Jesus Christ: Yesterday
and Today
Created by Dr. Joseph Wawrykow, a Notre
Dame Theology Professor, for STEP. Christology is defined
as critical theological reflection on Jesus of Nazareth.
A Christology is constituted by the attempt to give a systematic
account of the identity and significance of Jesus Christ,
of who he is and why he is important. This course offers
an introduction to Christology through the examination of
the teaching of such leading theologians as Athanasius,
Cyril of Alexandria, Anselm of Canterbury, Thomas Aquinas,
Karl Rahner, and Jon Sobrino. Among the topics to be addressed
in the course are: 1) the formulation in the patristic period
of a teaching about Christ that is meant to be normative;
2) the adequacy of the patristic formulation; 3) and, the
rise more recently of distinctive forms of Christology that
depart, to varying degrees, from the classical formulation
while trying to retain its basic insights.
Unit 1
- Introduction
- Discussion of terms: incarnational
Christology; "person" and "nature;" overview of major
Christological controversies and responses from patristic
writers and Councils
- Selected readings: Athanasius, Cyril
of Alexandria, Councils of Chalcedon and II Constantinople)
Unit 2
- Analysis of writings of two leading
incarnational theologians: Athanasius of Alexandria and
Anselm of Canterbury
- Selected readings: Athanasius, Anselm,
and Aquinas
Unit 3
- The incarnational Christology of Thomas
Aquinas
- Examination of excerpts of Aquinas'
Summa contra Gentiles and Summa Theologiae
- Selected readings: Aquinas: Summa
Theologiae
Unit 4
- Overview: Christology "from below"
- Examination of modern critiques of
classical, incarnational Christologies
- Christology and the New Testament
- Selected readings: John P. Meier, E.P.
Sanders, the Gospel of Matthew
Unit 5
- An examination of the Christology of
two 20th century theologians: Karl Rahner and Jon Sobrino
- Selected readings: Dominus Iesus
- Created by Notre Dame Theology Professor.
- Six weeks in duration, with one week
for orientation.
- Typically 15-20 students in each course.
- Material delivered by video lecture
(via webstreaming). A CD-ROM of lecture also available
for purchase.
- All lecture text available online in
course.
- Supplemental readings are provided
to encourage further exploration of topic, internet links
provided for all readings.
- Weekly written assignments (150-200
words) required.
- Weekly facilitator moderated chat sessions
with students in course.
All course materials are available in
the course.
Requirements for course include:
- Weekly reading or viewing of lecture
text.
- Participation in class discussion using
discussion area (minimum 2 comments, questions or responses
weekly.)
- Weekly written assignment (150-200
words.)
- Weekly chat session with other students
in course (3 required throughout course.)
- Course evaluation.
- 4 to 6 hours a week (time varies from
student to student depending on your learning style and
schedule.)
A Certificate of Completion awarding 30
Contact Hours will be sent upon completion of all course
requirements.
This course offers an optional Supplemental
CD. While the video lectures for the course are available
in the course via webstreaming, Supplemental CDs containing
the video lectures can be purchased for viewing the lecture
without being connected to the Internet or for reviewing
the lecture after the course has ended.
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The author of God's
Grace and Human Action: 'Merit' in the Theology of
Thomas Aquinas (1996), and co-editor of Christ
Among the Medieval Dominicans (1998), Dr. Wawrykow
specializes in 13th-century scholastic theology, in
particular that of Thomas Aquinas. His current projects
include a volume of translations in high medieval
Christology (to be published by Catholic University
of America Press, 2002); co-editing a collection of
essays by leading North American and European scholars
on Aquinas the theologian; and, a book-length study
of the Christology of Aquinas that focuses on Thomas's
pedagogical and literary strategies in teaching Christ.
Recent honors include an Association of Theological
Schools research grant, and designation by the University's
Graduate School as one of thirteen Master Mentors
of doctoral students. Since 1999, Dr. Wawrykow has
served his Department as Director of Undergraduate
Studies.
B.A. (Hons.) 1978, and M.A., 1980,
University of Manitoba; M.A. and M. Phil., 1983, and
Ph.D., 1988, Yale University
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