Autumn 2010 Course Descriptions
PLEASE NOTE: This document is subject to amendment. It is intended for descriptive and informational use only. DO NOT USE IT TO REGISTER FOR CLASSES. To register, please consult the University Time Schedules.
The Following "Special Courses" are for M. Div. students only:
629-60000-01/02 Special Course — Chicago Theological Seminary
629-63000-01/02 Special Course — Meadville Lombard Theol School
629-65000-01/02 Special Course — Catholic Theological Union
629-66000-01/02 Special Course — Lutheran Theological School
629-68000-01/02 Special Course — McCormick Theol. Seminary* An asterisk indicates that the course so designated may count toward the required “designated introductory courses” for M.A. students.
DVSC 30400 Introduction to the Study of Religion: Reading Havy ibn Yaqzan *
Robinson, James
M/W 1:30-2:50 S106
PQ: Supporting course required of all M.A./AMRS/M.DIV. students
An extra discussion section is required; times to be determined the first week of the quarter.
DVSC 42000 Divinity School: German Reading Exam
Monday, October 18 at 6:00 p.m.
PQ: Open only to Divinity School students.
DVSC 45100 Reading Course: Special Topic
Staff; ARR
PQ: Petition with bibliography signed by instructor; enter section from faculty list.
DVSC 49900 Exam Preparation
Staff; ARR
PQ: Open only to Ph.D. students in quarter of qualifying exams. Department Consent. Registration will be handled by the Dean of Students office. Petition signed by Advisor.
DVSC 50100 Research: Divinity
Staff; ARR
PQ: Petition signed by instructor; enter section from faculty list.
DVSC 59900 Thesis Work: Divinity
PQ: Petition signed by instructor; enter section from faculty list.
BIBL 31000 Jewish Thought and Literature: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible *
Chavel, Simeon
T/TH 1:30-2:50 S106
The course will survey the contents of the Hebrew Bible, and introduce critical questions regarding its central and marginal figures and ideas, its literary qualities and anomalies, the history of its composition and transmission, its relation to other artifacts from the biblical period, its place in the history and society of ancient Israel, and its relation to the larger culture of the ancient Near East. Student responsibilities include primary and secondary readings, attending lectures, periodic quizzes, discussion sections, and two essay exams (midterm and final).
Discussion groups will meet Fridays, 10:00-11:00; 11:00-12:00; 12:00-1:00; 1:00-2:00, Swift 201.
Ident. RLST 11005/JWSC 20001
BIBL: 34000 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew 2
Thomas, Ben
M/W/F 8:00-8:50 S208
PQ: BIBL 33900
BIBL 35300 Intermediate Koine Greek 2
Howell, Justin
M/W/F 8:00-8:50 S201
PQ: BIBL 35100
BIBL 42800 Lecture: The Book of Acts
Klauck, Hans-Josef
M/W 9:00-11:00 S208
PQ: No Greek necessary. A special Greek session will be offered from 10:20-11:00)
BIBL 43501 The Question in Jewish Intellectual Culture
Fishbane, Michael
W 9:00-11:50 S200
The role of the question in the Jewish spiritual and intellectual imagination, with special emphasis on its place in the formulation and critique of tradition. Sources drawn from the Hebrew Bible, classical Judaism (Midrash and Talmud), early medieval (and some later) ‘Responsa’ literature, and medieval philosophical dialogues and Bible commentaries.
PQ: No language prerequisite (texts given in English, with accompanying original sources)
Ident. HIJD 43501
BIBL 46600 God’s Mythic Profile in the Hebrew Bible
Chavel, Simeon
T/TH 4:00-5:20 S201
A reading course. Biblical poetry and prose from the Torah, Psalms, and Job, in which Yhwh figures as greatest of gods, creator of the earth, warrior against chaos, sustainer of life, founder of his people, builder of his temple, lawmaker of the right and true; set against mythic poetry of the ancient Near East. Students will: prepare 10-20 verses ahead of every class, using standard critical tools; read aloud in class, translate, and lead analysis; write three short exploratory papers (2-4 pp.) and one research paper (15-20 pp.); and do some additional general reading.
PQ: One year of Biblical Hebrew
BIBL 52201 Seminar: “Petrine” Writings: The Pseudo-Clementines
Klauck, Hans-Josef
M 1:00-3:50 S403
PQ: Good knowledge of Greek needed.
