FALL 2012

TH116/PL116 Medieval Religions & Thought
The medieval world of philosophy and theology was a multicultural world: Arabian, Jewish, and Christian thinkers from the three great religious traditions adopted, adapted, and shared the philosophical riches of the classical world and the religious resources of the biblical heritage. This course introduces students to the great Arabian thinkers: Alfarabi, Avicenna, Algazel, and Averroes, the respected Jewish authors: Saadiah Gaon, Moses Maimonides, and Gersonides, and the famous Christian writers: Anselm, Bonaventure, and Thomas Aquinas, and the intellectual challenges from the Greek intellectual world that they met and faced in the Middle Ages. (Stephen F. Brown)

TH161 Religious Quest: Judaism and Christianity
This course explores Judaism and Christianity through their points of apparent contact as well as their differences. The fall semester focuses on Exodus and Matthew and their functions as the "master stories" of their communities, shaping self-understandings and ritual lives. The spring semester delves into the creation narratives of Genesis, studying the two communities' interpretations of the biblical text and how it and its interpretations shape people's lives. It considers such topics as birth and death, marriage and reproductive ethics, ecology, economic justice, and the Sabbath. (Ruth Langer, Rifat Sonsino)

TH 352 Israelis and Palestinians: Two Peoples, Three Faiths
In 1993, the parties in the Middle Eastern Conflict came to a watershed agreement, which had eluded them earlier, to recognize one another's legitimacy as peoples. The agreement has been difficult to maintain and to withdraw and has figured massively into the turbulent events in the region since that time. This course examines how, in the whole history of the conflict, the elements of ethnicity and faith have contributed to the hatreds and resentments of these peoples and the extent to which mutual acceptance and respect at these levels of faith and ethnicity can contribute to healing the conflict. (Raymond Helmick, SJ)

TH 446 David: The Hebrew Bible and History
The complex biblical account of King David's royal accomplishments and private failings have increasingly aroused skepticism among biblical scholars. In what sense may the biblical account be considered reliable? How do theological interests and narrative artistry affect historiography? The course will focus on David and Solomon, contemporary non-biblical records, archaeological evidence, and the image of David provided in other biblical texts. Modern methods of biblical scholarship will guide the inquiry, but attention will also be given to the philosophy of history. (David Vanderhooft)

TH 449 Jewish Liturgy: History and Theology
Embedded in rabbinic prayer is a concise statement of Jewish theology. After an examination of the precursors of rabbinic prayer and of the development of the synagogue as an institution, this course will examine the structures and ideas of the prayers themselves as they have been received from the medieval world. This will create a context for a deeper discussion of some key Jewish theological concepts as well as a comparison of Jewish and Christian liturgical traditions. (Ruth Langer)

TH 482/HP 259/HS 460 Hitler, the Churches, and the Holocaust
This course will examine the antisemitism and nationalism that weakened the churches' response to Hitler's policies. It will also analyze the theological and institutional resistance that emerged in response to totalitarianism and to the Holocaust and consider the post-Holocaust paradigm shift in theology. (Donald J. Dietrich)

TH 572 Intermediate Biblical Hebrew
This course begins with a refresher of the basic grammar learned in Introduction to Biblical Hebrew I and II. Students will deepen their familiarity with Hebrew grammar and syntax. Strong emphasis is placed on reading and translating narrative selections directly from the Hebrew Bible. Texts for study will include passages from Genesis, Samuel, Jonah, and Ruth, among others. (David Vanderhooft)

TH 582 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew I
This course is a thorough introduction to Biblical Hebrew and its principal grammatical structures in preparation for translation of prose and poetic texts. Readings in the Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament begin the fall semester and increase in variety throughout the year. (Yonder Gillihan)

SPRING 2013

TH 082 Continuing Hebrew II
This course is a continuation of Modern Hebrew I and introduces the student to Modern Spoken Hebrew. (Gil Chalamish)

TH 162 The Religious Quest: Comparative Perspectives II
This course explores Judaism and Christianity through their points of apparent contact as well as their differences. The spring semester delves into the creation narratives of Genesis, studying the two communities' interpretations of the biblical text and how it and its interpretations shape people's lives. It considers such topics as birth and death, marriage and reproductive ethics, ecology, economic justice, and the Sabbath. (Ruth Langer, Rifat Sonsino)

TH 485/TM 485 From Diatribe to Dialogue: Studies in the Jewish-Christian Encounter
Christians and Jews, living together, have never ignored one another. Only in our times have these encounters begun to include positive affirmations of the other. To provide the student with a background for the contemporary situation, this course will explore various theological facets of the Jewish-Christian encounter, from the diatribes of earliest Christianity through the medieval disputations, concluding with the contemporary dialogue. Readings will be drawn from Jewish and Christian primary sources in translation. (Ruth Langer and Charles Gallagher)

TH 573 Intermediate Biblical Hebrew II
This course builds on the grammar and syntax learned in Intermediate Biblical Hebrew I. Students will develop more sophisticated knowledge of Hebrew grammar and syntax and refine their ability to read Hebrew prose narratives in the first part of the course. In the second part, students will be introduced to Hebrew poetry. Selections from the Psalms and Prophets will dominate course readings. (David Vanderhooft)

TH 583/SL 092 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew II
This course is a thorough introduction to Biblical Hebrew and its principal grammatical structures in preparation for translation of prose and poetic texts. Readings in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament increase in variety throughout the semester. (Jeffrey Cooley)

TH 655 The Book of Psalms in Jewish and Christian Tradition.
Hebrew and/or Latin is recommended but not required for this course on the Book of Psalms. (Theodore Perry)