Fall 2023 Course Descriptions

SEMESTER: Fall 2023 

COURSE TITLE: Foundations of New Testament Theology 

COURSE NUMBER/SECTION:   THST 6010.01  

TIMES/DAYS: T 4:30pm-7:00pm - Hybrid

INSTRUCTOR: Roy Fisher

COURSE DESCRIPTION/PRINCIPAL TOPICS

This graduate-level seminar style course examines the foundations of New Testament Theology. It is designed to introduce students to: (1) the historical-critical analysis of the New Testament as an entrée to a more textured understanding of the political, historical, social, cultural, and theological/pastoral dimensions of the texts; (2) the role social-location plays in both the historical and contemporary interpretation of texts (history of interpretation). As a result, students will consider their individual (private) and community’s (public) engagement of the New Testament (texts reading texts) in the processing and actualization of biblical interpretations (“scripturalization”). Throughout the course we will repeatedly engage the work of Native American scholars and theologians as a way of decolonizing both the texts we are reading as well as our own scholarly practices. These Native American interlocutors will help us think more holistically about questions such as: What kind of literature are we reading? For what communities were these texts written? When and why were they written? What are the texts doing and how are they functioning? How might the use of a particular theory or methodology impact/shape/influence what we see in the text? And, finally, what does any of this have to do with theology today? 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Through their exposure and immersion into both text and textures of New Testament and biblical interpretation, students: 

1. Will have gained a more complex understanding of the basic contours of the New Testament, including a general understanding of its literary diversity and textual complexities. 
2. Will have considered how New Testament texts might have been significant to their first-century communities. 
3. Will have begun to assess how culture, race, gender, sexual-orientation, class, and ethnicity impact theological reflection; and the social implications and/or ramifications for constructed interpretive practices.  
4. Will be further empowered to conduct critical research and write intelligently, ethically, and persuasively on both New Testament and biblical interpretation as socially conditioned and located readers.  
5. Will be able to identify significant contextual events leading up to, and contemporaneous with, the New Testament (aka the Second Temple period) and why these events are significant for properly understanding the New Testament. 
6. Will better understand how Biblical Studies as an academic subject that incorporates literary analysis, historical analysis (esp. archaeology, and reading ancient texts) including sociological, anthropological, political, and economic analysis – all in addition to the Bible as a document of religious interest. 
7. Will have considered how New Testament thought can be a source of important theological concepts informing contemporary Faith and Practice; including how to think critically and reflectively about the ways in which the New Testament continues to influence contemporary culture. 

PREREQUISITES/RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND

None.

REQUIRED TEXTS

• Schneiders, Sandra M. The Revelatory Text: Interpreting The New Testament as Sacred Scripture. Liturgical Press, 1999. ISBN 9780814659434. Available a free e-book via the LMU Library https://linus.lmu.edu/record=b2691011~S1  
• Additional resources/links posted on Brightspace. 

COURSE WORK/EXPECTATIONS

This is a hybrid course that meets once each week for 2.5 hours, either in-person or synchronously online. In addition to our schedule class meetings, participants will be watching several films and utilizing online learning platforms like the discussion board on BrightSpace. Methods of instruction will be multidisciplinary combining various media, lecture, sacred texts in translation, academic analysis, and class discussion of the assigned course materials. Given that this is a seminar style course, lectures by the professor will be minimal. Collaborative discussion, guided by the assigned materials (lectures, readings, films, web-resources, etc.) will constitute our primary experiential in-class activity. Students will engage in analysis of the multidisciplinary course content through class discussion, independent research, and reflective practices. This means that you MUST attend and actively participate in ALL scheduled class sessions (in-person AND online) as well as Brightspace assignments in order to successfully pass the course. 

At Loyola Marymount University, for each hour of scheduled class time per week, there is an expectation of at least 2 hours of outside work by each student per week. Using this ratio, class participants are expected to spend an average of 5 hours outside of class per week on class-related learning activities. This includes, but is not limited to: assigned reading, preparation for class, online discussions, projects, and exams. As a graduate level course this is a reading intensive course! Furthermore, it’s a class about a collection of books (aka the New Testament) so plan for extensive reading assignments EVERY week. 

