Religion 211 - OLD TESTAMENT LITERATURE AND HISTORY

Semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description  

An introduction to the literature, content, and history of the Old Testament. Special attention is given to the historical background, composition, and theological message of the Old Testament. The course further acquaints students with the basic methods of Old Testament studies and the present state of Old Testament research.

Religion 212 - NEW TESTAMENT LITERATURE AND HISTORY

Semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

An introduction to the literature, content, and history of the New Testament.  Special attention is given to the historical background, composition, and theological message of the New Testament. The course further acquaints students with the basic methods of New Testament studies and the present state of New Testament research.

Religion 213-214 - SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY I-II

Offered alternate years, semester course, three hours each semester.

Catalogue Description  

An introduction to the methods of systematic theology and the central doctrines of historic Christianity: revelation, God, creation, redemption, Spirit and church, and last things. Religion 213 is not a prerequisite to Religion 214.

Religion 216 - INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

Semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

This course exposes students to basic issues, concepts, approaches, and organizations involved in Christian ministry. It covers topics such as leadership, discipleship, evangelism, and pastoral ministry.              

Religion 220 - CHRIST AND THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS OF LIFE

Offered alternate years, semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

The course concerns some of the fundamental questions such as: What is a good person? What is a good life? What is a good society? What is/are the human problem(s)? How do we understand human nature? What is the Christian view of justice, right and wrong, good and evil? Not all of these questions will be addressed in every class. Answers to these questions will involved a study of the Christian tradition of politics, including the Bible and contemporary interpreters, although not all of these sources will be utilized in every class.

Religion 221 - THE LIFE OF CHRIST

Semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

This course aims to give the student a good understanding of the person, work, and teachings of Christ as presented in the Gospels. It also seeks to introduce the student to some of the important literature on the subject.

Religion 232 - THE LIFE AND WORK OF PAUL

Offered alternate years, semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

A study of the life and work of Paul, an outstanding leader in the first century church of Christ. As the apostle's life is unfolded, attention is given to his many problems. The content as well as the historical setting of his various letters is studied.

Religion 237 - BIBLICAL BOOKS

Semester course, three hours. May be taken multiple times as long as subject is not duplicated.

Catalogue Description

The form and ideas of one Biblical book will be explored in depth. Different books will be studied in different semesters. Examples of such classes are: Genesis, Psalms and Wisdom, Minor Prophets, John, Romans, Hebrews, James, and Revelation.

Religion 246 - CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS

Semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

 This course intends to aid persons who plan to lead youth and adults in the Christian education environment. It will include a consideration of objectives; of historical, theological, and psychological background of methods and programming resources; and of techniques for outreach.                         

Religion 247 - CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN RELIGION 

Semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

This course seeks to examine and explore the prominent place of religion in this religiously pluralistic nation by describing and analyzing current American religious  developments  in historical,  sociological,  and theological perspective. Institutional and non-institutional developments within and outside the Judeo-Christian tradition will also be examined.                                                                          

Religion 248 - WORLD RELIGIONS

Semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description  

 An introduction to the major living religions, to the leading problems of religious thought, and to the alternative approaches of world religions to ultimate questions concerning the meaning of human life.                                                

Religion 251 - MANAGING CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES

Semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

 This course concentrates on the organization and administration of the programs and activities of the local church and the many "Para-church" organizations. Sound business principles are emphasized in a context of biblical teaching.

Religion 253 - PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY

Semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

 Scripture, history, culture, and sociology play significant roles in the formulation of a philosophy of ministry. This course seeks to help the student understand how these factors affect the various fields of ministry.                     

Religion 261 - C.S. LEWIS: CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST

Offered alternate years, semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

 A study of one of contemporary Christianity's greatest apologists. The primary subject of study is Lewis' unique contributions to apologetics including his epistemology, view of myth, and defense of supernaturalism. Various examples of Lewis' writings are examined from selected essays and theological articles and the space trilogy.

Religion 290 - STUDIES IN RELIGION

Semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

 The subject matter for this course will vary each semester to allow for the introduction of new courses in the field of religion. The aim of such a course is in-depth study of some specific facet of religion with particular emphasis on the relationship of religion and contemporary life.                       

Religion 320 - THEOLOGY OF MISSIONS

Offered alternate years, semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

 A survey of the greatest evangelistic and mission movements in history, the Biblical-theological basis for missions, and contemporary developments in mission strategy.           

Religion 325 - BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF WORSHIP

Offered every other year in the Spring Semester, three hours.