THEO 30100 History of Christian Thought I *
Otten, Willemien
TH 9:00-11:50 S106
This first course in the History of Christian Thought sequence deals with the post New Testament period until Augustine, stretching roughly from 150 through 450 CE. The aim of the course is to follow the development of Christian thought by relating its structural features to the historical context in which they arose without adhering to schematic models such as East vs. West, orthodoxy vs. heresy, Alexandrian vs. Antiochene exegesis. The following authors and themes will be analyzed and discussed:
(1) Martyrdom and the Authority of Christian Witness: Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr; (2) Platonism and Exegesis: Origen, Basil of Caesarea; (3) Incarnation and Asceticism: Athanasius, Gregory of Nyssa and Ambrose; (4) Ecclesial Unity and Episcopal Authority: Cyprian and Chrysostom; (5) Projecting Historical Authority: Eusebius and Jerome; (6) Normative Belief and Gnostic Dissent: All About the Creeds; (7) Ancient Thought Baptized: Augustine of Hippo.
Ident. HCHR 30100
THEO 34302 Jewish Spiritual Practices *
Fishbane, Michael
Tue 9:00-11:50 S201
An introduction to the varieties of Jewish spiritual practices, aimed at self-cultivation and the therapy of desire, from late antiquity to the early medieval period. A broad range of genres will be explored. Comparisons to be considered from similar practices in pagan antiquity and from early and late medieval Christianity.
PQ: No language prerequisite (texts given in English, with accompanying original sources)
Ident. HIJD 34302/HCHR 34302
THEO 38900 Theology and Metaphysics
Hector, Kevin
M 3:00-5:50 S208
This course will consider a handful of theological and philosophical approaches to—and definitions of—“metaphysics,” including reductive-empiricist approaches of the sort defended by Rufolf Carnap and Bas van Fraassen; “new” metaphysics of the sort defended by Saul Kripke and David Lewis; apophatic approaches of the sort defended by Martin Heidegger, Jean-Luc Marion, and John Caputo; and pragmatic-therapeutic approaches of the sort defended by Richard Rorty and Jeffrey Stout.
IDENT. DVPR 38900
THEO 41600 Jonathan Edwards
Gilpin, Clark
W 8:30-11:20 S403
This seminar on Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) will provide a chronological, contextual exploration of his writings, in order to provide a framework for specialized research on his life, thought, and cultural influence.
Ident. HCHR 43400
THEO 46900 Reinhold Niebuhr: Theology and Ethics *
Gamwell, Franklin
T/TH 9:00-10:20 S208
This course examines Reinhold Niebuhr’s systematic theology, especially his arguments for the Christian understanding of human existence and for the relation of the moral enterprise to the reality of God.
Ident.RETH 46100/RLST 23700/FNDL 22200
THEO 52700 Schleiermacher’s Glaubenslehre
Hector, Kevin
W 3:00-5:50 S403
This course will engage in a close reading of Schleiermacher’s magnum opus in order to address questions such as the following: To what extent is the Glaubenslehre recognizable as an “ecclesial” theology (as Schleiermacher himself understood it)? To what extent is it recognizable as “Modern,” “Liberal,” and “Protestant,” and how might its recognition as such affect our understanding of these terms? How should we understand Schleiermacher’s theological method and his account of Christian doctrines? To what extent are the standard interpretations of his views adequate? Does Schleiermacher contribute anything of lasting importance to Christian and/or religious thought?
THEO 53400 Reading Augustine’s Confessions
Otten, Willemien
TH 1:30-4:20 MEM Library
This seminar will be devoted to an in-depth reading of Augustine’s Confessions, with use of the Latin text. Themes that will be focused on are: genesis and structure of the work; context of the work in Augustine’s literary oeuvre (vis-à-vis De doctrina and De Trinitate); its meditative versus dialogical character; its portrait of the self; relationship between books I-X and XI-XIII; use and function of exegesis; ancient (Pelagius) and postmodern readings of the Confessions (Lyotard, Marion).
PQ: Latin is Required.
Ident. HCHR 53400
DVPR 30201 Indian Philosophy I: Origins and Orientations *
Arnold, Daniel
T/TH 10:30-11:50 S400
Ident. HREL 30200/SALC 20901/30901/RLST 24201
DVPR 38900 Theology and Metaphysics
Hector, Kevin
M 3:00-5:50 S208.
This course will consider a handful of theological and philosophical approaches to—and definitions of—“metaphysics,” including reductive-empiricist approaches of the sort defended by Rufolf Carnap and Bas van Fraassen; “new” metaphysics of the sort defended by Saul Kripke and David Lewis; apophatic approaches of the sort defended by Martin Heidegger, Jean-Luc Marion, and John Caputo; and pragmatic-therapeutic approaches of the sort defended by Richard Rorty and Jeffrey Stout.
