Theology and Religious Studies Course Descriptions

THRS - 100. The Christian Village (4)

The Christian Village explores the central concepts of Christian Theology. Using the lens of teaching, whether as a future parent, a teacher or as a member of the "village" that it takes to raise a "child," we shall consider the following topics: human existence, God, Jesus Christ, and the Church's nature and mission. Offered every semester.

THRS - 104. Mystery of God/Mystery of the Human Person (4)

Using a framework from the Jesuits Karl Rahner and Bernard Lonergan, this course will explore Judeao-Christian narratives as interpreted through the Catholic Christian tradition.

THRS - 106. Introduction to Sacred Scripture (4)

This course is designed to give students the basic tools for understanding the study of Sacred Scripture. Topics to be covered include: the senses of Scripture, the development of the canon, form criticism, historical criticism, and magisterial teaching since Pope Leo XIII on the study of God's word. Cross Listed With: SII - 106

THRS - 195. Freshman Seminar (4)

An interesting introduction to a topic in the field of Theology and Religious Studies. Offered Fall to incoming Freshmen.

THRS - 200. Christian Feminist Theology (4)

The goal of the course is to develop an understanding of how feminist scholarship provides one fruitful means towards reappropriation of central Christian insights about God. The course will create a dialogue between theolgical discourse, that is, critical reflection upon the experience of God, and insights from feminist thought.

THRS - 202. Portraits of Christ: An Introduction to the Four Gospels. (4)

An introduction to the historical-critical method of interpreting the Bible as preparation to read and understand the Word of God in the New Testament, and allow twenty-first century persons to appreciate its meaning and message. Offered every semester.

THRS - 220. Catholic Social Thought (4)

This course provides an in-depth look at Catholic Social Thought as well as movements within the Catholic Church inspired by Catholic Social Thought which engage social issues and moral problems. Ways in which Christian thinkers and activists view Catholic Social Thought as a public calling are addressed. Offered intermittently.

THRS - 256. First Semester Hebrew (5)

Intensive study of grammar, composition, and conversation. Stress on the spoken language. Introduction to Biblical Hebrew. Offered intermittently. Cross Listed With: HBREW - 101

THRS - 257. Second Semester Hebrew (5)

Prerequisite: THEOL - 256. Hebrew II continues Hebrew I and provides instruction in the reading, writing, and speaking of modern Hebrew, with additional attention to Biblical Hebrew. Basic grammar and vocabulary and simple texts and audio materials will be presented. Offered intermittently. Cross Listed With: HBREW - 102

THRS - 260. Sexuality and Scripture (4)

The question of gender, sexuality, and same-sex relationships are of ongoing religious debate as developments in the human sciences and anthropology continue to challenge long-standing interpretations of the Bible on these issues. This course will explore these issues from an historical-critical interpretation of the Bible in order to shed new light on the age-old questions of human sexuality and spirituality.

THRS - 262. Homosexuality and the Bible (4)

The question of gender, homosexuality, and same-sex relationships are of ongoing religious debate as developments in the human sciences and anthropology continue to challenge long standing interpretations of the Bible on these issues. This course will explore these issues from a historical-critical interpretation of the Bible in order to shed new light on the age old questions of human sexuality and spirituality.

THRS - 270. African Theology and Cosmology (4)

This course explores the emergence of contemporary African Theology from the intersection of African indigenous religions and cultures, and Christianity in colonial and post-colonial Africa.

THRS - 280. Migrant and Diaspora Religions (4)

This course explores diverse religious practices of migrant and diaspora communities, analyzing the complex interplay between religion and economic, political, and cultural dimensions of migrant life.

THRS - 305. Feminist Theology from the Third World(s) (4)

This is an examination of the emergence of diverse Christian Feminist Theologies from Africa, Asia and Latin America and their response to economic, political and religious-cultural challenges of the Third World.

THRS - 306. Theology in HIV/AIDS Contexts (4)

This course examines the role of religion in HIV/AIDS contexts and explores theological positions guiding the Church's compassionate response to a world facing this global pandemic.

THRS - 308. Who is Jesus? An Introduction to Christology (4)

Jesus in the various Christologies of the New Testament, in the Christological controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries, and in the writings of key contemporary theologians. Who is Jesus for me today? Jesus in liturgy and prayer. Offered intermittently.

THRS - 309. Special Topics in Scriptures (4)

Courses offered from time to time, topics to be determined.

THRS - 310. Celebrating Sacraments (4)

Christ as the sacrament of the encounter with God; the church as a sacrament of Jesus; the seven formal sacraments as actions of the church. The history of their development, contemporary sacramental issues, ethical and ecumenical dimensions, and future possibilities. Offered yearly.