Catalogue Description

This course will discuss the sacred places, people, offerings and festivals of the Old Testament and their relation to the New. The class traces the redemptive-historical development of forms of worship from the Garden of Eden to the exhilic period and beyond into the New Testament. The focus of the course will be primarily exegetical, interacting with the Biblical materials rather than with historical-critical approaches. The goal of the course is to form a solid Biblical basis from which to address the issues of worship which face the contemporary church.

Religion 330 - THEOLOGY OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

Offered alternate years, semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

 This course examines writings on spiritual formation from an historical, theological, and Biblical perspective. Key topics include the holiness of God, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, prayer, Bible Study, and the discernment of God's will.

Religion 341-342 - CHURCH HISTORY I-II

Offered alternate years, three hours each semester.

Catalogue Description

A study of the Christian Church from the Apostolic period to the present. Fall semester covers the beginnings of the church to the Reformation. Spring semester covers the Reformation to modern denominationalism and ecumenical efforts.

Religion 343 - THE SEARCH FOR CHRISTIAN AMERICA

Semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

This course examines efforts by American Christians to shape culture and society in accordance with their understanding of the Gospel as well as ways in which cultural, social political, and economic issues have in turn shaped divergent Christian responses to public issues. Beginning in the British North American colonies in the seventeenth century, the course explores the changing nature and role of religion in American public life to the present.                                                                               

Religion 345 - LUTHER AND CALVIN

Offered alternate years, semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

This course focuses on the Reformation leaders whose work and ideas shaped Protestantism. Primary sources will be used.

Religion 351 - HERMENEUTICS

Offered alternate years, semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

A study of central issues of Biblical interpretation that bear directly on current concerns of human existence. This course examines the import and implications of the Biblical literature.                                             

Religion 362 - CONTEMPORARY THEOLOGY

Offered alternate years, semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

 A study of major themes in contemporary theology including such topics as religious language, views of God, meaning of man and redemption, and the problem of evil. These topics are discussed as they relate to contemporary cultures and worldviews.

Religion 390 - ADVANCED STUDIES IN RELIGION

Semester course, three hours.

Catalogue Description

 The subject matter for this course will vary each semester to allow for the introduction of new courses in the field of religion. The aim of such courses is in-depth study of some specific facet of religion with particular emphasis on the relationship of religion and contemporary life.                          

Religion 460 - INDEPENDENT STUDY

Semester course, one to three hours.

Catalogue Description

 An opportunity for junior and senior students with previous background in religion to do intensive independent study of specialized topics. Prerequisite: Twelve hours of religion or consent of the department.                                

Religion 480 - INTERNSHIP IN RELIGION

Semester course, three or six hours.

Catalogue Description

 This course offers practical experience appropriate for the Christian Ministries auxiliary field. Prerequisites: Consent of the department chairman.

Semester course, three or six hours.

Religion 499 - HONORS COURSE IN RELIGION

Semester course, one, two or three hours.

Catalogue Description

 Work in this area is available to the able student on an individual basis and by prearrangement with the department.

GREEK 101-102 - INTRODUCTION TO NEW TESTAMENT GREEK

Fall-Spring sequence, three hours each semester.

Catalogue Description

A study of the grammar and syntax of New Testament Greek.

GREEK 211-212 - READINGS IN NEW TESTAMENT GREEK

Fall-Spring sequence, three hours each semester.

Catalogue Description

Portions of the Gospels are read during the fall semester and of the Pauline epistles during the spring. Vocabulary, grammar, and syntax are reviewed.

Prerequisite: Greek 101-102 or permission of the instructor. 

GREEK 460 - INDEPENDENT STUDY

Semester course, two or three hours.

Catalogue Description

An opportunity for third and fourth-year students to do independent projects in basic New Testament exegesis, word study, or classical Greek.

Prerequisite: Greek 211-212 or permission of the instructor. 

HEBREW 101-102 - INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL HEBREW

Fall-Spring sequence, three hours each semester.

Catalogue Description

A study of the grammar and syntax of Hebrew Bible.

HEBREW 211-212 - READINGS IN BIBLICAL HEBREW

Fall-Spring sequence, three hours each semester.

Catalogue Description

Portions of the Narrative Literature are read during the fall semester and of the Prophets during the spring. Vocabulary, grammar, and syntax are reviewed.

Prerequisite: Hebrew 101-102 or permission of the instructor. 

HEBREW 460 - INDEPENDENT STUDY

Semester course, two or three hours.

Catalogue Description

An opportunity for third and fourth-year students to do independent projects in basic Old Testament exegesis.

Prerequisite: Hebrew 211-212 or permission of the instructor.