Course
Numbering System
How to read course numbers and descriptions:
The
letter prefixes (such as DM, SC, AM, etc.) that begin the course number
correspond to the area of study as follows:
Degree
Specific Courses/Program Components:
GC
MA
DM
PHD
|
Graduate
Certificate
Master of Arts
Doctor of Ministry
International Ph.D. Program |
Topic
Areas:
AM
DI
ET
HI
LG
RS
SC
TS
TH
WS |
Arts of Ministry
Dialogue
Ethics*
History*
Languages
Religion and Society*
Scripture*
Travel Seminars
Theology*
Spirituality, Liturgy and Worship* |
*These
topic areas are designated as core areas for the Master of Arts program.
(See below for more information.)
The
numbers correspond to the level at which the course is being taught.
- Courses
numbered 500-599 are Master of Arts (M.A.) level courses and are
open to Doctor of Ministry students only with special permission.
- Courses
numbered 600-699 are open to both Master of Arts and Doctor of
Ministry students.
- Courses numbered
700-799 are Doctor of Ministry or Ph.D. courses and are open to Master
of Arts and Graduate Certificate students only with special
permission.
Other
information:
- All
courses are three credits unless otherwise noted in the course
description.
- Courses
are normally offered on a two-year cycle.
- Courses
that fulfill the Master of Arts degree required core areas are
identified in this section of the Catalogue and on the course
schedule for each semester with an asterisk (*). The core areas of
the curriculum in which it is required that a designated number of
credits be taken are: Scripture (6 credits), Theology (3 credits),
Ethics (3 credits), Spirituality, Liturgy, and Worship (3 credits),
Religion and Society (3 credits) and History (3 credits).
- Doctor
of Ministry students must take four of their six elective courses in
topic areas (not including languages or travel seminars).
Additionally, one of the six elective courses must be in a faith
tradition other than one’s own, or an interfaith or dialogue
course.
Note: The course descriptions listed in this section are for courses scheduled
to be taught during the 2007-2008 academic year and proposed for the
2008-2009 academic year (for planning purposes). Hartford Seminary
reserves the right to make changes in the courses offered at any time.
Degree
Specific Courses/Program Components
(While we will make every effort to offer the courses in the semesters listed at the end of each course description changes will occur. Please refer to the official semester course brochure or check the website for final information.)
Graduate
Certificate
GC-580/GC-581 Field Education (6 credits)
Mattson
The content and setting of field education will vary according to the needs of the students. Normally, students will be expected to work 8 hours a week for 30 weeks for a total of 240 hours in an Islamic institution or organization. Such institutions or organizations include, but are not limited to, mosques, Islamic schools or Islamic social service organizations. See the Islamic Chaplaincy section for more information. (As needed)
GC-592 Independent (Directed) Study
Faculty
A student who wishes to study a topic related to their program but not regularly offered in the Seminary’s curriculum may wish to enroll in an Independent Study. An Independent Study may be negotiated with a member of the Seminary core faculty for any semester of the academic year. Independent (Directed) Study courses are subject to all academic and course policies and procedures as outlined in the Catalogue. Students wishing to do an Independent Study must submit a completed “Independent Study Contract” with their registration form. (As needed)
Master of Arts
MA-530 Dialogue in a World of Difference (3 credits - Required)
Birinci, Hedsell, and Roozen (Fall 2007);
Birinci, Landau and Hadsell (Fall 2008)
A required course for all students enrolled in the Master of Arts degree program. Students and faculty in a collegial setting will explore in depth the principles and the practice of dialogue in a pluralistic world through dialogical listening and cross-cultural conversations in a context of diversity. Goals of the course include the development of listening and communication skills in multi-cultural contexts; fostering an understanding of one another through information sharing and community building action; and learning how to discuss potentially divisive issues constructively and without animosity. This course is graded on a Pass/Fail basis.
MA-592 Independent (Directed) Study
Faculty
A student who wishes to study a topic related to their program but not regularly offered in the Seminary’s curriculum may wish to enroll in an Independent Study. An Independent Study may be negotiated with a member of the Seminary core faculty for any semester of the academic year. Independent (Directed) Study courses are subject to all academic and course policies and procedures as outlined in the Catalogue. Students wishing to do an Independent Study must submit a completed “Independent Study Contract” with their registration form. (As needed)
MA-596 Final Paper (3 credits)/MA-597 Final Project (3 credits)
Faculty Advisor
The final paper or project requires the student to demonstrate his or her capacity to apply, integrate, and reflect on the perspectives addressed by the Master of Arts degree program with focused study in a selected area. (As needed)
MA-598/MA-599 MA Thesis (6 credits)
Faculty Advisor
The thesis requires the student to complete in-depth research (a review of literature) and critical analysis, integration, and reflection on the perspectives and theory addressed by the Master of Arts program with focused study in a selected area. (As needed)
Doctor of Ministry
DM-710 D.Min. Colleague Seminar I, Part I (Required)
Nieman
The purpose of the two-year Colleague Seminar is to explore the reflective practice of ministry in an atmosphere of personal and professional sharing, eventually producing a set of analytical and theological papers as background for the Ministry Project. The goal of this first semester seminar is to ground the practice of ministry in an understanding of its contextual and organizational realities and their theological significance. Students will be introduced to various field research tools and learn to reflect theologically on the insights gathered through their use. Required of first-year D.Min. students. (Fall 2007 and Fall 2008)
DM-711 D.Min. Colleague Seminar I, Part II (Required)
Nieman (Winter/Spring 2008); To Be Determined (Winter/Spring 2009)
A continuation of DM-710 D.Min. Colleague Seminar I, Part I. See description above. (Winter/Spring 2007 and Winter/Spring 2008)
DM-720 D.Min. Colleague Seminar II, Part I (Required)
Cobb
In pursuing further the training in congregational studies that began in the first year Colleague Seminar, we will explore ways of reflecting theologically on your congregation, or your ministry setting, and your practice of ministry within it. This will involve examining both classic and constructive approaches to theology. It will also involve paying close attention to personal experience and to the broader cultural environment as sources of theological insight. The culmination of this fall semester course will be a paper in which the students will work out a theology for ministry that genuinely reflects the manner in which they practice it. (Fall 2007 and Fall 2008)
DM-721 D.Min. Colleague Seminar II, Part II (Required)
Roozen (Winter/Spring 2008); Nieman (Winter/Spring 2009)
The spring semester of the second year colleague group directs its full attention to students’ major project proposals. A variety of organizational change interventions and models are explored; each student prepares and shares a literature review in the anticipated substantive area of his or her major project; and each student prepares and shares a draft of a major project proposal, this draft also serving as a student’s major paper for the seminar. (Winter/Spring 2008 and Winter/Spring 2009)
DM-795 Ministry Project Colloquium (no credit - Recommended)
Tyson
Students who have successfully completed Colleague Seminars I and II and at least four of the six elective courses may enroll in the Ministry Project Colloquium. The Colloquium, which will meet periodically during the year, will provide a supportive environment for the preparation of ministry project proposals, the execution of ministry projects, and the writing of ministry project final reports. The Colloquium, while highly recommended for those working on their ministry project, is not required. The Colloquium carries no tuition or fee; however, students participating in the Colloquium who are not registered for either courses or the Ministry Project in any given semester will be required to register for a Program Extension or Program Continuation and pay the relevant fee. (Fall 2007-Winter/Spring 2008 and Fall 2008 and Winter/Spring 2009)
DM-796/DM-797 Ministry Project (6 credits - Required)
Faculty Advisor
The Ministry Project addresses a significant issue within the student’s ministry setting and involves the design, implementation, evaluation and reflection on an action in ministry. The project consists of the ministry project proposal, which includes a review of the literature, an action component, and a final written report. Required for the Doctor of Ministry degree. (As needed)
DM-792 Independent (Directed) Study
Faculty
A student who wishes to study a topic related to their program but not regularly offered in the Seminary’s curriculum may wish to enroll in an Independent Study. An Independent Study may be negotiated with a member of the Seminary core faculty for any semester of the academic year. Independent (Directed) Study courses are subject to all academic and course policies and procedures as outlined in the Catalogue. Students wishing to do an Independent Study must submit a completed “Independent Study Contract” with their registration form. (As needed)
International Ph.D.
