Courses Offered

The focus of this course is the enduring relationship between human experience and divine revelation within the Christian tradition. Beginning with God’s self-revelation in sacred scripture, we will explore the question of whether God self-reveals in other ways, such as visual art, music, poetry, and we will explore the human experience of such revelation through the framework of Christian theological aesthetics. Through key scholarly texts, religious artwork and music, we will explore the relationship between human experience and the god of the Christian faith. Examples will include ancient frescos from early Christian churches, religious symbology, religious Mexican street art and contemporary sculptures. And we will listen to a variety of religiously inspired music such as Gregorian chants, Mozart, Kanye West, and U2.

Learning Outcomes for Students: to understand how aesthetic experience has shaped and continues to shape human understanding of the Christian god; to cultivate a differentiated awareness of how one’s spiritual life and aesthetic experience intersect; and to articulate one’s own perspectives in dialogue with the course readings and material presented in class.

Class attendance and participation, class readings (2-3 hours per week), one written assignment, one class presentation, and the final oral exam.

35% research essay, 8-9 pages

35% class presentation, 15 minutes

30% final exam, oral 15 minutes

Assigned articles to be specified in the class syllabus, available on Brightspace course site.

Drawing on the work of contemporary bioethicists, this course explores common ethical challenges faced by healthcare providers in the clinical setting and the impact that such challenges have on the human subject. These challenges will be discussed from within a theological framework, particularly as seen through the lens of Bernard Lonergan's work on the role that feelings and bias play in the human person's desire for authenticity and self-transcendence.  We will be using standardized patient cases in order to ground our discussions in the clinical reality.

1. To become familiar with what ethics and bioethics are as well as the contribution of theology to bioethics
2. To raise awareness of the complexity of some of the more controversial issues in bioethics.
3. To become familiar with a principle based framework for ethical decision making and the skills in analyzing ethical dilemmas.
4. To become aware of the role that feelings might play in the resolution of ethical issues.
5. To understand the impact that ethical challenges in the clinical setting have on the human subject's desire for authenticity and self-transcendence.

Class attendance, weekly readings, two written assignments and the final exam

Participation (readings and discussion):                                                                 20%

Two written reflection papers: (5-7 pages)                                                             2 x 25% each

Choose a topic (a concrete issue) related to contemporary issues in medical bioethics and discuss the underlying concepts.  Suggest a resolution to the issue using the principle based framework for ethical decision making.

Final take-home exam: (7-10 pages)                                                                                    30%

A personal reflection to allow for an intellectual integration of the Course materials and the impact of ethical decision making in Healthcare on the human subject

HERBERT, Philip.  Doing Right.  A Practical Guide to Ethics for Medical Trainees and Physicians. Second Edition.  Oxford University Press, 2009

A Primer for Health Care Ethics.  Ethics for a Pluralistic Society. Second Edition. Kevin  O’Rourke. Georgetown University Press. 2000. Washington

Recommended Text:

The Cambridge Textbook of Bioethics. Edited by Peter A. Singer and A.M. Viens.  Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2008.

This course is offered only online. Students must access the course in real time, as no classes will be recorded.

Examiner ces trois problématiques contemporaines afin de mieux comprendre le vocabulaire inhérent à ces problématiques, leurs fondements philosophiques et idéologiques, leurs structures qui permettent leur existence et leur développement, ainsi que les conséquences futures pouvant nous affecter comme personne. Finalement, nous allons discuter et réfléchir sur les actions pouvant influencer leur évolution afin que le développement de la « personne » demeure toujours au centre des préoccupations de nos leaders politiques et économiques. Plus spécifiquement, nous discuterons des notions de « système de justice » et du Libéralisme, de démocratie et de populisme, du rôle de la religion dans la société canadienne, des différents enjeux liés à la paix et la guerre.

There is a famous saying of Isidore of Seville at the close of Antiquity that the person who claims to have read all of the works of Augustine of Hippo (354–430), the most influential theologian of the Ancient Church, is a liar. In this course we shall focus on only three of his works, but they are absolutely key to his influence: the Confessions, which recounts his personal pilgrimage and his early thinking about God; On the City of God, which details his response to the iconic sack of Rome in 410 and his theology of history; and On the Trinity, which sets forth his mature understanding of the revelation of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We shall also read some of his letters that help to round out the biography of Augustine. Augustine’s interaction with Scripture and his perspective on living coram Deo in each of these areas of thought is especially highlighted.

The objectives of the course are threefold:

•  To provide a detailed understanding of the life, theological perspectives and legacy of Augustine.
•  To learn how to read and appreciate an early Christian author and exegete like Augustine.
•  To develop an appreciation for the ongoing value of Augustinian theology and spirituality.