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BTI Consortium | Last Updated November 14 - 9:00AM
INTERELIGIOUS LEARNING
School
Hebrew College
INT533
Calling Out from the Depths: The Book of Psalms in Jewish and Christian Life
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
For centuries, Jews and Christians have turned to the Book of Psalms in times of joy and thanksgiving, and in times of sadness and lament. However, there have been far fewer opportunities for members of these two communities and others to explore these ancient poetic texts together as fellow spiritual seekers. What do we share in common? Where do we differ? How might reading these sources with people with different religious or ideological commitments impact our relationship with the text?
Professor
Class Day & Time
Or Rose and Andrew Davis
W
4:30 -6:30 pm
Grading Option
Letter or P/F
Credits
1
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 13 & 20
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5357-01
Debating Religion: Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Dialogue and Dispute
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
This course is a history of interreligious polemic, disputation, and dialogue among Jews, Christians, and Muslims from antiquity to modernity. The course not only highlights points of difference among the traditionsfrom abstruse theological doctrines, to competing interpretations of scriptural passages, to ad hominem attacks on religious founding figuresbut also the ways in which the practice of disputation played a formative role in the development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The course focuses specifically on interreligious debates and dialogues, both real and fictional, although we also consider broader polemical themes as expressed in treatises. Finally, the course considers epistemic shifts that allowed for the transition from interreligious disputation to interfaith dialogue in recent decades even as it highlights the lines of continuity between the two.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Decter
R
3-5:25p
Grading Option
L/PF/A
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
Grad/Undergrad split
School
Harvard Divinity School
HDS 2293
The Holocaust and the Churches, 1933-45
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
This seminar will approach the Nazi persecution of European Jewry from several disciplinary perspectives. Initially the seminar will explore the topic historically. In these weeks, the seminar will use a variety of historical materials dealing with the history of European anti-semitism, German history from Bismarck to the accession of Hitler, the evolution of anti-Jewish persecution in the Third Reich, and the history of the Holocaust itself. Sources to be used will include primary sources produced by the German government 1933-1945, by Jewish victims-to-be or survivors, documentary and feature films, and secondary interpretations. The aims of this part of the seminar will be to understand the basic background to and narrative of the Holocaust, to introduce students to the critical use of primary historical sources, and to familiarize them with some of the major historiographical debates. Then the members of the seminar will ponder religious and theological reactions to the Holocaust. The seminar will also consider the historical question of the role played by the Protestant and Catholic churches and theologies in the Holocaust. The seminar will conclude with an assessment of the role played by the Holocaust in today's world, specifically in the United States. Throughout the seminar, participants will use various literary and cinematographic sources and test their limits in helping to understand and to represent the Holocaust. Prerequesite: Some familiarity with the general shape of modern European history is desirable but not required. Jointly offered in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as Religion 1529.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Kevin Madigan
M
3-5PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
Y
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
Enrollment limited to 15 with the permission of the instructor, by application at the first course meeting.
School
Hartford International
IP-610 (Non-MAP)
Peacebuilding Skills: Dialogue, Trauma & Restorative Justice
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
The course will explore peacebuilding skills through the lens of neuroscience, dialogue, restorative justice, and trauma-informed principles. This course will explore the roles of mindfulness, Nonviolent Communication, restorative justice, the neurobiology of trauma and state-dependent functioning, conflict transformation, and healing in conflict resolution. Students will participate in and practice the Reflective Structure Dialogue methodology for engaging groups in conflict. Through case studies, role plays, guest speakers and reading, we will dive deeper into the dialogue that makes conflict an opportunity rather than a source of further trauma.
