Religion
Department of Religion
Chairperson: Doug Weaver
Graduate Program Director: James D. Nogalski
The Department of Religion has offered graduate work since 1966. Both the university and the department are friendly to faith and to the church and thus provide a setting distinctive in American higher education. The graduate faculty in religion is committed to forming graduate students in the scholarly tasks of research and teaching. That agenda, along with an increasingly impressive cohort of graduate students, creates a lively context for graduate studies in religion. Visit the program’s website: www.baylor.edu/religion/graduate
The graduate program in religion is designed to offer a range of educational opportunities for the serious student of religion. Various programs at both the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy levels are structured to meet diverse needs and objectives.
Religion (REL)
Introduction to ancient Syriac with selected readings from Syriac manuscripts of biblical books as well as early Christian literature.
A study of the various ways in which theological and imaginative excellence is displayed in such classic Christian authors as Augustine, Dante, Herbert, Bunyan, and Hopkins.
A seminar in which doctoral students concentrating in Old Testament Studies meet with the Old Testament faculty for written presentations and discussion of guided readings in classical and contemporary studies in the discipline. May be taken six times for credit.
A seminar in which doctoral students concentrating in New Testament Studies meet with the New Testament faculty for written presentations and discussion of guided readings in classical and contemporary studies in the discipline. May be taken six times for credit.
A seminar in which doctoral students concentrating in the Historical Area meet with the Historical Area faculty for written presentations and discussions of guided readings in classical and contemporary studies in the discipline. May be taken six times for credit.
A seminar in which doctoral students concentrating in theology will meet with faculty for written presentations and discussions of guided readings in patristic, medieval, reformations, and modern texts in theology and related fields. May be taken six times for credit.
To fulfill requirements for non-thesis master's students who need to complete final degree requirements other than coursework during their last semester. This may include such things as a comprehensive examination, oral examination, or foreign language requirement. Students are required to be registered during the semester they graduate.
A selected major issue in contemporary Old Testament scholarship. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
A designated portion of the Old Testament scriptures chosen from the Torah. Attention will be given to critical and theological problems, relevant bibliography, contributions of significant scholars, and contemporary issues in interpretation. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
A designated portion of the Old Testament scriptures chosen from the Former Prophets. Attention will be given to critical and theological problems, relevant bibliography, contributions of significant scholars, and contemporary issues in interpretation. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
A designated portion of the Old Testament scriptures chosen from the Latter Prophets. Attention will be given to critical and theological problems, relevant bibliography, contributions of significant scholars, and contemporary issues in interpretation. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
A designated portion of the Old Testament scriptures chosen from the Writings. Attention will be given to critical and theological problems, relevant bibliography, contributions of significant scholars, and contemporary issues in interpretation. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
The history and nature of the discipline Old Testament Theology focusing on methodology, personalities, major works, and central themes.
See HEB 5309 for course information.
A selected major issue in contemporary New Testament scholarship. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
A designated portion of the New Testament scriptures chosen from the Pauline Epistles. Attention will be given to critical and theological problems, relevant bibliography, contributions of significant scholars, and contemporary issues in interpretation. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
A designated portion of the New Testament scriptures chosen from the Synoptic Gospels. Attention will be given to critical and theological problems, relevant bibliography, contributions of significant scholars, and contemporary issues in interpretation. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
A designated portion of the New Testament scriptures chosen from the Johannine Literature. Attention will be given to critical and theological problems, relevant bibliography, contributions of significant scholars, and contemporary issues in interpretation. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
A designated portion of the New Testament scriptures chosen from Acts, Hebrews, or the General Epistles. Attention will be given to critical and theological problems, relevant bibliography, contributions of significant scholars, and contemporary issues in interpretation. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
Hellenistic Greek based upon the translation and exegesis of selected portions of the New Testament and other early Christian literature. Attention will be given to grammar, lexicography, and textual criticism. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
The history and nature of the discipline New Testament Theology, focusing on methodology, personalities, and major works.
A graduate seminar focusing on aspects of the Jewish milieu in which early Christianity emerged. The course may be taken up to two times when content differs.
