Religion and Theology
THL100 The Biblical Heritage of Christianity 4 credits
An investigation of the sacred literature and basic theological expressions of the Christian tradition. The course emphasizes the covenant dealings of God with His people and the completion of the old covenant in God's new covenant in Jesus Christ. Students will read selected portions from each major division of the Old and New Testaments and will explore themes taken up by the ecumenical creeds. (THL100 is not open to students enrolled in or having taken THL203, THL206 or THL303)
THL203 Old Testament Narrative 3 credits
A survey of the narrative of the Torah, the Former Prophets, and the Writings. Special attention is paid to the concepts of promise, law, covenant, grace, and the presence of God in the story of God's people. The course concludes with a survey of the intertestamental period and the Old Testament apocryphal literature.
THL206 New Testament 3 credits
An introduction to the historical context and literature of the New Testament. Students master the stories and teachings of early Christianity, practice the use of the tools of biblical interpretation, and grow in their ability to read texts of the Bible in their historical and literary contexts.
THL241 Church History 3 credits
A panoramic survey of Christian history and thought from the apostolic age to the present. As such, the course traces the church's institutional history, its theology, its worship life, and the history of its missionary expansion against the larger political, intellectual, and socio-cultural back drop.
THL242 On Being a Christian 4 credits
The question, "What is Christianity?" will be explored in light of American culture, which impacts both the questions people ask and the answers being offered. After surveying the teachings and history of Christianity, students will wrestle with basic questions of life, such as "Who am I?", "What is the meaning of life?", "How are we to make moral choices?", "Why is there suffering in the world?" with Christianity as the centerpiece for ultimate answers.
THL303 Old Testament II 2 credits
A study of the major and minor prophets; Psalms and wisdom literature; and apocalyptic literature. The course will examine the nature of prophecy, and the nature of worship and response to God's gifts and struggles in life. The overarching framework is God's covenant promise to be with His people and an analysis of how the people responded. (Prerequisites: THL203, Old Testament Narrative; THL206, New Testament)
THL305 Portraits of Jesus: from the Gospels to the Gnostics and Islam 4 credits
Beginning with the four distinct presentations of Jesus in the Gospels of the New Testament, students also explore the portrayal of Jesus in classical writings, Jewish writings, the Nag Hammadi literature, the Christian apocrypha and Islamic literature. Students will gain skill and confidence in reading ancient texts and understanding the historical, social, and religious trends that shaped the ancient world. (Prerequisite: THL100, The Biblical Heritage of Christianity; THL206, New Testament)
THL320 Global Christianity 4 credits
The question “What is Christianity?” will be explored from a global perspective. After surveying the state of Christianity, its teachings, and practices, students will wrestle with basic questions of life and Christian vocation in the third millennium. A major component of the course will be study of worship practices of areas churches representing diverse cultural and immigrant groups. (Prerequisite: THL100, The Biblical Heritage of Christianity; THL206, New Testament)
THL325 Christian Ethics for the Professional 4 credits
This course uncovers a foundation for the discussion of ethics and vocation in the chief elements of Christian doctrine and in the writings of major Lutheran theologians. Both ethical theory and personal values are explored. Students examine issues of accountability in business, sport, and politics through classroom discussions, and debates. In conversation with Christian themes, students develop a system for making ethical decisions in their personal lives as well as in public and employment situations. (Prerequisite: THL100, The Biblical Heritage of Christianity; THL206, New Testament)
THL330 Our Living Faith 4 credits
A study of the content and effective application of the Christian understanding of creation, redemption, and sanctification; with an exploration of the biblical basis, the conceptual framework and the contemporary significance of the historic doctrines of the church. (Prerequisites: THL203, Old Testament Narrative; THL206, New Testament)
THL331 Seminar in Theology 4 credits
A study of the nature, tasks and methods of Christian theology on the basis of primary sources from the Old and New Testaments, the Lutheran Confessions and representative writings from the classical Christian tradition. Students' readings and subsequent discussions will explore the variety of questions addressed in selected periods of Christian history, paying special attention to how the gospel is implicitly or explicitly an issue in these theological debates. (Prerequisites: THL203, Old Testament Narrative; THL206, New Testament; THL241, Church History; THL330, Our Living Faith)
THL334 Love and Hate 4 credits
These two words bring forth a wide variety of actions, emotions, mind‐sets, and frameworks for life. Students will spend a significant amount of time examining texts that speak of love and hate in the Bible. But the course will range widely to evaluate concepts of love and hate during various eras, in such diverse areas such as psychology, philosophy, history, literature, politics, and as conveyed in various media. The goal will be to understand various ways of addressing the subject of love and hate in secular and theological settings. (Prerequisite: THL100, The Biblical Heritage of Christianity; THL206, New Testament)
THL335 God, Death and Destiny 4 credits
An exploration of the diverse interpretations of death and ultimate human destiny in the major world religions, with particular attention to how these topics are addressed in the Christian Bible (the Old and New Testaments) and in the Christian tradition. (Prerequisite: THL100, The Biblical Heritage of Christianity; THL206, New Testament)
THL336 Evil meets Good 4 credits
From earliest days of human history, people have struggled with the significance of evil and wickedness, especially in a world created by a God who is all and only good. Events such as the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have deepened the questions, especially for Americans. This course will probe this conversation through interaction with some of the classic expressions of humanity’s understanding of good and evil, in the process considering texts from both Christian and non‐Christian viewpoints. It will encourage students to wrestle with some of the key biblical texts that deal with this question, spending significant time in particular with the book of Job. Students will endeavor to provide their own thoughtful and informed understanding of this classic struggle to understand why evil exists in this world – and how we are to live with that reality. (Prerequisite: THL100, The Biblical Heritage of Christianity; THL206, New Testament)
THL341 Lutheran Confessional Writings 3 credits
A survey and analysis of the gospel-centered doctrinal content of the Book of Concord in its 16th century historical and theological context. The eleven confessional documents are studied and interpreted as the church's normative exposition of Holy Scripture, to which exposition the evangelical Lutheran church is committed in terms of both theological method and doctrinal substance. (Prerequisites: THL203, Old Testament Narrative; THL206, New Testament; THL241, Church History)
THL350 Religions of the World 4 credits
Major religions are surveyed in terms of artifacts, behaviors, emotions, beliefs, values, world views, and histories. Surveys will be done of the religions in the Far East, Animism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the cults.
