THEO - Theology

This course invites students to understand and use theological language to address challenges to faith offered by the human struggle to answer questions about identity, community, life and death, meaning, and God.  Christian attempts to answer these questions will be explored in comparison to other world views.

This course invites students to understand and use theological language to examine Christian faith claims about God, Jesus, Church, sacraments and liturgy, sin, and salvation.  The evolution of Christian thought is treated, and special emphasis is placed on issues affecting twenty-first century Christianity.

Students explore the great truth that underlies the gospel message that Jesus is risen and is present with his people.

A study of modern Christian understandings of experiences of God in the world and their relation to the Catholic religious tradition, particularly the tradition's call to love. Non-religious experiences of a spiritual dimension to human existence will also be explored.

This course is a survey of the history of Christianity, from the time of its founder and its founding through the early period up to the modern era.

The nature and the function of the Roman Catholic Church are discussed, with a consideration of how the Church functions both in itself and in relation to other religious traditions.

This course is organized by theologian, period, or topic, with an emphasis on the engagement of Roman Catholic and Christian tradition with culture. Topics vary; see the University Course Schedule.

This introduction to the Old Testament, also called the Hebrew Bible, addresses the history, literature, religion and culture of ancient Israel.

The literature and world of the early Christian era are studied, with special emphasis on the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth and the development of the early Church.

This course offers a scriptural, theological and liturgical study of the nature of the sacraments both communal and personal. Special attention is given to the meaning of sacraments in contemporary times.

Students study the sociological, cultural and theological history of the Catholic Church in the United States, from colonial to modern times.

This course provides an overview of peace studies which examines human conflict and its peaceful transformation. Drawing from Catholic social teaching's imperatives, the emphasis will be on acquiring a justpeace lens in order to do social analysis through service learning and civic engagement.

This course examines the gospel of Mark as a historical, literary, cultural and religious document. The gospel's origins and its message about Jesus and the church are explored and developed.

Students explore the impact of biblical themes on modern American fiction. Themes such as freedom, journey, suffering and hope are emphasized, and the interpretation of literary symbols is stressed.

This course considers how Christians are called to act in a world challenged by racism, poverty, consumerism and other complex, modern problems. Particular attention is given to the Roman Catholic perspective as expressed in Scripture, Church doctrine and papal teaching.

This course explores the ways in which religious faith and belief are expressed through the arts, including the visual and performing arts. The theatres, museums, concert halls and churches of Chicago and elsewhere may be used as resources for the class. This course is offered both as a traditional semester-long course and may also be offered as an accelerated travel course.

This course centers on various ways to understand Christology, as well as the person and significance of Jesus of Nazareth. Biblical, classical and modern teachings are studied.

The effects of Western Christianity, as well as the effects of colonialism and neo-colonialism on Third World peoples are studied. Students learn how Christianity is practiced among ordinary people in Asia, Latin America and Africa and how Christianity has been enculturated in non-western cultures.

This course focuses on theologies generated from Latin American, African-American, feminist and other perspectives, assessing the challenges and changes that marginalized perspectives bring to the traditional understanding of such theological topics as God, creation, human beings, salvation and the Holy Spirit.

This course compares the teachings of Christianity with the teachings and practices of selected non-Christian religions, possibly including Native-American religious traditions, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. The aims of the course are to clarify similarities and differences between Christianity and other religions, to reflect on the problem posed by religious pluralism in modern culture, and to develop a Christian theology of world religions.

In addition to extensive service work through existing opportunities throughout the United States and Mexico in conjunction with Lasallian volunteers, students are challenged to consider a faith that does justice and upholds the dignity of every human person. Students explore the call to service in their own lives in conjunction with the path of De La Salle's response to his call. This course includes a required service component.

This course consists of three components: investigation of the Church liturgical year as a basis for communal prayer, the study of principles for communal prayer and prayer leadership, and practical experiences in which students will develop and lead prayer. Students will explore prayer forms and prayer styles in a variety of settings needed for effective pastoral leadership. In addition, students will study and create scriptural reflections which offer spiritual applications appropriate for communal prayer.

This course is designed for all students seeking to minister within the church in any of the numerous ministries (lay and ordained) and educational capacities. The biblical, theological, historical, and spiritual foundations for ministry will be explored. In addition, the major Vatican II and U.S. Bishops' documents will be incorporated into the course as a framework for ministry and a context for contemporary Church tradition. There will be an emphasis upon integration of course readings into the reality of the twenty-first century church including challenges and limitations. Integration of ministerial theology and spirituality into the personal lives of the students will be sought.

This course is an introduction to the study of fundamental moral theology. Emphasizing Catholic tradition in dialogue with other sources of wisdom, the course reflects on values and methods by which humans develop as moral persons.

Students consider the intellectual history of Christian theology, examining people and their ideas, from the birth of Jesus to the modern era.

This course focuses on the lived, religious experience of women in the three major monotheistic religions of the world: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The course includes an exploration of fundamental questions about women shaping and being shaped by religious traditions.

This course allows students to focus on particular dimensions of theological study. Some workshops are devoted solely to service-learning. Topics will vary.

These courses are designed through the collaboration of a student and the Theology Department to address the needs of the student in his or her plan of study within the discipline.

This capstone course will offer pastoral ministry students an opportunity to gain experience in a ministerial setting while being supervised onsite and mentored by a faculty member.  Through experience, additional reading, synthesis of prior theological study, and structured reflection, course participants prepare for employment as ministerial professionals. Should be taken in the final year of theological study.

This series of courses is organized by topic, event, individual, movement, era, issue, question or concern and is designed to explore areas not covered in regularly offered courses.

A study of research methods and resources in the discipline of theology, this course teaches students to compile a bibliography for use in the discipline. The emphasis of the course varies from year to year, focusing on an important person in the history of Christian theology or an important movement or school of thought in the history of Christian theology. The course fulfills the advanced writing requirement for majors in Theology.

This capstone provides an integrative experience for the Peace Studies Minor offering students an opportunity to synthesize what they have learned in both course and field work. Students review and evaluate theory, models of practice, research, and experience to develop their understanding of the ways peacebuilding and conflict-transformation are engaged personally, spiritually, locally, regionally, and globally. The course requires a project (e.g., the completion of an e-portfolio, major paper, and/or public presentation) integrating peace and justice theory and praxis with a student’s academic major and future career aspirations. THEO 45000 should be taken in the final semester of the minor.

This course provides a framework for responding to the needs of the disadvantaged members of society, especially the elderly, the hungry, the homeless and the institutionalized. Students provide practical action plans of service learning based on Scripture, existing or possible social or ministerial services, and the support of others similarly interested. The course includes a required service learning component.