Summer 2015 Course Descriptions

SUMMER SESSION I

COURSE TITLE: The Gospel of John

COURSE NUMBER: THST 698

SECTION TIMES/DAYS: Summer Session 1 MW 4-7pm

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Jeffrey S. Siker

COURSE DESCRIPTION/PRINCIPAL TOPICS

In this course we will examine historical, literary, theological, and ideological aspects of the Gospel of John. We will also consider the place of the Gospel of John in the history of interpretation. The class will include a variety of approaches to John – as a crucible reflecting the difficult division between earliest Christianity & Judaism, as the locus of theological and spiritual reflection on the person of Jesus, as a complex literary work of faith, as a very different reading of Jesus from the Synoptic Gospels, and as perhaps the most influential Gospel in the history of interpretation.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

As a result of this course, students will:

Know the Gospel of John inside and out
Know significant streams of secondary scholarship on John
Be able to engage in critical exegetical analysis of the Gospel
Be able to interact constructively with views from other scholars/students with different perspectives
Value the Gospel of John as a profound statement of theology and spirituality
Value an interpretive process that encourages questioning and reflecting on the primary text

PREREQUISITES/RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND

THST 600 (Foundations of NT Theology) or THST 603 (Foundations of OT Theology) is recommended.

REQUIRED TEXTS

Craig Koester, The Word of Life: A Theology of John’s Gospel (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008)

Francis Maloney, The Gospel of John (Sacra Pagina Series; Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1998)

Sandra Schneiders, Written that You May Believe: Encountering Jesus in the Fourth Gospel, rev. ed.

(Crossroad, 2003)

COURSE WORK/EXPECTATIONS

Regular reflection papers
Seminar presentations
2 exegetical papers
class discussion
final paper

COURSE TITLE: Buddhism

COURSE NUMBER/SECTION: THST 698.2

TIMES/DAYS: MW 4:00-7:00 pm

INSTRUCTOR: John Casey

CORE AREA: n/a

FLAGGED: n/a

COURSE DESCRIPTION/PRINCIPAL TOPICS

TBD: Please contact Dr. Chris Chapple, christopher.chapple@lmu.edu for more information.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

TBD

PREREQUISITES/RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND

REQUIRED TEXTS

TBD

COURSE WORK/EXPECTATIONS

TBD

COURSE TITLE: Bible and The Blues

COURSE NUMBER/SECTION: THST 698.3

TIMES/DAYS: TBD (Off Site)

INSTRUCTOR: Daniel Smith-Christopher

CORE AREA: n/a

FLAGGED: n/a

COURSE DESCRIPTION/PRINCIPAL TOPICS

TBD: Please contact Dr. Daniel Smith-Christopher, daniel.smith-christopher@lmu.edu for more information.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

TBD

PREREQUISITES/RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND

REQUIRED TEXTS

TBD

COURSE WORK/EXPECTATIONS

TBD

SUMMER SESSION II

Jaina Yoga YGST 641 / Jainism and Buddhism THST 613

Summer Session II, 2015

Professor Christopher Key Chapple

Jainism developed more than 2500 years ago on the Indian subcontinent. Jainism is best known for its emphasis on the practice of nonviolence and its related bio-cosmographical theories. In this course we will learn the basic principles and practices of the Jaina faith and how they intersect with Yoga traditions and Buddhism. This course will take place in India and include travel to significant religious sites.

Learning outcomes:

Students will become familiar with core Jaina teachings on karma, the soul, devotional practices, and meditation techniques. They will know the key historical phases of Jainism and how Jainism adapted the ideas of Yoga throughout.

Course Requirements:

Students will read both primary and secondary materials on Jainism. Students will reside in India during this course and can expect to attend a three hour lecture each morning at the Vallabh Jain Mandir in Alipur, North Delhi. Midway in the course we will take up the same schedule at the Jain Study Center adjacent to Central Park in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Each day the student will complete a one to two page paper on the day’s reading and lecture as well as keep a daily journal.

Required books:

Jaina Sutras, Part One, Jacobi

Nonviolence to Animals, Earth, and Self in Asian Traditions, Chapple

Reconciling Yogas, Yogadṛṣṭisamuccaya, Chapple

That Which Is: Tattvārtha Sūtra, Tatia

Yogaśāstra, Quarnstrom

Absent Lord: Ascetics and Kings in a Jain Ritual Culture, Babb

Note: This course will take place in India from July 2 until July 21, 2015.

COURSE TITLE: Catholic Health Care Ethics

COURSE NUMBER/SECTION: THST 698.1

TIMES/DAYS: TR 4:00-7:00

INSTRUCTOR: Roberto Dell’Oro

CORE AREA: n/a

FLAGGED: n/a

COURSE DESCRIPTION/PRINCIPAL TOPICS

TBD: Please contact the professor Roberto Dell’Oro, roberto.dell’oro@lmu.edu for more information.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

TBD

PREREQUISITES/RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND

REQUIRED TEXTS

TBD

COURSE WORK/EXPECTATIONS

TBD

COURSE TITLE: Scripture & the Maori in New Zealand

COURSE NUMBER/SECTION: THST 698.3

TIMES/DAYS: TBD (Study Abroad)

INSTRUCTOR: Daniel Smith-Christopher

CORE AREA: n/a

FLAGGED: n/a

COURSE DESCRIPTION/PRINCIPAL TOPICS

TBD: Please contact the professor Daniel Smith-Christopher, daniel.smith-christopher@lmu.edu. for more information.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

TBD

PREREQUISITES/RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND

REQUIRED TEXTS

TBD

COURSE WORK/EXPECTATIONS

TBD