Undergraduate Catalog 2021-2022 | Page 293

Course Name
Long Title
Min Credits
Description
Requisites
RS-160
Religions in America
3
This course treats the major religions found in the United States today . Their historical developments and the large diversity of beliefs and practices are examined both in a critical manner and with their ecumenical implications .
RS-165
Foundations of Christian Sprirtuality
3
Through an examination of the basic tenets of Christian faith , this course proceeds to explore the foundational elements of spirituality within a Christian context . Various themes , movements and figures from the Christian spiritual tradition across the centuries are examined and brought into dialogue with contemporary Christian living
RS-200
Paul and His Theology
3
RS-2000
Encountering Sacred Writings
3
RS-201
Writings of John
3
RS-203
The Synoptic Gospels
3
RS-218
Meaning and Practice of Prayer
3
The life and missionary activities of Paul the Apostle are reconstructed from both biblical and non- biblical sources . While Pauline theology is examined mainly from the authentic Pauline letters , Pauline thought from the entire corpus of letters traditionally attributed to Paul is studied . This course introduces students to the issues involved in reading and understanding sacred tests , whether one reads texts as a believer or not . Given the nature of Gwynedd Mercy University , the biblical texts of the Old and New Testament form the core of the course . To provide comparisons and contrasts with the Judeo-Christian biblical tradition , some selective writings from other major religions will be examined in a limited manner . The literature of Johannine Christianity , which includes a gospel , three letters and an apocalyptic work , is the primary subject matter of this course . Comparisons and contracts with the Synoptic tradition are also examined . The gospels of Mathew and Mark and the two-part work consisting of the gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles , provide the primary subject matter of the course . The Synoptic Problem of interdependence and the primary emphases of the Synoptic tradition are examined . The three monotheistic religions , Judaism , Christianity and Islam , offer rich and varied approaches to prayer . The basic beliefs of these three major religions are examined in light of their unique approaches to prayer practices .