SEMESTER: Fall 2023

COURSE TITLE: Christology

COURSE NUMBER/SECTION: THST 6031.01

TIMES/DAYS: M 4:30-7:00pm

INSTRUCTOR: Nancy Pineda-Madrid 

COURSE DESCRIPTION/PRINCIPAL TOPICS

This course seeks to clarify what it means to confess that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, and why this is a significant claim. With this purpose in mind, the course surveys the origins and development of three fundamental approaches to Christology: (1) the historical Jesus, (2) Jesus as Savior, and (3) the divine and human natures of Jesus.  Accordingly, the course examines the New Testament, the early councils of the Church, the writings of early and medieval Christian theologians, the teachings of the Church and the contributions of contemporary theologians. Throughout this course two main questions will be addressed: Who is Jesus? and How does Jesus save us?   

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, students will have . . .  

1. Examined the development of theological reflection upon Jesus as he is portrayed in the Christian Scriptures, and as he has been interpreted over the course of the Christian Tradition 
2. Developed a basic sense of the teachings of the Church which deal with Christology. 
3. Grown in appreciation for the ways Christological (and Soteriological) insights and claims grow out of a particular social world (i.e., political, economic, gendered, etc.) 
4. Developed skills in identifying and reflecting upon a theological issue in light of both its historical Church setting and its import for the Church today (i.e., pastoral concerns and implications). 

PREREQUISITES/RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND

One graduate course in theology and one graduate course in scripture.

REQUIRED TEXTS

• Norris, Richard A.  The Christological Controversy.  Philadelphia:  Fortress Press, 1980. ISBN# 0-8006-1411-9 
• O’Collins, Gerald.  Christology:  A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Study of Jesus.  Second edition.  New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.   ISBN# 978-0-19-955787-5 
• Theissen, Gerd.  The Shadow of the Galilean.  Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2007.  ISBN# 978-0-8006- 3900-6 
• The Bible (any translation recognized by the scholarly community; no paraphrased translations; the preferable translation is the New Revised Standard Version.) 

COURSE WORK/EXPECTATIONS

Active Participation & Discussion 15%  

Two Papers 60%  

Take Home Final Exam 25% 

SEMESTER: Fall 2023

COURSE TITLE:  Spiritual Formation for Pastoral Ministry

COURSE NUMBER/SECTION: THST 6074.01

TIMES/DAYS: T 7:20pm-9:50pm - Hybrid Course

INSTRUCTOR: Douglas Christie

COURSE DESCRIPTION/PRINCIPAL TOPICS

In this course, we will consider what it means, in the context of Christian spiritual formation,
to follow a path or embark upon an itinerary and how one’s commitment to this work can inform and
deepen the work of pastoral ministry. The invitation to walk a path often points to a practice of simply
putting one foot in front of the other: pilgrimage, the journey to a destination of great importance.
But ‘walking a path’ can also refer to a way of life, a spiritual practice, and a way of understanding
what it means to live deeply in relation to God, others and the world. We will consider how these
ideas can help in the cultivation of a spiritually informed approach to pastoral ministry.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Students will gain an understanding of the historical development of Christian spiritual formation, including some of the key ways of conceiving of the idea of a “spiritual itinerary.”

2. Students will gain an understanding of the varied prayer practices that have been central to the Christian spiritual tradition and how such practices inform interpersonal and social engagement and the work of pastoral ministry. 

3. Students will gain an understanding of how the practice of discernment can inform both personal and pastoral dimensions of decision making. 

4. Students will gain an understanding of the complex social reality underlying Christian spiritual formation, especially as it relates to matters of race, ethnicity and gender. 

PREREQUISITES/RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND 

None.

REQUIRED TEXTS

• Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land (Oxford).  
• Augustine, The Confessions (Modern Library).  
• Teresa of Avila, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, Vol. 2 (ICS Publications).  
• Elizabeth Liebert, The Way of Discernment: Spiritual Practices for Decision Making (Westminster John Knox).  
• Gustavo Gutierrez, We Drink From Our Own Wells: The Spiritual Journey of a People (Orbis). 