IDENT. THEO 38900
DVPR 42800 Madhyamaka
Arnold, Daniel
F 1:00-3:50 S403
This seminar, which presupposes a basic knowledge of Indian and/or Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, will consider some of the foundational texts of the Madhyamaka tradition of thought, with particular reference to the works of Nagarjuna and Candrakirti. In addition to close readings of assorted primary sources, we will consider contemporary scholarly debates regarding the interpretation of Madhyamaka (e.g. concerning the significance of the “Svatantrika-Prasangika” distinction, or the appropriateness of modern philosophical categories such as “skepticism” and “metaphysics” for characterizing Madhyamaka thought).
PQ: Some knowledge of Sanskrit and Tibetan preferred.
Ident. SALC 42800
DVPR 50110 Meaning
Stern, Josef
M 10:30-1:20 TBA
This seminar will be an intensive introduction for graduate students in Philosophy, Linguistics and related disciplines to the truth-conditional analysis of linguistic meaning. The course will not presume any prior familiarity with the subject matter but it will be geared toward the level of sophistication of graduate students and proceed at their pace. Readings will include, among others, Frege, Carnap, Quine, Davidson, Chomsky, D. Lewis, Burge, Lepore and Ludwig, and Higginbotham. Note: the first meeting of the seminar will be on Monday, October 4.
Ident. PHIL 50110
DVPR 50901 Improvisation as a Way of Life
Davidson, Arnold/Lewis, G.
Mon 2:30-5:20 JRL 207
This seminar will be organized around the idea that the practice of improvisation is not at all limited to the artistic domain, but is a ubiquitous practice of everyday life, a primary method of exchange in any interaction. Improvisation is, in effect, a certain kind of orientation or attitude towards oneself, others, and the world. Combining philosophical ethnographic, musicological, and technological modes of analysis and creation, this seminar aims at the presentation of new models of intelligibility, agency, expression, and social responsibility that can inform the theory and practice of real-time musical analysis, leading to new and more effective interactive technologies as well.
PQ: Graduate students interested in enrolling should email Prof. Davidson prior to registering.
Ident. PHIL 50910/CDIN 50910/MUSC 45511
CHRM 30500 Colloquium: Introduction to Ministry Studies
Lindner, Cynthia/Boyd, Kevin
W 3:00-4:50 S400
PQ: lst year M.DIV. students only
CHRM 35600 Arts of Ministry: Preaching
Lindner, Cynthia
F 9:00-11:50 S400
PQ: 2nd year M.DIV. students only
CHRM 40600 Practice of Ministry I
Boyd, Kevin
F 1:30-4:20 S400
PQ: 2nd year M.DIV. students only.
ISLM 30500 Islamic History and Society-1: the Rise of Islam and the Caliphate
Donner, Fred
M/W/F 10:30-11:20 HM 140
Ident. NEHC 30501/HIST 35704
ISLM 30641 Islamic Origins
Donner, Fred
M/W 1:30-2:50 OR 208
Ident. NEHC 30601
ISLM 50300 Arabic Sufi Poetry
Sells, Michael
Tue 1:30-4:20 MEM Library
PQ: 2 years of Arabic or the equivalent
IDENT. RLIT 50300
AASR 32900 Classical Theories of Religion *
Wedemeyer, Christian
M/W 10:00-11:20 S201
Ident. HREL 32900/ANTH 35005
AASR 41100 Introduction to Max Weber
Riesebrodt, Martin
M 3:00-5:50 S400
Ident. SOCI 40110
AASR 53500 Religious Authority
Riesebrodt, Martin/Lincoln, Bruce
T/TH 3:00-4:20 S400
Ident. HREL 53500/SOCI 50077
HIJD 34302 Jewish Spiritual Practices *
Fishbane, Michael
Tue 9:00-11:50 S201
An introduction to the varieties of Jewish spiritual practices, aimed at self-cultivation and the therapy of desire, from late antiquity to the early medieval period. A broad range of genres will be explored. Comparisons to be considered from similar practices in pagan antiquity and from early and late medieval Christianity.
PQ: No language prerequisite (texts given in English, with accompanying original sources)
Ident. THEO 34302/HCHR 43402
HIJD 43501 The Question in Jewish Intellectual Culture
Fishbane, Michael
W 9:00-11:50 S200
The role of the question in the Jewish spiritual and intellectual imagination, with special emphasis on its place in the formulation and critique of tradition. Sources drawn from the Hebrew Bible, classical Judaism (Midrash and Talmud), early medieval (and some later) ‘Responsa’ literature, and medieval philosophical dialogues and Bible commentaries.