Course fulfills the following requirements:
MAP - Core course
MAIRS - Ministerial Studies: Arts of Ministry
MAC - Chaplaincy Elective
MAC - Islamic Chaplaincy Pathway Elective
Professor
Class Day & Time
Samuel Brummer
January Intensive: 1/3, 1/4 and 1/8 - 1/12
9am-5pm
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
IP-614 (Non-MAP)
Nonviolence in Faith-based Social Movements
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
Social movements are important arenas for social change. Religion, faith and tactics of non-violence have played a significant role in many social movements. By joining together, individuals and groups have worked to transform social values or norms, establish collective identities, change laws, and chart new ways of living, learning, and being. This class will aim to further our understanding of social movements and how faith helped shape the trajectories of the movements. We will focus on how that's happened in the Americas while referring to similar movements from around the world. Topics include racial identity, nationalism, Christianity, Islam, the civil rights movement, feminist approaches, and contemporary interfaith dialogue. Course material includes primary sources and analytical perspectives. We will examine how they develop, are sustained, have changed/evolved, and (sometimes) decline. We will begin by examining theories of social movements and look at the ways in which our understanding of social movements has changed over time. We will also examine mobilization to social movements and ask why some people come to participate while others do not, as well as the tactics, goals, and successes of various social movements.
Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS - Islamic Studies: Beliefs and Practices
MAIRS - Ministerial Studies: Beliefs and Practices
MAC - Chaplaincy Elective
MAC - Islamic Chaplaincy Pathway Elective
MAP - Peacebuilding Core
Professor
Class Day & Time
Cleotha Robertson
T
7-9:50pm
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Hebrew College
INT510
From Diversity to Pluralism
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
We live in one of the most religiously diverse societies in the history of humankind. How can we cultivate an ethos of dignified engagement both within our communities of practice and across religious traditions? What are the ethical underpinnings "values and dispositions" that support such an effort? What theological resources might we draw on for this sacred work? What are some historical and contemporary models of individual and communal engagement that we can learn from as we develop our intra/interreligious leadership capacities?
Professor
Class Day & Time
Or Rose
J TERM
See notes
Grading Option
P/F or audit
Credits
2
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
Events & classes during January 17-January 20 week w/academic reuirements due by end of May; MLK Day or weekend attend one of the interreligious events described below: Tuesday, January 16, through Thursday, January 18, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 17, Miller Center Interreligious learning event - Torah & Dharma: Buddhism and Judaism 7:30-9:00 p.m. Friday, January 19, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
School
Hebrew College
INT600
Introduction to Islam for Jewish Leaders
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
In this intensive course students will explore key concepts, practices, and historical events from the Islamic tradition. Special attention will be given to the interaction of Jews and Muslims, past and present. We will also explore specific challenges and opportunities facing contemporary Muslims in the United States. The course will be taught by Imam Taymullah Abdur Rahman, author of 44 Ways to Manhood, and former imam for Harvard University, the Massachusetts Department of Correction, and Northeastern University. The course will include presentations by religious and cultural figures and a Friday Jumuah service.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Taymullah Abdur-Rahman
J TERM
See notes
Grading Option
Audit
Credits
0
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
While the course is primarily designed to orient emerging Jewish religious leaders to the traditions of Islam, non-Jewish students are welcome to enroll. January 16 - January 19, 2024; Tuesday-Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMTM7175
The Church and Interreligious Dialogue
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
Dialogue between religions has become one of the urgent yet intractable challenges of our time. In this course, we will focus on the engagement of the Catholic Church and Catholic theologians in interreligious dialogue. The first part of the course will deal with topical issues, such as the history of, and the theological foundations for dialogue, intermonastic dialogue, scriptural reasoning, etc. The second part will focus on the particular dialogues between Christianity and Islam, Christianity and Judaism, Christianity and Hinduism, and Christianity and Buddhism
Professor
Class Day & Time
Catherine Cornille
M
3:00-4:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5434-01
Comparative Mysticism
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
The area of mysticism or spirituality has been the focus of a heated debate among those who argue for the universality and the particularity of mystical experiences. In this course, we shall engage in this discussion by studying the writings of important mystics from various religious traditions.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Cornille
W
12-2:25p
Grading Option
L/PF/A
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
Grad/Undergrad split
School
Harvard Divinity School
HDS 2671
Pragmatism and Religion: Peirce, James, and Dewey
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
This course engages three classic figures in the American pragmatic tradition, seeking both to understand the genesis and claims of "pragmatism" and its relation to and implications for religion in the contemporary era. Ordered chronologically, the course begins with Charles Sanders Peirce, and gives particular attention to the writings of William James and John Dewey. Topics include the nature of belief, human experience, truth, action, ethics, rationality, and the nature and role (socially and individually) of religion. Prior work in theology or philosophy is recommended but not required.