PHD-699 Ph.D. Research Skills Preparation
Markham
Exclusively required for the Transition Year students, this course provides a comprehensive survey of the academic expectations involved in a Ph.D. Students will be required to find relevant Ph.D. dissertations and offer a critique of the quality; in addition faculty will make presentations on time management, note taking, and doctoral level arguments. The course takes place over three retreat days across the academic year with significant independent work done outside the class in consultation with the student’s advisor. (As needed)
PHD-700/PHD-701 Research Methodology and Scholarly Development I and II (6 credits)
Faculty
This year long course will provide students with the tools for doctoral level research and opportunities for collegial interaction. The following topics will be included: a) Introduction to Research Skills; b) Using a Library Effectively; c) Logical Thinking; d) Quantitative and Qualitative Data; e) Writing Articles, Book Proposals, and Reviews; f) Developing a Career in Scholarship; and g) Theories of Religious Studies. (Fall 2007-Winter/Spring 2008 and Fall 2008 and Winter/Spring 2009)
PHD-792 Independent (Directed) Study
Faculty
A student who wishes to study a topic related to their program but not regularly offered in the Seminary’s curriculum may wish to enroll in an Independent Study. An Independent Study may be negotiated with a member of the Seminary core faculty for any semester of the academic year. Independent (Directed) Study courses are subject to all academic and course policies and procedures as outlined in the Catalogue. Students wishing to do an Independent Study must submit a completed “Independent Study Contract” with their registration form. (As needed)
Arts of Ministry
AM-525 Ministry in Daily Life
McLean
This course provides an introduction to the biblical and theological basis for ministry, with special emphasis on ministry in daily life. The seminar also explores possibilities for integrating theory and practice by means of an appropriate spirituality and assists students in assessing their personal call to ministry. This course is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. (Winter/Spring 2008)
AM-575 The Art of Preaching
Watts
Combining the substance of an introduction with the intimacy of a workshop, this course will explore theological and rhetorical foundations for preaching and provide practical experience in delivery and critique. Noting variety among denominational, theological and cultural traditions, the course will take an ecumenical approach rooted by an affirmation of the hermeneutic centrality of Scripture and the liturgical significance of preaching. Students will complete written assignments and special exercises, preach, and offer constructive critiques of sermons. (Fall 2007)
AM-606 Growing Healthy Congregations NEW
Thumma
Everybody thinks that “bigger is better” and a growing church is “blessed by God” -- But is that really true? Numeric church growth as an end in itself is unhealthy. This course will explore both current theories of church growth and recent sociological information about the characteristics of growing churches. Students will be encouraged to wrestle with an individualized and appropriate theory of congregational development that rests in a multi-dimensional understanding of the total health of a faith group and the unique vision and context of each congregation. Students will undertake a practical health and growth assessment of their own or another congregation within the course. (Summer 2008)
AM-607 Current Issues in Preaching for the Experienced Preacher NEW
Nieman and Watts
As the title indicates, this is not an introductory course but is intended for those with significant experience in preaching who wish to explore recent developments in the field of homiletics and its literature. Led by Lutheran and Baptist instructors who are also preaching clergy, the course will explore the latest scholarship related to various dimensions of the practice of preaching, and the value of this research for the specific settings in which course participants presently preach. A lively interchange between disciplined scholarship and actual contextual challenges promises to generate useful insights for participants and new directions they can pursue. (Winter/Spring 2009)
AM-614 The Business of Being the Church NEW
Montgomery and Sellery
This course, offered by The Rev. Ian Montgomery and The Rev. David Sellery, who combine experience in parish ministry with professional experience in financial management, planning and fund raising, is a five day intensive course on at least some of the things “they never taught us in seminary” in the areas of parish administration and personal finance. The five subjects covered include Creating a Mission Driven Budget, Funding Ministry, Human Resources Management, Stewardship of the Physical Plant, and Personal Clergy Finances. The instruction will take the form over the course of each day of lectures, interactive seminars, case studies, and partnered projects. Each student will also receive a binder with resources for when it comes time to put theory into practice. (Summer 2008)
AM-617 Deep Change in Congregations: Taking a Narrative Leadership Approach NEW
Peers
First Class will meet from 10:00-5:00 on Tuesday September 18th; subsequent classes will meet on Tuesdays from 9:00-4:00 on October 9, 30, November 13, December 11 (Make-up day December 18)
In this course, we will connect contemporary approaches of using narrative for personal and organizational change to the traditional use of story in religious communities. We will explore ways to reorient and focus the practices of our religious leadership as “narrative leaders” by drawing upon the insights and specific approaches of narrative therapy, organizational story and narrative based approaches to change (e.g., Appreciative Inquiry, Future Search Conferences, etc.). Students will develop a specific plan for incorporating what you learn into their on-going practices of leadership within their ministry settings. (Fall 2007)
AM-636 Congregations with Clout: How Churches, Mosques and Synagogues Impact Their Communities NEW
Dudley
Most congregations express faith through community ministries, from pastoral care to politics. They all do something, but none do it all. In this course we examine the elements of social ministries that help congregations to impact their neighborhoods and beyond—how these ministries got started, who keeps them going, where they get support, and what is their lasting influence on the community and in the lives of their members. We compare compassion and justice, stability and systemic change, tight leadership and broad congregational commitments, single-faith outreach and pragmatic coalitions. Course participants will identify ways to strengthen current programs and launch new possibilities. This practice-based class will visit several ministries in action, and explore web and other electronic resources to expand their reach and their results. (Winter/Spring 2008)
AM-638 Essential Skills in Pastoral Counseling and Ministry
Watts
This course will offer pastors, lay ministers and caregivers an opportunity to learn basic counseling skills for use in pastoral settings. Students will develop skills in assessment, honoring ethical concerns and addressing the most common diagnoses such as depression and anxiety. Attention will be given to clarifying the differences between pastoral care and pastoral counseling. Issues of referral to professional mental health resources and community agencies also will be addressed. (Winter/Spring 2009)
AM-652 Pastoral Care: Taking the Social and the Cultural Seriously NEW
Adjunct To Be Determined
There is a growing movement in pastoral care, which recognizes the importance of social and cultural factors. Pastoral care is not simply one individual seeking to help another. Instead the social context (i.e. the economic, cultural, and political) needs to be taken seriously. This course looks at this growing literature and invites students to explore a range of case studies, where the social complexities are confronted. (Winter/Spring 2008)
AM-658 Faith Formation through Ritual and Art in Worship NEW
Nieman
Ministers are well aware that many active church members may have only minimal formation in Christian belief and practice. With limited resources and stretched schedules, however, creating new programs to address this seems unlikely. This course examines how patterns of ritual performance, combined with visual and musical treasures of the church, can be recovered in worship settings as ways toward deepening in Christian maturity. Drawing from ritual and aesthetic studies within and beyond Christianity, students will begin to stretch their imaginations in order to develop the many formational aspects of worship. (Summer 2008)
