Theology

Office: Humanities Center, Room 042c
Telephone: 410‑617‑2219
Website: www.loyola.edu/academics/theology

Chair: Claire Mathews McGinnis, Professor

Professors: Frederick C. Bauerschmidt; James J. Buckley; Angela Russell Christman; John J. Conley, S.J.; Stephen E. Fowl; Brian F. Linnane, S.J.; Claire Mathews McGinnis; Joseph S. Rossi, S.J.
Associate Professors: R. Trent Pomplun; Arthur M. Sutherland; Rebekah Ann Eklund; John R. Kiess
Assistant Professors: Daniel P. Castillo
Lecturers: Maiju Lehmijoki-Gardner; Lesley R. DiFransico; Daniel Wade McClain; Matthew A. Moser; Nicole Reibe; Stephen Spahn, S.J.

The practice of theology in a Catholic context requires study of the origins and uses of Jewish and Christian Scriptures, the history of Christianity (Eastern and Western, Catholic and Protestant), contemporary theologies, and theological ethics. It also requires studying the multiple relationships between theology and contemporary philosophies, religions, and cultures. Thus, all students take an introduction to theology aimed at learning to interpret the Bible, understand history of Christianity, and become people who can respond intelligently, in thought and life, to the way these texts and traditions challenge (and are challenged by) our contemporary cultures.

The second theology course focuses these aims on one of four general areas: Jewish and Christian Scriptures, the History of Christianity, Christian Theology, Theology and Culture (including world religions). Core ethics courses are either case-oriented or theme-oriented explorations of theological ethics. The electives aim to introduce students to the way scholarly research is conducted in the various divisions of theology. These diverse aims are ultimately in the service of reading about, writing about, thinking about, and otherwise engaging the triune God. Loyola's theology courses are addressed to all students — Catholic and Christian, Jewish or members of other religions, doubters and nonbelievers.

Learning Aims

Students who successfully complete the theology major will be able to:

describe the major events of the biblical narrative and name significant figures and events in the Bible, locating them temporally and spatially in relation to one another;
distinguish different approaches to biblical interpretation and assess their relevance for particular theological aims;
describe major doctrinal disputes and figures in the history of Christianity, locating them temporally and spatially in relation to one another;
analyze and assess the significance of selected historical theological debates for Christians today;
relate different Christian doctrines to one another in a systematic way and articulate the interconnections between them;
relate Christian theological views to currents in the wider culture, including the views of other religious traditions;
analyze and evaluate the congruities and discongruities between Christian theological views and other phenomena of human culture;
employ the technique of "close reading" of a theological or other text;
write papers using clear and persuasive language to analyze and appraise theological and other positions.

Programs

Accelerated

Accelerated B.A.-M.T.S. Program

Major

Theology, B.A.

Interdisciplinary Majors

Interdisciplinary Major in Theology

Minor

Theology Minor

Courses

Theology