theology and religion. and practices of Roman Catholic and other Christian traditions, as well as those of other religions. Religious Studies focuses upon the study of one or more Theology Major Program of Study non-Christian religions. Methodologically, Religious GEP Common Courses (See Curricula): six Signature Studies is devoted to the study of religion as a courses fundamental human phenomenon. Its scope is broad, encompassing in principle all forms of religious experience, GEP University Distribution (See Curricula): belief and practice in whatever contexts they are found. Eight Variable Core courses, three integrative learning Religious Studies is non-confessional in the sense that it is courses and three overlay requirements. These latter may not committed in advance to any religious (or indeed, non- or may not require students to take an additional course. religious) worldview or doctrine. Religious Studies as we GEP Non-Native Language understand it neither endorses a naïve objectivism in the No foreign language unique to the department is required. study of "facts" divorced from values nor elevates a single But it is recommended that students consult with their theological, philosophical or scientific principle or program advisors to fulfill the GEP non-native language requirement to the level of an unassailable norm. Rather, Religious with a language relevant to their religious or theological Studies is intentionally eclectic and open-ended, drawing interest. upon the full range of methods available to the academic GEP Integrative learning study of things human, from philosophy or literary theory, Any three complementary courses in the College of Arts for example, to cognitive science and evolutionary and Sciences in departments other than Theology and psychology. It is united only by its subject matter, religion Religious Studies. Students have considerable flexibility in as a fundamental, albeit contested, dimension of human choosing these courses. Students must choose three experience. courses from the following categories, with no more than 2 from any single category: Goals and Objectives for Students