Dialogue
DI-650 Building Abrahamic Partnerships
Landau
This eight-day intensive training program offers a practical foundation for mutual understanding and cooperation among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Participants learn about the tenets and practices of the three faiths, study texts from their respective scriptures together, attend worship at a mosque, synagogue, and church, and acquire pastoral skills useful in interfaith ministry. Combining the academic and the experiential, the course includes ample time for socializing over meals and during breaks. Building on Hartford Seminary’s strengths as an interfaith, dialogical school of practical theology, this team-taught program is a resource for religious leaders who are grounded in their own traditions while open to the faith orientations of other communities. (January Intersession 2008 and 2009, Summer 2008 and 2009)
DI-651 Building Abrahamic Partnerships II
Landau
This course is designed primarily for students who have taken the basic Building Abrahamic Partnerships course. It presumes a familiarity with the beliefs and practices of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and some experience in interfaith dialogue. The focus is on developing practical skills for interfaith leadership, including: facilitating interreligious encounters; compassionate listening and nonbelligerent communication; joint study of sacred texts; designing interreligious worship; and spiritual resources for conflict transformation. Some evenings will be devoted to informal socializing and networking. Prerequisite: DI-650 Building Abrahamic Partnerships or permission of the instructor. (Summer 2008 and Summer 2009)
DI-691 Christians and Muslims: Is There Anything More To Be Said? NEW
Smith
Some long-time participants in Christian-Muslim dialogue feel that theological exchange is at a stalemate and should no longer be pursued. In this course we will examine historical and contemporary theological reflections on dialogue with the other, Muslim and Christian, and will consider possible new avenues of interfaith conversation. Prerequisite: a course in Christian-Muslim relations/dialogue or permission of the instructor. (Winter/Spring 2009)
Ethics
ET-545 Theological Ethics and the Personal Life*
Gehman
This course will examine issues of personal morality and faith. The course begins with a brief introduction to theological ethics, and then moves to practical issues in personal morality, which will be discussed in relation to family and society. The course will address issues such as marriage and commitment, homosexuality, friendship, abortion, lying, and the development of faith and virtue. Attention will be given to how one’s theological commitments transform secular moral problems and their solutions. (Winter/Spring 2008)
ET-546 Theological Ethics and Public Life*
Cobb
Ethics involves examining life in an attempt to interpret what is going on. Theological ethics undertakes this examination with the conviction that all things exist in relation to God. In this course we will survey models of our common life that have prevailed in western Christianity in the modern period, reflect on the religious symbols, stories, practices and habits by which we make sense of what is going on in public life, and consider what possibilities exist for fostering a civil society. Issues to be considered include religion and politics, human rights, war and revolution, and the treatment of animals. (Winter/Spring 2009)
ET-620 Marriage, Family, Sexuality: The Theology and Ethics of Relationship* NEW
Gehman
The changing nature of marriage and family life reflects the need for a thoughtful understanding of the complexity of these relationships and their theological base. This course will explore classic, modern, and contemporary views of marriage and family, including the spiritual, social, and sexual aspects of family relations. Readings will be from Augustine and Luther on up to current feminist and gay/lesbian views of marriage and family life and contemporary socio-cultural analyses of American family life. These explorations will fund our answers to questions such as whether marriage is a sacrament or a contract, whether marriage is between one man and one women, and what can be done to support families in contemporary American culture. (Summer 2008)
ET-630 Global Ethics*
Hadsell
Learning to live together is the challenge of our age. This course explores the resources in and across traditions that can help us confront this challenge. In addition to exploring the work in this area of Hans Küng and the World Council of Churches, this course looks at how these attempts to arrive at a Global Ethic might be applied to predicaments facing humanity in the 21st century. (Fall 2007)
ET-640 Introduction to Islamic Law*
Mattson
This course will provide a critical overview of the history and practice of Islamic law. We begin by examining the origins of Islamic law, the development of the classical schools of jurisprudence and the nature of pre-modern legal institutions, especially the courts and madrasa education. In following classes, we will explore the substance of classical Islamic law, especially in the areas of family, finance and international relations. Next, we will discuss the impact of colonialism and modernity on Islamic legal discourses and institutions and finish with a discussion of the way in which Islamic law is observed in contemporary America. (Winter/Spring 2008)
ET-649 The Theology and Ethics of the Niebuhr Brothers* NEW
Cobb
This course will examine the works of Reinhold Niebuhr and H. Richard Niebuhr, arguably the most influential American Protestant theologians over the last hundred years. Their impact continues to be felt in theology, social ethics, and sociology of religion. Having been formed under nearly identical personal, historical, and religious conditions, but embarking upon divergent paths in their theological and ethical reflections, differences that occasionally erupted into public debates, studying the two of them in tandem is an opportunity to think through the complexities of the church and its role in society over the course of the 20th century. (Fall 2008)
ET-655 Contemporary Islamic Ethics*
Mattson
For Muslims committed to living Islam as a way of life, contemporary society offers many challenges. A commitment to the common good exists in tension with the need to protect individual rights. The desire to uphold family values may conflict with the need to defend pluralism and civil liberties. In a world threatened with violence from many sources, self-defense and security take on new meaning. In this class, we will examine these tensions and the Islamic principles that can help Muslims live ethically and with integrity in American society. Case studies will include debates about abortion, gay marriage, militarism and minimum wage. (Summer 2008)
ET-656 Islamic Political and Social Ethics* NEW
Abu-Rabi’
A crucial aspect to Islamic identity is its commitment to the social. This course looks at a variety of different approaches to the political and the social. Ranging from the Nursi affirmation of an Islamic perspective in a democratic society to the more extreme “Islamist” positions, students will be invited to reflect on the diversity positions amongst Muslims. The majority of theorists examined are 20th century and contemporary. (Winter/Spring 2009)
ET-661 Life Together: Ethics in a Religiously Plural World* NEW
Hadsell
This course focuses on ethical issues provoked by the life we lead together. It will examine such questions as how one goes about building bridges from one set of ethical assumptions to another; what must be agreed upon between religious communities in order to live in the same ethical universe, and what they can agree to disagree on; the different conceptions of what the moral responsibility is of one religious community for those within it who are physically distant, and how it views its responsibility for those outside its boundaries. The course will also look at the ethical resources in several religious communities related to central moral issues of our day such as global warming. (Fall 2008)
History
HI-515 Understanding Islam: Rumor and Reality*
Smith
This introductory course is designed to meet the growing need since 9-11 for basic information about Islam. It will cover Islamic beliefs and practices, issues faced by Muslims living in the West, the role of women in Islam, and current efforts at Muslim-Christian dialogue. The course may be of particular interest to Christian pastors, leaders and laypeople. It is co-sponsored by the National Council of Churches of Christ. (Formerly RS-515) (Fall 2008)
HI-530 Introduction to World Religions*
Smith