Work expectations:

1. Regular class participation. 
2. Weekly Discussion Posts on the Main Readings for the Course 
3. A Mid-Term Essay  
4. A Final Term Paper 

SEMESTER: Fall 2023

COURSE TITLE: Comparative Mysticism

COURSE NUMBER/SECTION: THST 6082 / YGST 6082

TIMES/DAYS: M 4:30-7:00pm - In-person

INSTRUCTOR: Christopher Key Chapple

COURSE DESCRIPTION/PRINCIPAL TOPICS

In this class we will explore the inner or mystical life as articulated in the life and practice of various religious traditions.  We will begin with a study of Tongva indigenous California culture and the study and practice of elemental meditation techniques from India. We will then turn to two womanist classics: Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill and Patterns of Culture by Ruth Benedict. We will also explore June Singer’s explication of the key ideas of Carl Jung.  We will then examine the emerging field of contemplative Christian ecology as well as Jewish and Islamic mystical traditions. Yoga and mysticism will be examined through the writings of 20th century philosopher Sri Aurobindo.  We will conclude the course with an exploration of music and mysticism.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will be familiar with the psychological approaches to religious experience .Students will learn the principles and practices of mystical theology from the Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Yoga traditions.  They will be versant with primary figures. They will also be able to write about and discuss this topic. 

REQUIRED TEXTS

• Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism 
• June Singer, Boundaries of the Soul: The Practice of Jung’s Psychology 
• Christopher Chapple, Living Landscapes (unlimited e-book on order) (proofs posted) 
• Louis Cozolino, Why Therapy Works: Using Our Minds to Change Our Brai 
• Douglas Christie, The Blue Sapphire of the Mind https://linus.lmu.edu/record=b2631168~S1 
• Anne Marie Schimmel, Mystical Dimensions of Islam https://linus.lmu.edu/record=b4157146~S1 
• Debashish Banerji, Seven Quartets of Becoming: A Transformative Yoga Psychology Based on the Diaries of Sri Aurobindo 

COURSE WORK/EXPECTATIONS

Class participation. Summary paper and presentation of one assigned reading. Final research paper on a topic to be chosen in consultation with the professor of 15 to 20 pages. 

SEMESTER: Fall 2023

COURSE TITLE: Graduate Pro-seminar

COURSE NUMBER/SECTION: THST 6090-01

TIMES/DAYS: M 4:30-7:00pm - Hybrid                                                                                  

INSTRUCTOR: Brett C. Hoover

COURSE DESCRIPTION/PRINCIPAL TOPICS

Christian theology is disciplined reasoning through the questions raised by human beings as a result of their relationship with God in Jesus Christ. Studying theology is neither catechesis (formation in Christian faith) nor apologetics (defending Christian faith). It means joining an ongoing historical dialogue (occasionally an argument) that Christians call tradition, analyzing and critiquing how and why diverse Christians from the past and present have expressed their relationship to God as they have, but also continuing to seek adequate ways to do so today. This course will also explore some of the foundations of religious studies, that is, the discipline that considers religious traditions irrespective of one’s personal faith commitments. In short, the proseminar course prepares students for further graduate study in Theological Studies. It introduces some of the vocabulary, background knowledge, methodologies, and skills necessary for such study, including theological reading, research, and writing. The seminar includes input and exercises that will expose students to the basic subfields of theology (including biblical studies, historical theology, ethics, systematic or constructive theology, pastoral theology, liturgy, spirituality, and comparative theology). Students will explore methodological questions and procedures appropriate to each.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will be able to...