Professor
Class Day & Time
David Lamberth
R
3-5:45PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
Enrollment is limited to 15. Applications for enrollment will be available on the Canvas site, and should be completed at least one week before the first class meeting; petitions should also be registered in my.harvard. Jointly offered in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as Religion 1556.
School
Hartford International
IP-613 (Non-MAP)
Identity and Otherness in Religious Communities
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
There is a tendency within individuals and societies to organize and collectively define themselves along dimensions of difference and sameness. This course uses the framework of "otherness" and "belonging" to explore how othering becomes structured and embedded within religious communities. In other words, what are the dynamics, processes, and structures that engender marginality and persistent inequality within our own religious communities? We will use an intersectional, interdisciplinary, and dialogical approach to examine essential concepts such as individual and group identity formation, expression, and boundaries; the dual sides of social cohesion and internal conflict; prejudice and power within religious communities; dealing with the emotional and social costs of leading justice-oriented change; and how identity, power, and privilege varies across contexts. In addition to investigating these forces that contribute to othering, we will also identify the interventions that may mitigate some of these forces, turning toward sustainable solutions that address othering through experiential learning such as site visits and MAP project-related ethnographic study.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Allison Norton
W
9am-5pm
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
RS-650
Gender in Religion and Society
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
This course introduces the global feminist/LGBTQIA movement and explores developments, approaches, and topics of feminist theology in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and non-monotheistic traditions. The course examines the intersections, confluences, and complexities of gender and sexuality in diverse traditions, with a particular focus on women's experiences and sexuality. With an intention of creating a dialogical model, it aims to cultivate an understanding of religion and gender by exploring theological questions, themes, and methods. It also focuses on developing embodied, creative, and faithful storytelling to generate contextual, constructive interreligious thinking that can enrich students' understanding of women and sexual minorities' voices.
Course fulfills the following curricular requirements:
MAIRS - Interreligious Studies: Elective
MAIRS - Islamic Studies: Beliefs and Practices
MAIRS - Islamic Studies: Religious Pluralism
MAIRS - Islamic Studies: Elective
MAIRS - Ministerial Studies: Beliefs and Practices
Professor
Class Day & Time
Htoi Lu
R
7-9:50pm
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
N
School
Hebrew College
INT519
Introduction to Christianity
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
Introduction to Christianity will focus on the histories, beliefs, and practices of contemporary Christian communities. The intensive course will be conducted on-site at churches and Christian organizations in greater Boston, providing students with the opportunity to network with other important actors in the religious landscape and exposure to the various expressions of Christianity in Boston. The course will be facilitated by Rev. Dr. Soren Hessler, former Associate Director of the Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership, and will include guest lectures and workshops led by area clergy and religious professionals. While the course is primarily designed to orient emerging Jewish religious leaders to the traditions of Christianity, non-Jewish students are welcome to enroll.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Soren Michael Hessler
J TERM
See notes
Grading Option
P/F or audit
Credits
1
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
Classes during January 17-January 20 week w/academic requirements due by end of May; January 16 - January 19, 2024; Tuesday-Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
School
Hebrew College
PHI147
Introduction to Buddhism for Jewish Leaders
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP24
This course introduces the foundations of Buddhism in India, integrating doctrinal and meditative traditions while tracing their development through the three vehicles (yanas) throughout Asia. Topics include ethics and wisdom, emptiness and compassion, and the inherent wakefulness of all beings. Special attention will be given to Tibetan Buddhism, which has resonated with Judaism on such a fundamental level, including an introduction to the deity traditions of Tibet. The course will include a map of American Buddhist communities and a discussion of Jewish-Buddhist dialogue, double-belonging, and secular mindfulness. The week will close with a visit to a Boston Buddhist meditation center.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Amelia Hall & Judith Simmer-Brown
J TERM
See notes
Grading Option
Audit
Credits
0
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisite?
N
Notes
January 16 - January 19, 2024; Tuesday-Thursday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
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