THL351 Messiah and Muhammad 4 credits
This course takes a serious look at two billion‐some adherent religions, Christianity and Islam. The “founders,” history, teachings and texts of the religions, as well as their contemporary practice will be studied, compared and contrasted. Questions of peaceful and political coexistence in the 21st century will be considered. (Prerequisite: THL100, The Biblical Heritage of Christianity; THL206, New Testament)
THL352 Is God Green? 4 credits
Drawing on the resources of Christianity and other religions, this course examines issues of ecology, sustainability and human health (broadly conceived). Students will explore the significance of Biblical themes of creation and new creation as they consider 21st century ethical choices for the care of the cosmos and the human community. (Prerequisite: THL100, The Biblical Heritage of Christianity; THL206, New Testament)
THL356 One Nation under God? Christianity and Politics in America 4 credits
The claim that the United States is a Christian nation will be examined from the Puritan settlers through the rise of the religious right in the late twentieth century, with particular emphasis on the notion of covenant and the influence of Christian leaders in various reform movements (abolitionist, temperance, women’s suffrage, civil rights). The question of “one nation under God” will be tested against the Lutheran doctrine of the two kingdoms. (Prerequisite: THL100, The Biblical Heritage of Christianity; THL206, New Testament)
THL357 Christianity and the Media in Contemporary Culture 4 credits
Christianity has an unmistakable interplay with various forms of the media. This course explores subtle and overt Christian themes in movies, music, magazines/newspapers, theater, the World Wide Web, and television. Students locate, watch, and critically analyze numerous media resources and discuss them in correlation to Christian themes in the Bible. (Prerequisite: THL100, The Biblical Heritage of Christianity; THL206, New Testament)
THL371 Mission of God 4 credits
This course traces the mission of God through the Old and New Testaments. It explores God's intent for his mission people in the past, present and future and discovers that intent in biblical narratives and texts and in Lutheran theology and confessions.
THL409 Studies in Biblical Theology 2 credits
An exploration of sections, books, or major topics of the Old and New Testaments, as determined by the instructor and announced by the division. (Prerequisites: THL203, Old Testament Narrative; THL206, New Testament)
THL422 Christian Ministry and Practice 3 credits
The concepts of call, vocation, ministry and team ministry are studied in relation to the worship, witness, teaching, service and fellowship of the church. Students will develop an awareness of the oneness of the church as the body of Christ gathered around Word and Sacrament. The nature of the ministry as servant hood is explored in the context of the life of local churches. Students spend time off campus in local congregations observing and participating in the life of the church. (Prerequisites: THL203, Old Testament Narrative; THL206, New Testament; THL330, Our Living Faith)
THL439 Studies in Christian History and Thought 2 credits
An exploration of key periods, important individuals, or significant theological issues or movements in the history of Christianity from the end of the New Testament period to the present. Topics are determined by the instructor and announced by the department. (Prerequisites: THL203, Old Testament Narrative; THL206, New Testament; THL241, Church History)
THL459 Studies in Religion and Society 2 credits
A study of the interaction between the essential tenets of Lutheran Christianity and the structures of democratic society. Among the topics considered are Christian vocation, the nature of culture and the ways Christianity has historically related to culture (with a special emphasis on the interplay of religion, church and race in North American cultural experience), the functions of Law and Gospel, the Lutheran understanding of the "two governments," and the role of Christians in society at large.
THL460 Worship for Lutherans 2 credits
Exploring early church experience and Reformation teaching, the student uncovers the meaning of worship. Critical evaluation of contemporary practice and recent developments in worship make the student better able to provide leadership in congregational worship life.
THL488 Independent Study 1-4 credits
Independent study offers students an opportunity to do research and complete a major project in an area of religion of their own choosing.
THL495 All within the Context of the Christian Gospel 2 credits
Under the guidance of the course mentor, students review their Concordia University, St. Paul experience and reflect on its theological dimensions. They discuss the implications of the Christian faith for other areas of academic inquiry. Students assess the achievement of the mission statement of the university in their own academic experience. [As capstone experience for majors in theology or outreach, it is understood that students will take this course after or at least concurrent with their last class(es) in their major.
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