• Say what Christian theology is and demonstrate the foundational mechanics of theological study at the graduate level (critical reading and writing, attention to context, research and citation);
• Understand theological arguments, offering analysis and critique, learning to make their own theological arguments;
• Define and use the disciplinary vocabulary of Christian theology and religious studies;
• Recognize and interpret how theological ideas, practices, and methodologies occur in response to the questions and challenges of different historical eras and different cultures.
• Responsibly read the primary sources of theological study, including historical texts as well another “reports” from daily Christian life (e.g., liturgical practice, popular religion, and art), learning to honor the original context for these sources but also to connect them to contemporary theological questions, practices, and commitments;
• Understand and make critical use of vocabulary and central ideas from different sub-disciplines of Christian theology.

PREREQUISITES/RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND

None.

REQUIRED TEXTS

• Gonzalez, Justo L. Essential Theological Terms. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox, 2005.
• Johnson, Elizabeth A. Creation and the Cross: The Mercy of God for a Planet in Peril. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2018.
• Rausch, Thomas. I Believe in God: A Reflection on The Apostles Creed. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2008.
• Yaghjian, Lucretia B. Writing Theology Well: A Rhetoric for Theological and Biblical Writers. (New York: Continuum, 2006).                                                                                                                 

COURSE WORK

Expectations for this class include argument summary papers, glossary contributions, reading response blog, oral presentations in class, primary source analysis, midterm exam, and a book review.  

SEMESTER: Fall 2023 

COURSE TITLE: Comprehensive Exam Seminar 

COURSE NUMBER/SECTION: THST 6092.01

TIMES/DAYS: W 7:20pm-9:50pm - Hybrid

INSTRUCTOR: Tracy Tiemeier

COURSE DESCRIPTION/PRINCIPAL TOPICS

This is the required comprehensive exam seminar for all MA in Theology students. While drawing on students’ previous course work, the seminar also requires students to study additional sources that will help them integrate their theological education. The comprehensive exams are administered as a part of the course requirements (primarily, though not exclusively--see course work/expectations below) through seven (7) assessments targeting the MA in Theology program learning outcomes (see student learning outcomes below). Assessment prompts will be given to students before the beginning of the semester so students can plan for the semester, and essay responses can be drawn from work completed in other courses. This course has a hybrid format where some classes will meet on campus in person and other classes will meet online through Zoom. 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Perform biblical exegesis with attention to historical contexts, the history of interpretation, and contemporary theological developments;
2. Engage in critical reflection on major theological themes, including the ability to articulate different perspectives and place them in dialogue, and the ability to engage such themes in real world contexts;
3. Perform critical historical analysis, reading and interpreting primary sources of theology in their broader context;
4. Situate contemporary theological developments in light of historical trajectories;
5. Interpret the work of seminal thinkers in Christian ethics and analyze contemporary moral problems;
6. Discern accurate and credible knowledge about diverse religious traditions and expressions;
7. Engage the question of the theological significance of religious diversity;
8. Articulate multiple methods in theological studies and apply them in appropriate scholarly ways and contexts;
9. Engage critically with the Roman Catholic intellectual tradition, appreciating the internal diversity within Roman Catholic and wider Christian traditions, and articulating how an encounter with the Roman Catholic intellectual tradition enhances engagement with one’s own religious perspectives. 

PREREQUISITES/RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND

36 units of course work completed.  

Students with at least 30 units may petition the Graduate Curriculum Committee for permission to enroll. 

REQUIRED TEXTS

[ALL TEXTS ARE AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH THE LMU LIBRARY] 

• Confessions (Oxford World’s Classics).
• Shawn Copeland. Knowing Christ Crucified: The Witness of African American Religious Experience.
• Gustavo Gutiérrez. On Job: God-talk and the Suffering of the Innocent.  
• Elizabeth A. Johnson. Ask the Beasts: Darwin and the God of Love.  
• Clara Sue Kidwell, Homer Noley, George E. “Tink” Tinker. A Native American Theology.  
• Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, SJ. Religion and Faith in Africa: Confessions of an Animist.  
• Peter C. Phan. The Joy of Religious Pluralism: A Personal Journey.  
• Karl Rahner, SJ. The Trinity.  

COURSE WORK/EXPECTATIONS

Bibliography Reading and Seminar Discussion (20%) 

7 Theological Assessments (70%) 

Thesis Proposal (10%)