RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
FACULTY
Dr. Roger Ireson
Dr. Domenic Nigrelli
Dr. Pat Whittemore
CLASSES OFFERED
REL 101 — History and Literature of the Old Testament, 3 hours credit
A study in the origin, development, and structure of the Old Testament is followed by a survey of the great ideas and people of its literature. Special attention is given to its relevance for understanding Christianity and the religious life of Western society. Spring.
REL 102 — History and Literature of the New Testament, 3 hours credit
A study of introductory matters related to the origin and development of the New Testament is followed by a survey of its books with special emphasis upon the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and Paul, the apostle. Fall and Spring.
REL 201 — World Religions, 3 hours credit
An introductory study of the major religions of the world that acquaints the student with the beliefs, practices, and cultural expressions of each. Spring.
REL 241 — Introduction to Philosophy, 3 hours credit
This study of the nature and scope of philosophy seeks to introduce students to the major philosophical concepts from Socrates to Sarte, relating these concepts to the student’s personal credo. Fall and Spring.
REL 301 — The Life & Teachings of Jesus, 3 hours credit
This is an examination of the historical Jesus, his public ministry, and the early church’s interpretation of his work as set forth in the synoptic gospels. Consideration is given to the lasting significance of Jesus’ teachings and to the relationships among the synoptic writers. Prerequisite: REL 102. Fall, even numbered years.
REL 311 — The Johannine Literature, 3 hours credit
This is a study of the fourth gospel, the letters of John, and the Revelation of John, with special attention given to major themes shared by these documents, the cultural context in which these documents developed, and the relationship of these writings to other literature of the era. Prerequisite: REL 102. Offered on demand.
REL 321 — The Life & Letters of Paul, 3 hours credit
This investigation into the book of Acts and the Pauline epistles as sources for the apostle’s life and teachings emphasizes Paul’s continuing influence over Christian theology today. Prerequisite: REL 102. Fall, even numbered years.
REL 331 — The Wisdom Literature, 3 hours credit
An examination of the wisdom writings of the Old Testament along with the poetic and apocalyptic literature of the Hebrew people, this course gives attention to historical experiences of the nation of Israel and to parallel traditions in other ancient Near Eastern cultures. This class is taught through the Zimmerman Program in Jewish Faith and Culture, and through the Jewish Chautauqua Society. Prerequisite: REL 101. Offered on demand.
REL 341 — Prophetic Thought in Ancient Israel, 3 hours credit
This study of prophetic literature in the Old Testament focuses on the individual prophets, their historical settings/ messages/lives, and the contribution of prophecy to Israel’s religious life. This class will be taught through the Zimmerman Program in Jewish Faith and Culture, and through the Jewish Chautauqua Society. Prerequisite: REL 101. Offered on demand.
REL 351 — Principles of Christian Education, 3 hours credit
This is a broad investigation into the field of Christian education, history, philosophy, objectives, agencies, organizations, and trends examines techniques, materials, and resources useful in the church’s educational process. The role of the Bible and of interpersonal skills in the church’s educational experience will be discussed. Prerequisites: REL 101, 102. Fall, even-numbered years.
REL 361 — Christian Education for Children, 3 hours credit
This study of the church’s educational ministry with children is designed to explore effective organization and integration into the total ministry of the local congregation. It will identify the most appropriate curriculum resources and methods for nurturing faith as children grow towards faith maturity. Prerequisites: PSY 211. Fall, even-numbered years.
REL 362 — Christian Education for Youth, 3 hours credit
This study of the church’s educational and formational ministry with youth is designed to explore the goals of ministry with youth, effective organization and integration into the total ministry of the local congregation. It will identify the most appropriate curriculum resources and methods for nurturing faith as youth grow towards faith maturity. Prerequisites: PSY 211. Fall, even-numbered years.
REL 363 — Christian Education and the Adult Life Cycle, 3 hours credit
This study of the church’s educational and formational ministry with young adults, mid-adults, and older adults is designed to explore purpose, effective organization, and integration into the total ministry of the local congregation. It will identify the most appropriate curriculum resources and methods for nurturing these adults toward faith maturity. Prerequisites: PSY 211. Spring, odd-numbered years.
REL 366 — Leadership in Educational and Formational Ministries, 3 hours credit
This course explores the important role of the leader in envisioning, developing, and supporting a comprehensive system of Christian Education and Formation in the local congregation with a focus on leadership styles, the nature of authority, development of comprehensive education and formation experiences for al ages, development and support of lay leadership and teachers, strategic planning, and administration. Offered on demand.