This course introduces students to some alternative ways of being religious, historically and in the contemporary world, in the context of historical and theological development of several of the major world religions. Readings will be in religious biography and autobiography, with background materials provided in class sessions. (Fall 2007)
HI-550 The Early Church*
Rollins
This course will trace the growth and development of Christianity from its earliest beginnings in the first century to the great councils of the fourth and fifth centuries, stopping en route to examine selected texts from the New Testament, early Christian and Roman documents, the writings of the Fathers and the earliest creeds, ranging from the Gospels and St. Paul to Ignatius, Justin, Origen, Basil, Augustine, and Nicea. The course will focus on emergent Christian thought, the nature of God and Christ, the Bible, Church and sacraments, sin and grace, the relation of church and state, and the Christian way of life, toward the goal of gaining keener insight into issues of religion and faith today. (Fall 2008)
HI-624 Islamic History I*
Abu-Rabi
This course will explore the history of Islamic civilization from its beginnings in seventh century Arabia until the establishment of the Ottoman Empire in the fifteenth century. Attention will be given to the structure of political institutions, the changing nature of the caliphate, as well as social trends and important cultural developments. Students will read selections of important primary sources in translation, such as Arabic and Persian poetry, Mawardi’s Ordinances of Government, Ibn Battuta’s Travels, and Ibn Khaldun’s Muqaddima. (Fall 2007)
HI-636 Islam in Iraq, Pakistan and India* NEW
Abu-Rabi’
This course explores the different forms of Islam in three very different parts of the world. In Pakistan, Muslims are overwhelmingly in the majority; in India, Muslims are a minority; and in Iraq, Muslims are having to cope with the aftermath of the war and continuing presence of Allied troops. The colonial history and the emergence of these states will be explored. Students will be given the opportunity to reflect on the challenges facing the Muslim communities in these countries. (Winter/Spring 2008)
HI-640 Major Historical Figures: Edward Said*
Abu-Rabi’
This course deals with Edward Said’s fascinating intellectual legacy, which comprises literary, political, and religious issues. Said’s classic work Orientalism launched him to fame the year it was published in 1978. This important work was followed by others that are no less outstanding, such as Covering Islam, Culture and Imperialism, and Humanism and Democratic Criticism. The course will systematically discuss Said’s oeuvre in relation to such issues as orientalism, Islam and the West, Islam in the West, literature and religion, the Palestine-Israeli conflict, secularism, humanism, religion and culture, imperialism, neo-colonialism and the contemporary United States. (Winter/Spring 2009)
HI-645 Writing Congregational Histories NEW
Ahlberg
Many who are members of religious communities have discovered what interesting histories they possess. But many congregations have neither an intentionally written history nor one that is available and up to date. This course will offer concrete help to those who are either interested in writing the history of their congregation or those engaged in that process. Individual projects will be discussed and building blocks and critical questions necessary to the completion of any project will be offered. Writing congregational histories can be a daunting task, but the rewards are great. Examples of successful projects will be given, as well as important reading assignments. (Fall 2008)
HI-651 Shi`i Islam* NEW
Blackburn
This course will focus on the diversity found in Islam in some of its non-Sunni forms, mainly the “Twelver” Shi`a of Iran and Iraq, the Isma`iliyya (including followers of the Aga Khan), and the Zaydiyya. In addition, off-shoots such as the Druze of Syria/Lebanon and the Kizilbash ("red hats") will also be treated. Consideration will be given to highlighting the written traditions, theological emphases, ritual observances, and popular religious practices that form the basis of a separate Shi`i worldview. Additional readings and lectures will focus upon the interaction of Shi`ism and "political Islam" from historical, confessional, and cultural standpoints. (Winter/Spring 2009)
HI-652 Arabic Bibliographic Resources* NEW
Mattson
The focus of this class is the rich "tabaqat" literature of classical Islam. Beginning with Ibn Sa'd in the second century of Islam, Muslim scholars compiled extensive collections of biographies of scholars, experts and notables in specific cities or in particular fields of thought. These collections are invaluable resources for the study of any field of classical Islamic thought -- Qur'an, hadith, and Islamic theology and law -- as well as for the study of the history of Islam and its institutions. Prerequisite: Third-year Arabic or its equivalent. (Fall 2008)
HI-656 Church and State* NEW
Adjunct
This course looks at the variety of different models of ‘Church’ and state relations in the world. From the European tendency to have some sort of ‘established religion’ to the American emphasis on the ‘separation of Church and State’. In addition, students will look at some of the contemporary legal arguments in the United States, from prayers in public schools to the funding of faith-based groups. There will be opportunities for Muslims to reflect on the debates in Islam around the use of Sharia in the State. (Summer 2009)
HI-675 Women in 19th and 20th Century America: Religion and Reform* NEW
Coleman
This course will provide students with an overview of 19th and 20th century American religious history with a particular emphasis on women’s roles in reform movements such as abolition, temperance, and suffrage. We will also address the various ways women’s piety and spirituality was made manifest including their involvement in prison reform, women’s and children’s heath issues, Sunday School reform and the rise of institutions of social service. (Spring 2008)
HI-692 The History of Anti-Semitism* NEW
Fuchs
Anti-semitism – hatred of Jews – is an ancient malady which has appeared and continues to appear in many guises. It is a dangerous, chronic –sometimes controllable but never curable – condition that has affected humanity for more than 2000 years. It has taken many forms: religious, economic, political, racial (although Jews are not a race) and even self hatred. In our study we shall examine the different manifestations of anti- Semitism with the hope that such knowledge can make us more aware of this condition as it presents itself today and in the future. (Co-sponsored by The Jewish Chautauqua Society) (Summer 2008)
Languages
LG-561/LG-562 Introduction to New Testament Greek, Parts I and II
Duffy
The focus of this introductory course, which assumes no prior knowledge of the Greek language, is on the basic grammar and vocabulary of New Testament Greek. Students will begin reading selected passages of the New Testament. (Fall 2007 and Winter/Spring 2008)
LG-580 Introduction to Arabic Phonology and Script
Blackburn (Fall 2007); Adjunct (Fall 2008)
Students will master the writing system of standard Arabic, as well as the sounds of the language. A basic vocabulary of over 100 words will be learned, and at the end of the term students will be able to engage in short, simple conversations. Both Levantine and Egyptian pronunciation will be covered. Assumes no prior knowledge of Arabic. (This course replaces LG-597 Introduction to Arabic, Part I) (Fall 2007, Fall 2008)
LG-581 Introduction to Arabic Morphology and Syntax
Blackburn (Winter/Spring 2008; Summer Intensive 2008); Adjunct (Winter Spring 2009)
Vernacular Arabic will be the focus of this course, with an accent on all four linguistic areas of language learning: oral, aural, reading, and listening. Basic sentence and phrase structures will be highlighted while a vocabulary of several hundred words will be built. Assumes a prior knowledge of the Arabic phonology and script. Prerequisite: LG-580, or permission of the instructor. (This course replaces LG-598 Introduction to Arabic, Part II) (Winter/Spring 2008, Winter/Spring 2008, Summer Intensive 2009)
LG-650/LG-651 Intermediate Arabic, Parts I and II
Blackburn (2006-2007); Adjunct Faculty (2007-2008)
This course is designed for participants to consolidate their knowledge of Arabic. Prerequisite: LG-581 or permission of the instructor. (Fall 2006 and Winter/Spring 2007; Fall 2007 and Winter/Spring 2008)
LG-655 Modern Arabic Prose NEW
Students will attain a fluent reading knowledge of Modern Standard Arabic Prose as well as learning to write compositions in Modern Standard Arabic. The basic text for the course will be Taha Hussein's autobiography, al-Ayyam. Prerequiste: LG-651 Intermediate Arabic II or permission of the instructor. Stephen Blackburn, Faculty Associate in Semitic Scriptures.