A graduate seminar focusing on ancient Israelite history and historiography. The course will involve a thorough overview of the history of Syria-Palestine and a rigorous examination of the interests and intentions of the ancient writers. While archaeological and geographic evidence will to some extent inform the subject matter of the course, the primary emphasis will be on information gained from the written sources, both biblical and epigraphic.
A graduate seminar focusing upon the archaeology of Syria and Palestine from the Early Bronze Age through the Persian Period (ca. 3300-334 B.C.E). Emphasis will be given to the use and interpretation of archaeological data with special reference to the Old Testament.
See UGA 5306 for course description.
A study of the Pentecostal tradition in Christianity, with particular attention to roots in the Holiness movement of the nineteenth century, origins and developments, and subsequent growth in Charismatic expressions of faith. The course may be taken up to two times if the content differs.
Patristic literature up to 500 CE. Selections for study will be made from apocryphal, apologetic, polemical, doctrinal and biographical types of literature. Careful attention will be given to at least one of the following ecclesiastical histories: Eusebius of Caesarea, Socrates, Sozomen, and Theodoret. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
Eastern and western medieval Christianity from the fall of Rome to the fall of Constantinople, with particular emphasis on such topics as the papacy, monasticism, the Carolingian Renaissance, the separation of eastern and Western Catholicism, scholasticism, and medieval sectarianism. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
Lutheran, Reformed, and the Roman Catholic aspects of the sixteenth-century Reformation in Europe. This course may be taken up to three times when content changes.
The Reformation as it developed in England with particular attention to the background of the English church in the late Middle Ages; the influence of Wycliffe, Tyndale, and the English Bible; the progress of reform under the Tudors and the Stuarts; the rise of Puritanism and nonconformity; the Civil Wars; and toleration. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
History of European Christianity since the Reformation. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
History of American Christianity from pre-Columbian Christian settlements to the present, with particular emphasis on major movements and problems such as Puritanism, religious liberty, revivalism, westward expansion, the rise and growth of denominations, and post-Civil War trends. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
Source materials of Baptist history and polity with particular attention devoted to Baptist origins, development, theological positions, leaders, and current trends. The seminar approach will be followed, and the course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
See PHI 5342 for course information.
An in-depth look at the Radical Reformation, also called the Believers' Church movement and the Anabaptist tradition. Examination of key primary texts to illustrate the diverse and developing theology of these reformers and their offspring, plus their institutional manifestations. Research essays and bibliographic work required.
Knowledge of French or German required. Formulation of a Christian doctrine of God came to a crisis in the fourth century when a series of conflicts over the relation of the Father and Son erupted and absorbed the intellectual energies of the Church for almost a century. As a result of the so-called "Arian controversy," various points of Trinitarian and Christological doctrine became canonized for defining orthodoxy. These have functioned as norms for all subsequent doctrinal and exegetical development, profoundly shaping the theological identity of the Church. Moreover, in the last thirty years, scholarship has been greatly altered by a number of changes in the interpretation of major figures and doctrinal development in the fourth century such that a significant amount of re-writing of historical theology is currently taking place. It is clear that the Nicene-"Arian" conflicts went through distinct stages, and were more complicated and less compartmentalized than presented in many histories of the period. Course may be taken up to three times when content changes.
The thought and practice of Christianity in the Middle Ages. Select major texts will be read, either in a format that examines the works of various writers, or with a focus on one major theologian (e.g.,Anselm, Aquinas) or theme (e.g., monasticism, scholasticism). A reading knowledge of Latin is preferable, and either French or German is required. Course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
Investigation of the development of Trinitarian theology in the first four decades of the fourth century leading up to the council of Nicaea and its immediate aftermath. After touching on antecedent works by Origen and Eusebius, the course focuses upon the writings of Athanasius and Arius of Alexandria, Eusebius of Caesarea, Eusebius of Nicomedia, and Marcellus of Ancyra, concluding with the council of Serdica (342/3). Course may be taken up to three times when the content differs.