REL 370 — Christianity and Unbelief, 3 hours credit
A study of classical atheism examining the philosophy of such thinkers as Feurbach, Freud, Nietzsche, Russell, Sartre, and Ager. Agnosticism and the void of human religious experience will also be discussed. The religious response to atheism from several points of view will also be discussed. Fall, even-numbered years.
REL 371 — Concepts of Mankind, 3 hours credit
A study of the way in which human nature has been defined through the ages from the early Greek philosophers to modern interpretations. Special emphasis on modern psychological, philosophical, and religious theory. Implications of such concepts for contemporary life. Fall, odd-numbered years.
REL 375 — Faith and Popular Culture, 3 hours credit
This course will look closely at popular culture where there are images of faith. Students will look at movies and television, listen to music, read fiction, view art, and examine sports to see where ideas of the divine might be evident. A discussion approach is intended to encourage theological engagement with popular culture and to stimulate “meaning-making” for the participants.
REL 378 — Teaching the Bible, 3 hours credit
A study is a study of creative ways to teach the Bible, the relationship of the Bible to Christian education and formation, and the implication and importance of Bible study in developing faithful discipleship among children, youth, and adults.
REL 399 — Bioethics (also listed as BIO 399), 3 hours credit
This course is designed to explore the complex ethical questions and concerns raised by the technological advancements being made in medicine, genetics, and cybernetics. The role of futuristic ethics, anticipating the bioethical issues likely to arise in the future and addressing those issues preemptively, will be considered. The importance of having a well-established ethical base from which to examine ethically questionable situations (as opposed to just “situation ethics”) will be stressed. Also, the reason humans need to do bioethics in the first place (as opposed to just letting the technology take us for a ride) will be stressed. While the class will work from a Judeo-Christian ethical perspective, other perspectives may also be considered. Prerequisites: REL241
or permission from the instructors. Spring.
REL 401 — History of Christian Thought, 3 hours credit
This survey of Christian thought from the post-New Testament era through the present compares major theological systems which have emerged within the Christian church. Elements of theology to be considered include revelation, Christology, sin, salvation, the Holy Spirit, and ecclesiology. Prerequisites: REL 101, 102 plus six hours of upper-division religion courses. Fall, odd-numbered years.
REL 410 — Christianity in Contemporary America, 3 hours credit
This course looks at the current state of Christian faith in North America by focusing on four approaches to religion found in contemporary culture — fundamentalism, evangelicalism, liberalism, and post-modernism. Prerequisites: REL 101 or REL 102; upper-division status preferred. Fall, odd-numbered years.
REL 415 — Introduction to Contemporary Christian Theology, 3 hours credit
This is a study of major Christian doctrines and beliefs from the points of view of three major theological paradigms. The doctrines of Revelation, Scripture, Creation, Christ, God, Trinity, Sin, and Salvation are considered from the divergent and sometimes conflicting standpoints of the orthodox, liberal, and liberationist/political perspectives. Spring, odd-numbered years.
REL 421,422 — Practicum, 3 hours credit
On-site experience in a local church or church-related institution is jointly supervised by college and congregational or institutional personnel. Prerequisites: Senior status and permission of the faculty. Offered on demand.
REL 431 — The United Methodist Church History & Beliefsm, 3 hours credit
This course looks at the major historical events and theological positions of the Methodist Church from its beginning until the present, along with an overview of structure within the Methodist system. Prerequisites: REL 101, 102. Fall, odd-numbered years.
REL 450 — The Holocaust in Historical Perspective, 3 hours credit
This study of Nazi Germany’s program of ethnic cleansing aimed particularly at Jews from 1939-1945 considers the causes of the tragedy and its subsequent implications for the worldwide Jewish community. The class will be taught through the Zimmerman Program in Jewish Faith and Culture and will utilize lectures, readings, videos, and discussion to address the subject. Fall, odd-numbered years.
REL 451 — The Conflict of Good and Evil: Theological Implications of the Holocaust, 3 hours credit
This course looks at the Holocaust as an expression of the age-old struggle between good and evil in human experience. The theological and philosophical implications of the Holocaust for both Jews and Christians will be considered. This class will be taught through the Zimmerman Program in Jewish Faith and Culture. Offered on demand.
REL 499 — Selected Topics and Readings in Religion, 1-3 hours credit
Fourth-year students may pursue a systematic reading program, laboratory project, field study, or studio work dealing with a selected issue in the area of religion or with problems of an interdisciplinary scope. Prerequisites: Senior status and permission of the faculty. Offered on demand.