Religion and Society
RS-536 Religion as a Social Phenomenon: The Sociological Study of Religion*
Adjunct
All religion is a social phenomenon. Although faith has a private dimension, human beings experience religion in groups or through forms created by social organizations. Every religion creates and is maintained by institutionalized rituals or concrete organizational forms. Professed beliefs are passed down by religious traditions, and ideally, these beliefs have consequences for one’s social behavior. Religious life has spawned times of war and times of peace; changed human beings and human history. Each of these social dimensions of religion can be investigated with the research methods of the social scientist. Much can be learned about religion from a sociological perspective, from reading classical sociological theories of religious organization and practice including those of Weber, Durkheim, and Marx. (Winter/Spring 2008)
RS-638 Varieties of Gay and Lesbian Religious Life in the U.S.*
Thumma
It has taken decades for the most liberal of religious groups to open their arms and welcome gay and lesbian believers as full participants in their congregations or as their pastors. Much of the rest of the religious world remains far from the adoption of an open and affirming position toward homosexuality. Controversy over this issue divides many denominational groups. Yet within this context many lesbian and gay persons of faith have created thriving independent and innovative counter-institutional forms of religious life as alternatives to the forms that excluded them. This online course will examine the history of the tension between homosexuality and religious organizations and explore the multifaceted methods adopted by gays and lesbians to meet their spiritual needs in modern American society. (Fall 2007)
RS-661 Women, Religion and the Future of USA Churches*
Lummis
Setting the context for on-line discussion of women in the future of USA churches, the course will begin with a brief overview of women in world religions, both in original texts and in practices. Attention will next be focused on the history of women’s participation and leadership in American congregations over the last two centuries, to stimulate a discussion of what themes and trends might be predicted for the 21st and 22nd centuries. Among the trends and themes examined will be the changing nature of women’s role in the family and society, the pull of competing traditions within the Christian faith as well as from other faiths and New Age spiritualities, on women’s (and their daughters’) allegiance to mainline churches. The differences among and between women and men in the pews and pulpits of Catholic, mainline liberal Protestant, and evangelical conservative Protestant denominations will also be explored to better understand the present reality and possible future of churches in the USA. (Winter/Spring 2008)
RS-667 Contemporary American Religion*
Thumma
There are over 350 religious denominations in the United States, and yet few of us know who they are or how they all fit together in the fabric of contemporary American religious life. Where did all these groups come from, what do they believe and how do they influence society? This course introduces students to the religious diversity which has arisen in the US over the past 50 years. It also explores the prominent place of religion in our seemingly secular nation. Topics will include among others, the reemergence of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity, new varieties of African-American religion, immigrant and ethnic religion, “cult” controversies, and a deinstitutionalized “spirituality” of many modern Americans. (Winter/Spring 2009)
RS-667 Contemporary American Religion*
Thumma
There are over 350 religious denominations in the United States, and yet few of us know who they are or how they all fit together in the fabric of contemporary American religious life. Where did all these groups come from, what do they believe and how do they influence society? This course introduces students to the religious diversity which has arisen in the US over the past 50 years. It also explores the prominent place of religion in our seemingly secular nation. Topics will include among others, the reemergence of evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity, new varieties of African-American religion, immigrant and ethnic religion, “cult” controversies, and a deinstitutionalized “spirituality” of many modern Americans. (Winter/Spring 2009)
RS-677 Islamic Congregations* NEW
Bagby
This course will explore the diverse world of Islamic congregations. Having looked at the data, which describes the number and size of Islamic congregations, students will be given the opportunity to look at the different cultures found in these congregations. The challenge of sometimes being immigrant communities, which are adjusting to life in the United States, will be discussed. At the end of the course, students will understand what makes for a healthy and effective Islamic congregation. (Summer 2008)
RS-686 Megachurches*
Thumma
Imagine a congregation where 10,000 people gather each week for worship, where church budgets are 15 million a year and where thousands of people volunteer for programs weekly. Welcome to the world of megachurches. The past thirty years have seen a proliferation of these massive congregations throughout the nation. There are over 850 of these congregations in the U.S., and while less than half a percent of all congregations, they attract more attention than all other religious communities in the nation combined. This course will look at the phenomenon to understand the common characteristics of megachurches, how they function, why they are attractive. In doing this we will discover what lessons can be learned from them which can be used effectively by churches of all sizes and denominational traditions. (Summer 2009)
RS-690 Pagans, Witches and/or Christians* NEW
Lummis
The course centers on a sociological study of contemporary paganism, witchcraft and other earth-based faiths and practices, examining how these intertwine with one another and with Christian churches in their beliefs and rituals. Can modern-day, Druid religion, Goddess Worship, Paganism, Shamanism, and Wicca be considered real religions or are these more fluid movements swirling through related religious networks? To what extent do adherents of one of these earth-based sects who worship in groups or covens have distinctive beliefs and rituals that differentiate them from one another and most Christian congregations? Neo-Pagan focused congregations and smaller groups are incorporated relatively smoothly within the theologically liberal, pluralistic Unitarian Universalists. Goddess spirituality has also seeped into the historic Christian denominations, albeit informally and with greater resistance from churches. What portends in the next decades for pagan theology and practices? (Winter/Spring 2009)
RS-695 Engaging Diversity* NEW
Roozen
The ability to understand and work with people different than oneself is an increasing necessity both locally and globally, and it is the goal of this course. Participants will examine the issues at stake in several contemporary socio-cultural cleavages including race, ethnicity, religion, social class, gender and ideology, and will explore a variety of contemporary approaches to and practices for engaging the other, including interfaith dialogue, multiculturalism in the workplace and community reconciliation. Building on the unique nature of the Hartford Seminary’s student body, of special interest will be comparing similarities and differences in engaging the other across US and international contexts. (Fall 2008) (Replaces RS-670 American Pluralism, may not be taken by students who have taken RS-670.)
Scripture
SC-519 Hebrew Bible Survey I*
Kim
An introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures, this course will apply historical-critical methods of study to develop a framework for understanding the origins of the texts and the relationship of the texts to one another. Attention will be given to contemporary theories of biblical interpretation. Survey I will cover the materials in the Torah and Prophets (Genesis-Kings). (Fall 2007 and Fall 2008)
SC-520 Hebrew Bible Survey II*
Kim (Winter/Spring 2008); Adjunct TBD (Winter/Spring 2009)
An introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures, this course will apply historical-critical methods of study to develop a framework for understanding the origins of the texts and the relationship of the texts to one another. Attention will be given to contemporary theories of biblical interpretation. Survey II will examine the prophetic corpus, poetry wisdom and the rest of “the writings” in the Hebrew Bible. (This is the last time this course will be taught. The course series of Hebrew Bible Survey I and Hebrew Bible Survey II has been replaces with Introduction to Hebrew Bible.) (Winter/Spring 2008 and Winter/Spring 2009)
SC-531 New Testament Survey*
Agosto
This course introduces the student to the study of the origins of Christianity by means of its canonical literature, the New Testament. We will undertake a historical study of the New Testament documents, seeking to understand their plan, origin, purpose and content within their broader historical and cultural context. Appropriate interpretive method for each genre of the New Testament will be discussed. We will also seek to clarify the theological message of each document in light of its historical circumstances. (Fall 2007 and Winter/Spring 2009)