THRS - 312. Christian Marriage (4)

Marriage as human reality and saving mystery; covenant and sacrament. Relational, psychological, sexual, inter-cultural, religious and financial aspects of marriage: goals, responsibilities, problems. Offered yearly.

THRS - 315. Greek and Roman Religion (4)

An examination of the major religious themes and practices of ancient Greeks and Romans. While we will survey historical developments, our focus will be on the Classical Period for the Greeks and the Imperial Period for the Romans. Special consideration will be given to the relationship between beliefs, rituals and concerns of the state, as well as various reactions to "state religion" by philosophers, practitioners in mystery cults, Jews, and Christians.

Cross Listed With: CLAS - 315

THRS - 318. Religious Nonviolence and the Politics of Interpretation: The Case of Israel and Palestine (4)

This course explores the relationship between politics ad religion through an examination of the phenomenon of religious nonviolence as it manifests among Jews and Muslims living in Israel and Palestine.

THRS - 320. Religion and Culture in Late Antiquity (4)

Seminar which discusses the historical forces that shaped the evolution of Mediterranean society and religion from about 100 to about 500. Focus is on Christianity, but other religious traditions which pre-existed Christianity will also be considered. Offered Fall. Cross Listed With: SII - 203

THRS - 322. Liberation Theology (4)

This course engages with the transcendent biblical concept of justice as an irreversible commitment of God in history as articulated in the prophets, the Gospel of Jesus and emergent in liberation theologies in Latin America, Africa, Asia, in North America responses, in feminist responses, and in ecological knowledge, processes and paradigms. Offered yearly.

THRS - 325. Modern Jewish Thought (3)

An overview of Jewish philosophy and theology since the seventeenth century, including the Jewish Enlightenment and the tradition of German Jewish idealism, the rise of Jewish existentialism, Jewish-Christian theological dialogue, post-Holocaust theology and Jewish feminist thought. Offered intermittently.

THRS - 327. Social Justice, Activism, and Jews (4)

This course examines social justice activism from Jewish and non-Jewish perspectives, in theory and in practice, through an exploration of some of the most important societal issues confronting Americans today: economic justice, racial and ethnic equality, gender equality, sexual orientation equality, and environmental justice. Students will meet with 15-20 Bay Area Jewish activists over the course of the semester.

THRS - 330. Biblical and Spiritual Drama (4)

From the Bible to the English mystery plays and contemporary versions of the Passion, this course will examine both critically and in performance the theological implications of the great stories of the Bible and other spiritual works. Students will be asked to do small performances in class as well as write reflectively and analytically about their reading and viewing assignments. Offered intermittently. Cross Listed With: THETR - 315

THRS - 335. What is Catholicism? (4)

This course serves as a primer for understanding the principal expressions, commitments, and claims of the Catholic faith. This course examines the beliefs and practices that Catholics hold in common with other Christians, as well as those that distinguish Catholics from other Christians, other religions, and the secular world.

THRS - 340. Panamerican Saints: Hagiography and Politics (4)

This course surveys the lives of saints, both Catholic and "popular," to examine how spirituality and political charisma cross-fertilize in social-justice movements. Includes studies of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Che Guevara, Diana of Wales, Archbishop Romero, Rev. Jim Jones. Cross Listed With: LAS - 340

THRS - 345. Religion of U.S. Latinos (4)

This course surveys the religious life of U.S. Latin@ Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical/Pentecostal faith communities. It reviews contemporary theological, literary, and sociological writings to understand the ways Latinos construct their faith life, with special attenion to Chican@ faith and activism, and Latina feminism.

THRS - 360. Sacred Places, Sacred Times (4)

This course will explore several ancient sacred sites, their accompanying religious geographies, and some of the religious practices associated with them (such as pilgrimage) that continue to transmit a sense of mystery and value for contemporary men and women. Offered intermittently.

THRS - 361. Religion and the Environment (4)

Explores the religious underpinnings of contemporary attitudes and practices concerning the environment. Both historical and contemporary understandings of nature as expressed in various religious traditions. Offered intermittently. Cross Listed With: ENVA - 361

THRS - 363. Religion in Latin America (4)

This course will situate religious pluralism in Latin America and the Caribbean within distinct sociocultural, political and economic contexts. A consideration of the roles that faith and belief play in peoples' lives and culture in Latin America. Offered intermittently. Cross Listed With: LAS - 301

THRS - 365. Religion and Globalization (4)

This course emphasizes both the historical foundations of the world's major religious traditions as well as how they have confronted and been shaped by the globalizing forces of modernity. Student research projects will require fieldwork in the Bay Area.

THRS - 366. Religion and Spirituality in Asia (4)

This course explores both historical and contemporary expressions of key religious traditions--Hinduism, Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Shinto, and Christianity--that have helped shape the socio-political development and cultural identities of Asian peoples. Offered every semester.

