This course is a survey of Christian understandings of war, peace, and revolution from the time of Christ and the early church to the present. Emphasis will be placed on the way in which theological convictions in the areas of Christology, pneumatology, eschatology, ecclesiology, and so on, have shaped Christian Teaching on the nature of peace and the permissibility of using violence. Cases will be used to examine certain aspects of just war theory, with the purpose of addressing the question: is just war theory applicable to warfare in the era of the modern nation state? Other issues discussed will include the military chaplaincy, the role of Christian churches in mobilizing for war, and the use of violence in revolution. Texts will include: Reinhold Niebuhr, Moral man and immoral society; John Howard Yoder, Christian attitudes toward war, peace and revolution: A companion to Bainton; US Catholic Bishops, The challenge of peace, and others.

Students will be introduced to an understanding of modernity, through the discussion of topics such as: the Renaissance; precursors of modernity; classic systems of the 18th century: rationalism and empiricism; the Enlightenment and the crisis of the European conscience; proposals and critiques of German Idealism.

An Introduction to various political thoughts and forms of governments. Students will discuss the concept of democracy in comparison to other political thoughts or styles of governing. The contemporary local political situations and trends will be referred.

This course is a theological exploration of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Islam and the relationship of Christianity to those religions. The goal of this exploration is specifically: (a) to set forth the essential characteristics of the world’s great religions; (b) to disengage the essential differences between Christianity and the other world religions; (c) to identify the distinctiveness of Catholicism within the family of Christian traditions; (d) to examine historically and systematically the Christian theological appraisal of other world religions. The ultimate goal of this course is to enable students to gain a deeper understanding of Christianity by passing over into and experiencing as well as appraising the different major religious traditions of the world. To enhance the learning experience, the course will make abundant use of films and fieldwork.

This course is an exploration of current issues facing the Catholic Church and other Christian communities globally. Possible topics to be included are: north-south political and economic tensions, post-colonialism and globalization, religious and cultural pluralism, the environmental crisis, contextualization/inculturation, Christian unity and ecumenism. Contemporary debates and developments will be treated in view of their biblical, historical, and theological backgrounds. The realities of the Church in the Two-Thirds World will be considered. Voices from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific will be primary sources. Pastoral implications for Christian leadership with global perspective will be stressed.