SC-540 Matthew, Mark and Luke: The Synoptic Gospels*
Rollins
This course is an in-depth study of the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith in light of current biblical scholarship with special attention to the theological perspectives of Matthew, Mark and Luke as reflected in their varying presentations of the Good News in these three “synoptic” Gospels. (Summer 2008)
SC-621 The Qur’an and Its Place in Muslim Life and Society*
Mattson
As the sacred scripture of Islam, the Qur’an has primary authority in the way Muslims understand their faith. This course will examine Islamic concepts of the Qur’an as divine revelation and guidance. Major Qur’anic themes will be studied in English translation, with reference to classical and contemporary Muslim commentaries. Attention will be paid to ways in which the Qur’an functions as sacred scripture in Muslim history and contemporary life, examples of which will include Muslim communities in the United States. (Summer 2009)
SC-623 Concepts of the Afterlife in Qur’an and Hadith* NEW
Smith
A consideration of the Islamic eschatological narrative as presented in the Qur’an, beginning with the death of the individual and ending with habitation in the final abodes of the Garden or the Fire. We will look at how this narrative is supplemented by Islamic tradition, and how it compares in its general outline with the concepts of life after death in the scriptures of other religious traditions of the world. (Winter/Spring 2008)
SC-624 Facets of Yusuf from Abrahamic Scripture* NEW
Blackburn
Yosef / Yusuf / Joseph. This patriarch of Abrahamic monotheism is honored by Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike. In this class the Quranic Yusuf will be analyzed to provide a point of departure for consideration of the counterpart story in Genesis. While only a knowledge of English is required, reference to Arabic and Hebrew aspects of the scriptural records will be presented to augment and enlighten course material. In addition, commentators both ancient and modern will be consulted in our study. (Fall 2008)
SC-627 Conflicts in Joshua and Judges* NEW
Kim
Framed between the narratives of the exodus from Egypt and of the establishment of monarchy, Joshua and Judges give conflicting accounts of how ancient Israelites came to occupy the land. There are other issues in these two books that need attention in light of ideological, political, cultural, and religious disputes that are raging all over the world. The course will identify and examine some of these concerns in Joshua and Judges and reflect and engage them with matters that need our attention in the world today. (Summer 2009)
SC-632 Reading the New Testament Through the Eyes of the Oppressed*
Agosto
This course in New Testament hermeneutics - the art of interpretation - will focus on recent developments in African American, Latino and feminist readings of the Bible. In particular, we will explore how Black and Latin American liberation theology movements have read the New Testament as well as womanist and mujerista perspectives. Recent applications of post-modern and postcolonial theory to New Testament interpretation will also be explored, especially as they relate to issues of the poor and the marginalized. Fundamental to the course will be close readings of relevant texts in the New Testament, especially the Gospels and Paul, but also the Book of Revelation, around issues of poverty, status and power, both in the ancient world among the earliest Christians and in our own contexts today. (Fall 2008)
SC-636 The Current State of Hadith Studies* NEW
Mattson
Hadith are “reports” about the Prophet Muhammad and are the primary means of knowing his Sunna. The normative nature of the Sunna is well-established in the Qur’an and was supported by the conservative culture of seventh-century Arabian society. At the same time, the authority of the Sunna was not uncontested in early Muslim society. More seriously, the misattribution of statements to the Prophet Muhammad was recognized to be a problem as early as the first century of Islam. As a result, a major effort to collect, scrutinize, evaluate and organize hadith was undertaken by generations of hadith scholars. In parallel to this effort, legal scholars developed and refined their various approaches to the sources of the law, and arrived at different assessments of the legal value of various hadith. In the early Modern period, hadith scholarship came under new scrutiny, in light of historical-critical methods developed primarily by European scholars, often working in a climate hostile to Islam and Muslim bases of knowledge. Simple apologetic responses to the Orientalists have been replaced in recent decades with new efforts on the part of Muslim and non-Muslim scholars to use new technologies and the information in recently discovered manuscripts to re-evaluate the historicity of the collected hadith. For their part, legal modernists have struggled to establish a consistent approach to the use of hadith in their deliberations. Prerequisite: Restricted to students who have taken a minimum of two courses in Islamic Studies. (Fall 2007)
SC-642 Contextual Interpretation of the Bible NEW
Kim
Contextual interpretation like other methods of biblical interpretation takes three factors into account in the process of interpreting the Bible: the text, the world that created the text, and the contemporary situation in which interpretation takes place. However, unlike older, more traditional methods, it takes the context of the interpreter as the starting point in the hermeneutical process. Students will examine their own lived contexts and use their analyses to engage with selected texts from the Deuteronomistic History (Joshua to Kings in the Hebrew Bible). (Winter/Spring 2008)
SC-648 Pastoral Reading of Paul’s Letters* NEW
Agosto
Through critical readings of the Apostle Paul’s epistles, this course examines pastoral issues in Paul’s urban churches. Each of the letters will be read and discussed with a view toward ascertaining Paul’s thought and action on such aspects of ministry as the nature of the church, preaching, evangelism, teaching, leadership, authority, conflict, pastoral care, and social justice. The role and impact of the ancient urban and imperial environment upon the Pauline churches will be fundamental to our study. Issues in modern ministry, including ministry in the city, will also inform classroom discussion of and student assignments on the Pauline texts. (Winter/Spring 2008)
SC-655 Faces of Jesus: Christology from the New Testament to the 21st Century
Rollins
An exploration of the portraits of Jesus in the major New Testament writings, the non-canonical gospels of recent Da Vinci Code fame, and in the history of the church and the arts from the first to the twenty-first century, concluding with contemporary Christologies in the writings of Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, in film, and in the newer psychological approaches of John Miller and Don Capps, exploring their implications for faith in the church today. (Fall 2007)
SC-660 The Bible and the Habits of the Soul: Psychological Perspectives on Scripture
Rollins
This course is an introduction to psychological studies of scripture, focusing on the contribution of the life and thought of C.G. Jung, but including the contributions of other fields of psychology. The course will also consider the psychological aspects of the newer forms of criticism (e.g. feminist, liberationist, ideological, and contextual/cultural criticism) to our understanding of the Bible and its therapeutic as well as pathogenic effects in the lives of its readers, past and present. (Summer 2009)
SC-690 Reading Arabic Tafsir* NEW
Mattson
This is a survey course of Arabic Qur'an tafsirs. We will examine the development of tafsir literature, explore its sub-genres and representative tafsirs from various schools of Islamic thought. Prerequisite: Third-year Arabic or its equivalent. (Winter/Spring 2009)
SC-740 Theology and Ministry in the Pauline Letters
Agosto
This is an advanced course in Pauline Studies, which explores theological issues in the Apostle Paul’s Letters. Such issues as justification, the Law, reconciliation, salvation, Christology, ecclesiology and eschatology, among others, will be studied through a careful reading of the Pauline literature, as well as recent scholarship in the area. The course acknowledges that Paul is not a systematic theologian but rather that his theology emerges from ministry to his congregations in light of Roman imperial realities as reflected in the letters. Nonetheless, an attempt will be made to systematize his thought across the letters in order to ascertain the nature of Pauline theology. (Winter/Spring 2009)
Theology
TH-500 Putting Your Theology Together: A Systematic Theology* NEW
Markham
In this course students will be invited to reflect on the shape of theology which is suitable for today's world. Starting with the arguments for God's existence (are there any?), students will be invited to look at the Trinity, Creation, Sin, Evil, Providence, Incarnation, Atonement, Ecclesiology, Sacraments, and Eschatology (and on the way learn what all these words mean). Different approaches to systematic theology will be described. And at the end, students will be encouraged to have formulated their own views on these issues. (Fall 2007)
TH-526 Introduction to Black Theology*
Watts