Major developments of nineteenth-century theology and their continuing relevance. One or more selected major theologians or movements will be examined. The course may be taken up to three times when the content differs.
Major developments of twentieth-century theology and their continuing relevance. One or more selected major theologians or movements will be examined. Course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
Systematic theology as a genre of theology within the Christian tradition. Emphasis will be placed on systematic theologies written after Barth and Tillich. Analysis of these works will focus on questions of method as well as content. Special attention will be paid to issues related such developments as liberation and feminist theology and postmodern thought. Course may be taken up to three times when the content differs.
The resurgence of Roman Catholic theology and literature in the previous century, as well as its continuing relevance for our time.
Various liberation theologies that have emerged over the last decades in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and North America. Included will be the pioneering work of James Cone, Gustavo Gutierrez, Rosemary Ruether and the theological and political schools of thought that have followed and extended their analyses. Course may be taken up to three times when the content differs.
Important theological problems which confront the theologian and the Christian community today. Problems such as faith and science, theological language, evil, theology and history, and Christian selfhood and modern psychology studied. Both historical and contemporary attempts to deal with the problems will be considered. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
Meaning and relevance of the Christian understanding of humanity for contemporary existence in the light of Biblical, classical, ancient, and modern interpretations. Course may be taken up to three times when the content differs.
Historical development and theoretical systematization of major Christological themes, giving special attention to interrelation of materials from Biblical studies, history of dogma, and systematic theology. Course may be taken up to three times when the content differs.
This course introduces students to the ethical dimensions of healthcare from the global perspective. The course offers students the basic language and methodology with which to critically engage bioethical issues relevant to our contemporary global context.
This course evaluates environmental challenges and prominent philosophical and religious convictions that inform, support, and specify ethics in global context.
Research project that demonstrates the integration of knowledge and experiences acquired through the MA in Global Ethics program.
Church-state relations were among many cultural relationships that were redefined during the Protestant Reformation period; however, scholars differ as to the reformers’ influence in this transformation and in the development of liberal social orders throughout Europe. Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, Anabaptist leaders, Anglican scholars, Catholic officials, and many others contributed unique and often conflicting views of the “appropriate” relationship between church and state. This course examines the broad contours of church-state thought during the Reformation period beginning with the conciliar movement in the 14th and 15th centuries, and ending with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 and its influence in constructing the modern nation-states of Europe.
A selected major issue in contemporary Historical Studies scholarship. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
This course examines the world Christian movement in its ecclesial and para-ecclesial cross-cultural, inter-religious processes, including transatlantic, postcolonial, and decolonial interpretations from the global south, particularly Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Examines Christianity in South/Central America and the Spanish Caribbean with transatlantic, postcolonial, and decolonial methodological frameworks, including intra and inter Christian dynamics with Amerindian and Afro-Latin American religions, geopolitical history, and migratory movements.
Examines Christianity on the continent of Africa, with particular interest in Early African Christianity, the interaction with traditional religions and Islam, and Western African transatlantic history.
A research seminar focusing on ethical problems in the contemporary society and the resources available in the Judeo-Christian traditions for analyzing these problems. Students will work on a specific problem or problems Emphasis will be placed on developing technique and discovering the resources available for ethical analysis. The course may be taken up to three times when content differs.
This course examines the ways in which scholars have asked – and answered – different questions about religion, religions, religious expressions, and traditions.
Required as a co-requisite for participation in the Teaching Fellows Program. The colloquy will address a broad range of institutional and pedagogical issues related to the teaching of religious traditions and especially the Christian tradition in an academic context.
Special research projects that are needed in the students' graduate programs, but that are unavailable in the regular curriculum. The course may be for up to three hours credit, with preference given to those in their final year of study.
Students register for the thesis and receive credit when the thesis is finally approved.
Research for doctoral students studying for preliminary examinations, preparing their topic proposal, or writing their prospectus in anticipation of candidacy. The course may be repeated.
Supervised research for the doctoral dissertation. A total of at least nine semester hours is required for the completion of the dissertation.