Credit Courses

Notre Dame Theology courses are offered through the St. Thomas Aquinas Center for 3 Purdue credits or for 3 Notre Dame Theology credits

Enrollment is now open. Courses offered in the Fall 2010:

Religions of the West - PHIL 331 / REL 231

4:30pm - 5:20pm
WTHR 104

The purpose of this course is to provide a systematic survey of those religions variously described, in the West, as 'Western Religions' or 'Religions of the West.' Immediately, a problem arises because the adjective, 'Western,' is questionable. The descriptions 'Western' or 'of the West' have been understood as designating a problematic geo-cultural location—but also a homogeneous style of religious thought because of their common origins as Abrahamic monotheisms. Contemporary scholars of religion, and indigenous believers, often contest this imputed homogeneity and have pointed to the incredible complexity and fluidity of these traditions, characteristics which resist simplistic classification. Well aware of the challenges such descriptions present, we, in this course, will engage in a comparative study of the systems of belief, thought, and practice traditionally termed 'Western Religions' by Western scholars of religions. This will be accomplished through a series of readings on these systems' histories, philosophies and scriptures.

The approach adopted in this course is phenomenological and comparative. Adopting the phenomenological method in the academic study of religion means that we shall try to study these religions objectively and empathetically. Adopting the comparative method in the academic study of religion means that we shall try to compare and contrast the features of these religions with the intent of observing similarities, dissimilarities and regularities, where meaningful points of comparison occur. The phenomenological method (properly applied) gives us access to a religion's rationale; the comparative method (properly applied) gives us access to the rationale of Religion.

The systems of belief, thought and practice which will be studied and compared in this course are: (1) the Judaic tradition, (2) the Christian tradition, and (3) the Islamic tradition. This survey and comparison will take place according to a fixed set of categories. Surveyed for each of these traditions will be: (a) its worldview, (b) its scriptures, (c) its hierology, (d) its cosmology, (e) its anthropology, (f) its soteriology, and (g) its most important schools of thought (or forms of scholasticism).

Prerequisites: None.

Course requirements: three objective examinations; six optional extra-credit assignments.

Christian Mysticism - Rel 351 / UND THEO 377

3:30pm - 4:20pm
BEER B242

The purpose of this course is to examine the development of Western Christian mystical thought, beginning with its earliest intimations in the Hebrew Scriptures and the thought of Plato and Aristotle and continuing through Patristic, Medieval, Renaissance, Reformation, Counter-Reformation and Modern periods to the present. This examination will be accomplished through a representative series of readings in, presentations about, and discussions of the original works of these mystics as well as secondary works about them and about the possible theoretical frames within which to view them.

Prerequisites: One course in theology or philosophy or professor's approval. Auditors are welcome.

Course Requirements: One midterm, one in-class presentation, and one final exam.

Auditors are welcome!

Systematic Theology - Rel 450 / UND THEO 430/530P

7:00pm - 9:50pm
REC 103

This dual-level (undergraduate and graduate) introduction to the nature, tasks and methods of Systematic Theology is designed to focus on some of its exemplary architects. Selections from the writings of Origen of Alexadria, St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, Francis Turretin, Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Karl Rahner, Hans Urs Von Balthasar, et al., will be read as examples for the conduct of systematic theological inquiry. Among the issues addressed will be: what a theological system (or the systematic conduct of theological inquiry) is, the relation between faith and reason, the role of experience as a theological datum, rhetoric and logic in theological argumentation, hermeneutical issues in the use of scriptural sources, and the idea of completeness in the relationship between the various theological sub-programs (doctrine of God, soteriology, ecclesiology, etc.). The specific theme will be the nature of sin.

Prerequisites: Undergraduates: one course in philosophy/theology; Graduates: enrollment in the MA program or equivalent.

Course Requirements:
Undergraduates: Attendance, participation and two seminar papers / presentations.
Graduate students: Attendance, participation, annotated bibliography, and two seminar papers / presentations.

Guided Readings - Rel/PHIL 590 / UND THEO 497

*To be arranged with Dr. Ryba

This course provides an opportunity for students to explore individually tailored research topics and projects. The emphasis is upon independence, initiative and creativity within limits agreed upon by instructor and student.

For more information, or to enroll, email Dr. Thomas Ryba ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or call: (765) 743 - 4652.