This course will examine the human condition in light of God's liberating activity. Liberation theology, womanist theology, and the theologies of oppressed peoples will be explored as a method of investigating, explicating, and critiquing religious thought. (Summer 2009)
TH-541 Modern Theology*
Cobb
This course examines the development of western Christian reflection from the late Renaissance through the present. Beginning in the 16th century with both loyal and dissenting Catholic figures, and then turning to the Reformers, key texts will be read and considered in light of their surrounding social and intellectual milieus. Other movements that will be examined through key religious thinkers and the cultural situations in which they are writing include: Puritanism, the Enlightenment, Romanticism, Existentialism, Black Theology and Feminist Theology. (Winter/Spring 2008)
TH-625 Thinking About Church: Different Models of Ecclesiology NEW
Markham (Spring 2008)
Understanding the nature of Church is an imperative for the effective minister. This course looks at the different theologies of Church embedded within the New Testament before moving out and looking at the different accounts of Church in the different Christian traditions. Students will be invited to think of the church as a sign, and invited to think about what exactly is being signified by the church in the world, either by its practices or in its doctrinal intentions. (Spring 2008)
TH-630 Christian Theology: An Historical Introduction*
Markham
This course is a survey of the history of Christian doctrine from its origins in the Bible to the doctrine of modern day. Starting with the Christian roots in the Hebrew Bible, the course looks at the development of the creeds, the major preoccupation of the medieval church, culminating in the impact of modernity on the shape of Christianity in the West. Particular attention is paid to Augustine and Aquinas. Students at the end of the course will have a good grasp of the complexity and diversity of Christian thought through the ages. (Winter/Spring 2009)
TH-635 Are We All Bound for Heaven?: Christian Theology and Other Religions
Markham
This course explores the theological issues surrounding interfaith. Following a brief survey of the extent of the diversity in religion (both historically and today), the course concentrates on theological issues. The first issue is soteriology: are non-Christians “saved”? Along with “Pluralism,” “Inclusivism,” and “Exclusivism,” the course examines various alternatives. The second issue is similarity and difference. Critics and advocates of Hans Kung’s global ethics project are discussed. The third issue is truth, mission, and dialogue. What are the limits to dialogue? Does a commitment to dialogue entail a commitment to relativism? How should Christians interpret the great commission to go and convert the world? These and other questions will be explored. (Summer 2009)
TH-636 Pluralistic Monotheism and the Abrahamic Faiths? NEW
Landau
This course will explore theological questions posed by religious plurality, especially the diversity among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. If God is One, how can different understandings of that Oneness be valid? Could the One Lord of nature and history have chosen to covenant with different faith communities? And if different communities are, in fact, “chosen” by God through Divine election and revelation, can they come to see themselves as spiritual allies, rather than adversarial rivals for God’s favor? Finally, how would a multiplicity of covenants enhance the prospects for the “messianic” transformation of history that our various traditions anticipate? The primary lens for this exploration will be Jewish tradition, with readings from the Hebrew Bible, Rabbinic and medieval texts, and contemporary writers examined for insights. Guest facilitators will be invited to address these questions, drawing on perspectives from Christianity and Islam. (Fall 2008)
TH-642 Theology of Popular Culture CANCELLED
Cobb
This course will explore various theological and religious meanings that are carried in popular culture, and specifically in phenomena that are not ordinarily thought of as religious. Through reading several “theologians of culture,” we will examine contemporary novels, films, music, television, and tourism with the intent of developing ways to discern transcendent longings, anxieties, and visions of good and evil that operate below the surface of our common cultural life in the U.S. (Formerly TH-550) (Fall 2007)
TH-646 The Attributes of God and the Purpose of Creation: Readings in Islamic Theology*
T.J. Winter
In this class we will examine the essential questions of theology through the eyes of Muslim scholars over the centuries. How does one understand the attributes of God without falling into anthropomorphism? What is the role of reason in interpreting revelation? Are humans truly free to choose their own destiny? In what way can we understand the Qur'an to be “God's speech” without undermining God's transcendence? Is paradise only for Muslims? These are the questions we will explore in our readings of classical and modern theologians. (Fall 2007)
TH-648 Religion, Conflict and Peacemaking
Landau
This course will explore the paradox of religion as a source of division and conflict, on the one hand, and of peaceful aspirations and compassionate, sacrificial service on the other. Theoretical approaches to this paradox, drawn from the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, will be supplemented by practical case studies, with particular attention given to the Israeli-Palestinian-Arab dispute over the “Holy Land.” How can our faith commitments be effectively applied to promote inter-communal reconciliation? How can our own lives exemplify a peacemaking vocation in the face of religious extremists within our own faith community and those of our neighbors? These and related questions will be addressed, with a central goal being to integrate the lessons learned from the readings with our everyday challenges as peace-seekers. (Winter/Spring 2008)
TH-656 Wrestling with the Big Questions: Philosophical Theology*
Markham
This course concentrates on all those really difficult questions that quite often children ask most effectively. What is God like? How do we know God exists? Why does God allow evil and suffering in the world? What is faith? What happens after we die? What does it mean when we say “the souls of the righteous are in the hands of God?” And what is the difference between such assertions of faith and the claim that “in my hand is a tomato?” As students explore these questions, they learn the basics of logical thinking. At the end of the course students have a sense of the main positions in philosophical theology and are able to articulate their positions on these questions with clarity. (Fall 2008)
TH-671 Major Religious Figures: John Wesley NEW
This course on the theology, ministry and historical significance of John Wesley demonstrates his influence over modern-day evangelical, Methodist and Pentecostal movements, as well as Protestantism in general. In many ways, as this course will show, Wesley was not only the father of Methodism, but also one of the architects of Evangelicalism and a great-grandfather of Pentecostalism. In fact, we will see in this course how Wesley probably influenced global religion to an extent unrivaled by any other modern Protestant theologian or church reformer. Though Wesley published many works in his lifetime, including sermon collections and his Journals, he left behind no books of systematic theology, since his life’s work was not so much the creation of a body of religious thought, but the embodiment of his theology in a new religious movement. We will see how his Methodist movement was born in the midst of tremendous conflict and tumult, and it is only through an appreciation of the conflicts that defined Wesleyan Methodism that we can come to understand Wesley’s thought. By reading relevant primary sources and considering the work of both historians and theologians who work on Wesley, we will try to comprehend the theological, cultural and organizational characteristics that would make Methodism into a formidable force for religious and social change in the succeeding centuries. On both sides of the Atlantic, Wesleyan Methodism became a religion of the working classes and addressed the great social issues of the day, including slavery and the empowerment of women, all based on the theology and ministry of John Wesley. Brian Clark, Ph.D. candidate, Boston University; Adjunct Instructor in History of Christian Thought, Hartford Seminary.
TH-678 America’s Most Popular Theologian: Exploring the World of C.S. Lewis NEW
Markham
This course explores the theology of C.S.Lewis as seen in both his fiction and non-fiction works. Placing his writing in the context of his life, we explore his Anglican orthodox theology, his apologetics, as well as his distinctive positions on, for example, purgatory and animal immortality. We look at the growing secondary literature on Lewis. We will discuss together the reasons for his popularity. (Summer 2008)
TH-682 Iqbal, Nursi and Abduh: 20th Century Islamic Thinkers* NEW
Abu-Rabi’
Muhammad Iqbal is the inspiration behind the emergence of Pakistan. He was a deeply creative thinker in conversation with western philosophy and theology. Said Nursi developed his thought in the context of an aggressively secular Turkish state. And Mohammed Abduh is a well-known Egyptian Islamic reformer. This course looks at these three major 20th century Muslim thinkers and looks at the way the context shaped their theology and understanding.
