220-01/02 – Introduction to Biblical Literature – BROUWER
Whether you have never read anything in the Bible before, or have been reading it all your life, this course is for you.  For those to whom the Bible is a new read, you will gain basic knowledge and insights, as well as a comprehensive organizing scheme for understanding the Bible as a whole.  For those to whom the Bible is an old friend, you will come to see its cohesiveness in larger segments, and gain new appreciation for the extensive and intensive relationship between Old and New Testaments.  We will use a secondary handbook to help guide our way, and provide outlines and explanatory notes.  There will be regular short “Reading Quizzes.”

220-03/04 – Introduction to Biblical Literature: Pauline Literature – EVERTS
This course is a study of Paul's letters which will place special emphasis on learning how to exegete Pauline texts.  As we engage in a detailed study of the four major Pauline epistles, we will examine issues relevant to the exegesis and interpretation of all of Paul's writings.

240-01 – Introduction to History of Christianity – TYLER
This course examines the history of Christianity from the early church well into the Middle Ages.  Although the development of theology and the growth of the church will be important themes, we will also investigate how Christians and their critics explored and endured self and society, doubt and despair, discovery and desire, the ephemeral and the eternal with conviction and faith.

260-01/02 – Introduction to Theology: Faith Seeking Understanding – HUSBANDS
Using the Apostles’ Creed as an outline of faithful reflection upon the living God of the Gospel, with a careful reading and an informed discussion of classical figures and texts, this course represents a study of basic Christian beliefs about God, creation, humanity, evil, Jesus Christ, salvation, and the church.

260-03 – Catholic Christianity - PITSTICK
This course is an introduction to Catholic Christian theology, doctrine, and life: Revelation, Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterium; the Most Holy Trinity; creation, original sin; Christ; Mary; salvation; grace; the Church; sacraments and liturgy; moral principles (sin, conscience, etc); prayer and the spiritual life.

260-04 – What or Who is Human? - PITSTICK
Who or what is human?  How we answer this question directly impacts our ethical choices.  Are humans just another kind of animal?  Can one be a human being without being a human person?  And what are humans for anyway?  This class investigates these and similar questions through reflective observation and through the careful consideration of answers proposed by a variety of religious, philosophical, and scientific thinkers from ancient to contemporary times.  In conversation with course materials, students will articulate how they themselves would answer the question.
 
Assignments will include primary texts from authors, possibly including Heraclitus, Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Hume, Darwin, Marx, Fabre, Sartre, Portmann, Pieper, John Paul II, Singer, Irving, ….

260-05 – Christian Feminism - JAPINGA
A study of the role of women in the Bible, the history of Christianity, and contemporary culture, with an emphasis on the writings of feminist theologians.

260-06 – Christian Love - HOOGERWERF
This course invites students to explore the concept of love as a moral principle rooted in the Christian tradition and to critically assess a variety of voices and viewpoints related to the role of love in the Christian life.  We will examine Christian love as it is expressed in relationship with self, friends, family, marriage partner, neighbors, enemies, and God.  Among other themes explored are the relationship between love and sexuality, love and forgiveness, and the unique variety of loves that are part of human life and faithful living.

280-01 – Introduction to World Religions - WILSON
This course will investigate the basic tenets and practices of some of the major religions of four geographic sectors of the world.  The investigation is divided geographically rather than thematically because of the nature of religion as it manifests itself in various regions.  The same region may undergo changes as its locus shifts from its point of origin; we will note the continuity as well as the changes as we trace some religions across several of the geographic sectors.