PQ: No language prerequisite (texts given in English, with accompanying original sources)
Ident. BIBL 43501
HIJD 45100 Memory and History of Jewish Thought
Mendes-Flohr, Paul
W 3:00-5:50 S200
HIJD 48700 Divine Revelation in Modern Jewish Thought
Mendes-Flohr, Paul
Tu 3:00-5:50 S403
HIJD 51500 Maimonides as Mystic
Robinson, James
TH 3:00-5:50 S403
Maimonides has been described as philosopher and theologian, Neoplatonist and Skeptic, Aristotelian and anti-Aristotelian, critic of religion and pious defender of the faith. This seminar will explore the mystical interpretation of his work through a careful line-by-line reading of relevant chapters in his Guide of the Perplexed, especially Guide 3:51, together with related texts from his vast corpus. Evidence from the medieval commentary tradition will also be examined, as will the recent discussion in modern scholarship.
PQ: Good knowledge of Arabic and/or Hebrew
HCHR 30100 History of Christian Thought I *
Otten, Willemien
TH 9:00-11:50 S106
This first course in the History of Christian Thought sequence deals with the post New Testament period until Augustine, stretching roughly from 150 through 450 CE. The aim of the course is to follow the development of Christian thought by relating its structural features to the historical context in which they arose without adhering to schematic models such as East vs. West, orthodoxy vs. heresy, Alexandrian vs. Antiochene exegesis. The following authors and themes will be analyzed and discussed:
(1) Martyrdom and the Authority of Christian Witness; Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr; (2) Platonism and Exegesis: Origen, Basil of Caesarea; (3) Incarnation and Asceticism: Athanasius, Gregory of Nyssa and Ambrose; (4) Ecclesial Unity and Episcopal Authority: Cyprian and Chrysostom; (5) Projecting Historical Authority: Eusebius and Jerome; (6) Normative Belief and Gnostic Dissent: All About the Creeds; (7) Ancient Thought Baptized: Augustine of Hippo.
Ident. THEO 30100
HCHR 30601 Introduction to Coptic
Ritner, Robert
MWF 10:30-11:20 OR 210
Knowledge of earlier Egyptian language phases or of Classical or Koine Greek helpful but not required. This course provides an introduction to the last native language of Egypt, in common use during the Roman, Byzantine and medieval Islamic periods (fourth to tenth centuries C.E.) Grammar and vocabulary of the standard Sahidic dialect are presented in preparation for reading biblical, monastic, and Gnostic literature, as well as a variety of historical and social documents.
PQ: Second-year standing.
Ident. NELC 10201
HCHR 34302 Jewish Spiritual Practices *
Fishbane, Michael
Tue 9:00-11:50 S201
An introduction to the varieties of Jewish spiritual practices, aimed at self-cultivation and the therapy of desire, from late antiquity to the early medieval period. A broad range of genres will be explored. Comparisons to be considered from similar practices in pagan antiquity and from early and late medieval Christianity.
PQ: No language prerequisite (texts given in English, with accompanying original sources)
Ident. HIJD 34302/THEO 34302
HCHR 42901 Christianity and Slavery in America, 1618-1865 *
Evans, Curtis
T/TH 10:30-11:50 S208
This course examines the history of Christian thought and practice in respect to slavery in the United States. Particular attention is paid to Christian missions to slaves, slave acceptance of and resistance to Christianity, debates over abolition, the Christian proslavery defense, and the practice and evolution of slave religion.
HCHR 43301 Religion in Modern America 1865 to 1920 *
Evans, Curtis
T/TH 1:00-2:20 S208
This course is a general history of religion in America from the Civil War to the 1920s. Special emphases include religious practice, interreligious encounters and conflicts, race, confrontation with modernity, and the changing social and public dimensions of religion in the U.S.
HCHR 43400 Jonathan Edwards
Gilpin, Clark
W 8:30-11:20 S403
This seminar on Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) will provide a chronological, contextual exploration of his writings, in order to provide a framework for specialized research on his life, thought, and cultural influence.
Ident. THEO 41600
HCHR 46500 Colloquium: Christian Politics in Medieval and Early Modern Europe
Fasolt, Constantin/Nirenberg, David
Tue 3:00-5:50 ARR
Ident. HIST 55001/SCTH 55001
HCHR 48801 Multidisciplinary Study of American Culture
Slaughter, Eric
TH 9:00-11:50 RO 405
PQ: Course restricted to Ph.D. students only.