THRS - 368. Japanese Religion and Society (4)

This course surveys nearly 2000 years of the religious traditions, heritage, and culture of the Japanese people. We will explore key texts, charismatic leaders, and periods of conflict and stability in our goal to understand both historical and contemporary religious and spiritual examples within Japan and abroad.

THRS - 370. Zen Buddhism (4)

Prerequisites: THEOL - 366 or THEOL - 379 or JAPAN - 310. This course examines the origins, teachings, and practices of Zen Buddhism, from ancient China to contemporary East Asia and North America. It emphasizes both academic and participatory understanding of this tradition. Offered intermittently.

THRS - 371. Hinduism (4)

Ancient, classical, medieval, modern and contemporary Hinduism. Offered intermittently.

THRS - 372. Jewish Christian Relationship (4)

A theological survey of Jewish-Christian relations. Focuses on how Jews and Christians have conceptually related to each other symbolically and imaginatively, as well as institutionally and historically. Addresses the Jewish-Christian relationship from Late Antiquity through contemporary times. Topics include such issues as spirituality, human dignity, freedom, morality, responsibility and ritual practices. Offered regularly.

THRS - 373. Introduction to Islam (4)

Introduction to the depth and richness of religious concepts, worship, spiritual practice, and social institutions found in Islam. Offered yearly.

THRS - 376. Jews, Judaisms, and Jewish Identities (4)

This course explores contemporary Jewish communities and the myriad ways to identify as a 'Jew' through an analysis of the historical development of the foundational beliefs, rituals, and cultural expressions of Judaism from the time of the Hebrew Bible through today, paying particular attention to the dominant Jewish Ashkenazi narrative within the greater corpus of Jewish history among non-Ashkenazi Jews. Offered regularly.

THRS - 378. The Jewish Mystical Imagination (4)

Through the reading of biblical, classical and contemporary mystical and kabbalistic texts in translation, we will examine the great themes of the Jewish mystical imagination. Instead of studying the material historically, we shall approach it as a comprehensive, coherent, and evolving theological worldview.

THRS - 379. Buddhist Paths in Asia and North America (4)

This course will tour the centuries as we try to understand the traditions, people, teachings, rituals, cultures, and allure of diverse "Buddhisms" in the world today. Of particular concern will be local Buddhist institutions and their global links to Buddhist communities and traditions, near and far. Offered every other year.

THRS - 384. Religion and Nonviolence (4)

This course for Majors and Minors centers on Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Dorothy Day. Through spiritual autobiographies, critical theories, and fiction the course explores the theme of nonviolence as a political and religious force in the U.S., India, and elsewhere. Offered yearly.

THRS - 388. Religion, Psychology, Modern Literature (4)

A cross-disciplinary exploration into such themes as psychological types and disorders, the caricatures of power and love, the search for identity, authentic religious faith and its counterfeits. The method will be literary criticism, psychological analysis, and theological reflection. Literature will include fiction, essay, autobiography, poetry, and film. Offered intermittently.

THRS - 390. Religious Ethics (4)

Development of one's own ethical position, backed by moral wisdom from the major religious Ways. Special focus on global issues such as peace, human rights, ecology, dissent and conscience, and the ingredients for any sound moral decision. Offered yearly.

THRS - 395. Special Topics (4)

Courses not offered in any regular rotation, but highlighting key issues and concerns.

THRS - 397. Environmental Studies Internship (4)

This internship course assists you in setting up an internship in a nonprofit organization in the San Francisco Bay Area in the fields of theology-religious studies and environmental studies, and is designed to help you and this particular group of students explore issues of spirituality and work. Offered yearly.

THRS - 398. Directed Reading (1-4)

Written permission of the instructor and dean is required.

THRS - 404. Environmental Ethics (4)

Provides an overview of ethical responsibilities for the natural world. The course explores the diverse ethical responses to environmental problems including contemporary philosophical and religious beliefs regarding nature. Offered intermittently. Cross Listed With: ENVA - 404

THRS - 405. Catholic Moral Tradition (4)

Introduction to the Roman Catholic tradition of fundamental moral theology. In addition to an exploration of major themes in moral theology, selected issues in special ethics, especially sexual and medical ethics, will be used to show how the Church applies the fundamental themes of moral theology to practical life situations.

THRS - 470. Contemporary Moral Problems (4)

Using principally Catholic and Protestant approaches, this course reflects philosophically and theologically on a representative spectrum of current moral issues from the areas of sexual ethics, ethics (including gender and reproductive issues), biomedical ethics (including genetics and end-of-life issues), abortion, war and peace, and globalization. Offered Fall.