(Fall 2008)
Travel Seminars
TS-651 National Reconciliation, Transformation and Faith: A Travel Seminar to South Africa
Evans
This travel seminar is offered by Hartford Seminary in cooperation with the Plowshares Institute and will be held from October 30 to November 14, 2007. In light of the long-standing interest of civil and religious leaders everywhere in the struggle for freedom in South Africa, this is a unique time to be in dialogue with those who are shaping the future of a nation. The Plowshares Institute has been invited by these political, business, academic, and religious leaders to take a delegation to South Africa to experience the exhilaration and the challenges of a society in transition. For more information and an application for the seminar please contact the Plowshares Institute directly at (860)651-4304. For information about taking the seminar for credit please contact the Hartford Seminary Registrar at (860)509-9511. (Fall 2007)
TS-652 Mainland China and Hong Kong: Transition, Development, and the Role of the Church
Evans
This travel seminar is offered by Hartford Seminary in cooperation with the Plowshares Institute and will be held from May 26-June 9, 2008. This seminar will use the church as a window in examining Chinese society, especially as it pertains to issues of transition and development. Through personal dialogue with church, government, and academic leaders, participants will wrestle with the issues facing China including environmental degradation, poverty, and human rights and reflect upon what these challenges mean in light of increasing global interdependence. Through visits with Chinese government representatives in Beijing, exposure to China’s rural areas, conversations in Shanghai with economic leaders, and dialogue with church and academic leaders in Nanjing, participants will have the opportunity to experience China in a way that extends far beyond the beaten path! The delegation will also be introduced to China’s rich culture through visits to renowned cultural sites such as the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. The seminar will conclude with several days in Hong Kong. For more information and an application for the seminar please contact the Plowshares Institute directly at (860)651-4304. For information about taking the seminar for credit please contact the Hartford Seminary Registrar at (860)509-9511. (Summer 2008)
TS-653 Brazil: Reconciliation, Ecology and the Quest for Sustainable Development NEW
Evans and Hadsell
This travel seminar is offered by Hartford Seminary in cooperation with the Plowshares Institute and will be held from April 8-28, 2008. Brazil is the largest and most populous country in South America and the fifth largest in the world both by area and population. A nation with a long colonial history under the Portuguese, Brazil has recently adopted new models of development to reduce poverty and environmental degradation. We invite you to join us in a seminar that will examine issues of development, ecology, and reconciliation through meetings with political, religious, and academic leaders from a variety of fields and expose participants to Brazil’s rich and diverse ecology and culture. For more information and an application for the seminar please contact the Plowshares Institute directly at (860)651-4304. For information about taking the seminar for credit please contact the Hartford Seminary Registrar at (860)509-9511. (Winter/Spring 2008)
Spirituality, Liturgy and Worship
WS-500 Fundamentals of Worship: Practice and Theology* NEW
Lee and Manocchio
What is Christian worship, and how is it effectively and meaningfully led? This course will explore the theological underpinnings of the community gathered for worship, study the elements of regular and special services (including baptism, marriage and funeral), and provide practical guidance for developing worship experiences appropriate to both congregation and leader. (Fall 2008)
WS-553 Women’s Leadership and Spirituality* (6 credits)
Winter
A year-long six credit course in leadership and applied spirituality rooted in women’s experience and from a feminist perspective that meets monthly from September through May and requires a separate admissions process. Prerequisite: enrollment in the Women’s Leadership Institute. (2007-2008 and 2008-2009)
WS-601 Rituals and Responsibilities of Muslim Leaders in America*
Nur Abdullah
This course is designed for Muslim leaders, including Imams and chaplains, who are serving American Muslim communities. The course examines Muslim leaders’ role and responsibilities as well as the proper application and performance of some important areas of Islamic ritual law. Emphasis is on practical application of the law and much of the course is taught in workshop format. (Summer 2009)
WS-625 The Art of Spiritual Direction*
Staff
This course explores the ministry and dynamics of spiritual direction. Topics include the history and scope of spiritual direction, especially within the Christian tradition, the theological foundations, and the variety of expressions of spiritual direction within the personal, interpersonal, and social contexts. (Summer 2008)
WS-627 The Essential Writings of Howard Thurman*
Watts
This course is a study of the major writings of Howard Thurman, the mystic, prophet, poet, philosopher and theologian, who promotes the idea that out of religious faith emerges social responsibility. Thurman's understanding of the role of meditation and the contemplative life informed his every action. As a man of quiet spirit he found the unity in all living things, which created for him a harmony with nature, self, people and, more importantly, with God. Through his writings we will explore that harmony and center ourselves for a deeper spiritual journey. (Winter/Spring 2008)
WS-634 Hands-On Spirituality* NEW
Winter
Awaken and deepen Spirit within and discover an extra-ordinary spirituality through God-given gifts creatively expressed. (Summer 2009)
WS-635 Applied Spirituality
Winter
A tutorial course or seminar for students who have selected spirituality as their area of focused study. Approval of spirituality core faculty advisor is required. (As needed)
WS-636 Readings in Spirituality
Winter
A tutorial course or seminar for students who have selected spirituality as their area of focused study. Approval of spirituality core faculty advisor is required. (As needed)
WS-639 Islamic Spirituality*
Abu-Rabi’
This course explores Islamic spirituality by going through mystical interpretations of both the Qur’an and sayings of the Prophet. We will also look at the development of Islamic spiritual thought and practices in history. The course will remain anchored by focusing on important personalities in the mystical tradition of Islam through their literature and poetry. (Fall 2007)
WS-641 Spirituality in a Quantum Universe* NEW
Winter
When we are attuned to the song of the universe, when cosmic rhythms resonate within us, shaping who we are and are becoming, we are saint in the making, mystic on the move, experiencing more often and in many more ways the synchronous presence of God-with-us in our everyday lives. (Fall 2007)
WS-642 Spirituality in the Spirit of Jesus* NEW
Winter
A return to the Jesus before Christianity for a unifying spirit and spirituality essential for peace in our times. (Fall 2008)
Cross Reference Section
The information below is provided as a cross reference to aid students in locating descriptions for courses that are scheduled to be taught in 2006-2008 in the following areas: Christian-Muslim Relations; Dialogue and Interfaith; Islamic Chaplaincy; Islamic Studies; and World Religions. It is only a tool and should not be viewed as all-inclusive. Please refer to the specific program descriptions for more information on requirements.
Christian-Muslim Relations
Course Title |
Topic Area of Course |
Comparative Religious Ethics |
Ethics |
Religion and Modernity: Christianity and Islam |
History |
Major Themes in the Bible and the Qur’an |
Scripture |
Dialogue and Interfaith
Course Title |
Topic Area of Course |
Dialogue in a World of Difference |
Degree Specific Courses |
Building Abrahamic Partnerships |
Dialogue |
American Pluralism |
Religion and Society |
Scriptural Reasoning |
Scripture |
Job and Jonah: Suffering, Repentance, and Spiritual Transformation |
Scripture |
Are We All Bound for Heaven? Christian Theology and Other Religions |
Theology |
Religion, Conflict and Peacemaking |
Theology |
The Rehabilitation of Mission: Christian Mission and the Interfaith Reality |
Theology |
Islamic Chaplaincy
Course Title |
Topic Area of Course |
Counseling American Muslim Families |
Arts of Ministry |
| Counseling American Muslim Families |
Arts of Ministry |
| The Art of Preaching |
Arts of Ministry |
| How We Speak Here: Preaching in Particular Places |
Arts of Ministry |
| Essential Skills in Pastoral Counseling and Ministry |
Arts of Ministry |
| Realities of Chaplaincy in Various Settings |
Arts of Ministry |
| Contemporary Islamic Ethics |
Ethics |
| Introduction to Islamic Law |
Ethics |
| Introduction to Arabic Phonology and Script |
Languages |
| Introduction to Arabic Morphology and Syntax |
Languages |
| Intermediate Arabic, Parts I and II |
Languages |
| Rituals and Responsibilities of Muslim Leaders in America |
Spirituality, Liturgy and Worship |
| Spiritual Resources for Muslim Chaplains |
Spirituality, Liturgy and Worship |
Islamic Studies
Course Title |
Topic Area of Course |
Contemporary Islamic Ethics |
Ethics |
Introduction to Islamic Law |
Ethics |
Islam in America and Western Europe |
History |
Islamic History I |
History |
Islamic History II |
History |
The Life of Prophet Muhammad |
History |
Introduction to Arabic Phonology and Script |
Languages |
| Introduction to Arabic Morphology and Syntax |
Languages |
| Intermediate Arabic, Parts I and II |
Languages |
| Readings in Arabic Religious Texts |
Scripture |
| The Qur’an and Its Place in Muslim Life and Society |
Scripture |
| The Qur’an and the Afterlife |
Scripture |
| Islamic Spirituality |
Spirituality, Liturgy and Worship |
| Maidservants of Allah: The Spirituality of Muslim Women |
Spirituality, Liturgy and Worship |
| The Attributes of God and the Purpose of Creation: Readings in Islamic Theology |
Theology |
| Major Religious Figures: Fetullah Gulen |
Theology |
World Religions
Course Title |
Topic Area of Course |
Comparative Religious Ethics |
Ethics |
Introduction to World Religions |
History |
| Job and Jonah: Suffering, Repentance, and Spiritual Transformation |
Scripture |
| Scriptural Reasoning |
Scripture |
Holiness in Time and Space: A Jewish Approach to Spirituality |
Spirituality, Liturgy and Worship |
The Bane and Blessing of Marginalization: The Minority Religious Experience |
Theology |
Course
Descriptions