Ident. RLIT 48801/ENGL 55405/HIST 62304/AMER 50001
HCHR 53200 Seminar: Christian Politics in Medieval and Early Modern Europe
Fasolt, Contantin/Nirenberg, David
Tue 3:00-5:50 ARR
Ident. HIST 75001/SCTH 75001
HCHR 53400 Reading Augustine’s Confessions
Otten, Willemien
TH 1:30-4:20 MEM Library
This seminar will be devoted to an in-depth reading of Augustine’s Confessions, with use of the Latin text. Themes that will be focused on are: genesis and structure of the work; context of the work of Augustine’s literary oeuvre (vis-à-vis De doctrina and De Trinitate); its meditative versus dialogical character; its portrait of the self; relationship between books I-X and XI-XIII; use and function of exegesis; ancient (Pelagius) and postmodern readings of the Confessions (Lyotard, Marion).
PQ: Latin Required.
Ident. THEO 53400
RLIT 42300 European Sacred Music Abroad, 1520-1750
Kendrick, Robert
TH 9:00-11:50 JRL 265
This seminar examines the evidence for and practice of Christian (largely Catholic) sacred music outside Europe in the early Modern period. We will look at Issues of “ac/trans/culturation”, indigenous musics, and repertories in several times and places, first the Jesuit missions in India and China/Japan (2 weeks). We will pay special attention to European attitudes towards the use of indigenous languages and music in sacred repertory. The rest of the quarter will be spent on musical practices and sources in New Spain and Viceroyalty of Peru from the contact period up to the Italianization of the liturgical and paraliturgical repertories in the mid-18th century. Students without technical knowledge of music are welcome to pursue wider historical projects related to music, and to share their language skills (documents and secondary literature will certainly involve Latin, Spanish, Portuguese and French; possibly also Tamil, Japanese or Chinese). A final paper will address one problem or cultural situation.
Ident. LACS 44511/MUSC
RLIT 48801 Multidisciplinary Study of American Culture
Slaughter, Eric
TH 9:00-11:50 RO 405
PQ: Course restricted to Ph.D. students only.
Ident. HCHR 48801/ENGL 55405/HIST 62304/AMER 50001
RLIT 50300 Arabic Sufi Poetry
Sells, Michael
Tue 1:30-4:20 MEM Library
PQ: 2 years of Arabic or the equivalent
IDENT. ISLM 50300
HREL 30200 Indian Philosophy 1: Origins and Orientations *
Arnold, Daniel
T/TH 10:30-11:50 S400
Ident. DVPR 30201/SALC 20901/30901/RLST 24201
HREL 32900 Classical Theories of Religion *
Wedemeyer, Christian
M/W 10:00-11:20 S201
Ident. AASR 32900/ANTH 35005
HREL 47900 Sacred Kingship
Lincoln, Bruce
T/TH 10:30-11:50 S200
HREL 53400 Contemporary Perspectives on the History of Religions
Wedemeyer, Christian
M 2:00-4:50 MEM Library
PQ: Either HREL 32900/41500 (Classical) or HREL 50700 (Contemporary)
HREL 53500 Religious Authority
Lincoln, Bruce/Riesebrodt, Martin
T/TH 3:00-4:20 S400
Ident. AASR 53500/SOCI 50077
RETH 34300 Religion, Law and Politics
Neil, Sylvia
W 4:00-6:00 Law School
This course will examine the conceptualization and realization of religious liberty and the separation of church and state. We explore philosophical precepts and historical contexts, review the state of the law, and address current controversial issues.
PQ: None. Grades will be based on a paper and class participation.
RETH 34300 Religion, Law and Politics
Neil, Sylvia
W 4:00-6:00 Law School
This course will examine the conceptualization and realization of religious liberty and the separation of church and state. We explore philosophical precepts and historical contexts, review the state of the law, and address current controversial issues.
PQ: None. Grades will be based on a paper and class participation.
RETH 43900 Religion and Democracy
Gamwell, Franklin
T/TH 1:30-2:50 S200
An examination of legal, philosophical, and theological views on the proper role of religious beliefs and religious communities within a democratic political process, with focus on contemporary United States politics.
RETH 46100 Reinhold Niebuhr: Theology and Ethics *
Gamwell, Franklin
T/TH 9:00-10:20 S208
This course examines Reinhold Niebuhr’s systematic theology, especially his arguments for the Christian understanding of human existence and for the relation of the moral enterprise to the reality of God.
Ident. THEO 46900/RLST 23703/FNDL 22200
