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RELIGION & CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION
CERTIFICATE (PRE-APPROVED COURSES)
School
Hartford International
IP-614-2
Nonviolence in Faith-based Social Movements
BTI Category
Semester
Sociology/Ethnography/Research Methods
SP25
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.Â
Professor
Class Day & Time
Robertson, Cleotha
W
5:00pm-6:50pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPS7279
Conflict Transformation
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
SP25
Conflict theory can enable constructive responses to situational disagreements and long-term relationship building. This course combines resources from secular conflict theory and Christian theology and ministry to foster transformation of micro (interpersonal), meso (communal), and macro (societal, international) level conflicts. Most texts reference the U.S. context, but other cultural perspectives are welcome. Assignments include regular short papers and a presentation. This is a discussion-based (not lecture-based) class. Close reading is required.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Heather M. DuBois
W
04:00PM-06:20PM
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMST8115
Latin American Theology of Liberation
BTI Category
Semester
Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)
SP25
Latin American liberation theology traces its origins to the grassroots Christian communities that struggled for social justice in the 1960s. This course explores the distinctive way in which Latin American liberation theologians correlate their interpretation of their social context with the Christian tradition and praxis in a mutually-critical manner. We will critically examine their fundamental presuppositions, their contribution to theology, and their efforts to articulate the Christian message as an effective response against oppression and on behalf of a full human liberation. We will also incorporate some of the liberationist voices that emerge from other social and cultural situations.
Professor
Class Day & Time
O. Ernesto Valiente
R
03:30PM-06:20PM
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
Y
Notes
A course in theological foundations or fundamental theology
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5574-02
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP25
An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Strouse, Ethan C
R
3:00 PM - 3:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter/PF/Aud
Credits
0
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5574-07
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP25
An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Wambui, Nelly Wamaitha
TR
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Grading Option
Letter/PF/Aud
Credits
0
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5574-09
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP25
An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Strouse, Ethan C
R
6:00 PM - 6:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter/PF/Aud
Credits
0
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTS 843
Narrative Approaches to Conflict Transformation (online course)
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP25
Professor
Class Day & Time
Anderson Hooker, David
M
2:30PM-5:15PM
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y - with live meeting time
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTT 862
Theologies of Liberation
BTI Category
Semester
Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)
SP25
Liberation theology has been one of the most influential theological movements in contemporary Christian theology. This course surveys some of its main tenets, texts, and practices. We pay particular attention to the development of liberation theologies in light of the experience of oppressed communities and how these experiences shape their theological imagination. In addition to covering some of the pillar texts in the tradition, the course will investigate several developments in liberating theologies: womanism, mujerista theology, queer theology, postcolonial theologies, and ecotheologies.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Maia, Filipe
T
12:30PM-3:15PM
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTY 878
Trauma and Spirituality
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP25
TBD
Professor
Class Day & Time
Captari, Laura and Choe, Elise
See notes
See notes
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
1
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
February 21 from 3:00PM-8:30PM, February 22 from 9:00AM-5:30PM
School
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton
CL/CO637
Leadership Trauma: Healing and Recovery
BTI Category
Semester
Leadership Formation & Ministry Skills
SP25
According to Barna, as of March 2022, the percentage of pastors considering quitting full-time ministry within the past year sits at 42 percent. Stress, isolation & political division factor into pastors' desire to quit. Nearly three in four pastors feel emotionally exhausted sometimes, and over half feel isolated from others sometimes. Leadership within pulpits also reflects a trend in leadership generally, where four out of five young adults (18-35 years old) affirm and nearly half strongly affirm that society is facing a crisis of leadership because there are not enough good leaders right now. Much of these trends are connected to a condition called leadership trauma, where contexts in the past (formation), the present (challenging conditions), and the future (fear of failure) subject leaders to emotional and spiritual pressures that undermine the capacity to lead and relate well to their colleagues. In this course, we will explore this condition, identify its consequences for leadership, and discuss the healing and spirituality processes essential for recovery.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rowe, Nicholas
M
1:30-4:30pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y - with live meeting time
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
IP-614-1
Nonviolence in Faith-based Social Movements
BTI Category
Semester
Sociology/Ethnography/Research Methods
SP25
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.Â
Professor
Class Day & Time
Robertson, Cleotha
W
5:00pm-6:50pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMPT7315
Mitigating Trauma
BTI Category
Semester
Practical/Pastoral Theology
SP25
Traumatization occurs at the interrelated social, psychic, and physiological boundaries of life and death. This course offers an introduction to trauma healing and prevention for contexts of pastoral and spiritual care. It surveys approaches to trauma developed in peacebuilding, public health, and psychology, as well as the emerging subfield of trauma theology. Assignments include a book review, a presentation, and a research paper. This is a discussion-based (not lecture-based) class. Close reading is required.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Heather M. DuBois
R
03:30PM-05:30PM
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5574-01
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP25
An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Wambui, Nelly Wamaitha
TR
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Grading Option
Letter/PF/Aud
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5574-03
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP25
An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Strouse, Ethan C
R
4:00 PM - 4:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter/PF/Aud
Credits
0
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5574-08
Ethics, Religion, and International Politics
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP25
An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Strouse, Ethan C
R
5:00 PM - 5:50 PM
Grading Option
Letter/PF/Aud
Credits
0
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
GRAD/UGRAD SPLIT
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO8270-01
From Just War to Peacebuilding
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP25
The focus of this course will be contemporary theological ethics and just war, and the recent peacebuilding trajectory. We will compare and assess different theological commitments grounding positions on war and peace, and on Christian political ethics generally. To be included are "just war" developments in the Augustinian and Thomistic traditions, and philosophical perspectives on forgiveness and restorative justice. We will consider nonviolent strategiesto resolve conflict, including perspectives from conflict zones and the global South. Specific problems such as women and war, humanitarian intervention, nuclear weapons, and land mines and cluster munitions will be addressed.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Pope, Stephen J Cahill, Lisa
W
12:00 PM - 2:25 PM
Grading Option
Letter/PF/Aud
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
Y
Notes
DOCTORAL
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTS 877
Restorative Justice
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP25
A study of the fundamental principles and practices of restorative justice as applicable to church and society. The course explores the needs and roles of key stakeholders (victims, offenders, communities, justice systems), outlines the basic principles and values of restorative justice, introduces some of the primary models of practice, and identifies challenges to restorative justice and strategies to respond to them. The course is organized around the issue of crime and harm within a western legal context, but attention is given to applications in other contexts. Of particular interest is the contribution of traditional or indigenous approaches to justice as well as applications in post-conflict situations.
Professor
Class Day & Time
McCarty, Jimmy
W
6:30PM - 9:15PM
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTS 854
Nonviolent Strategies for Social Change
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP25
TBD
Professor
Class Day & Time
Dickson, Peter and Dickson, Charles
March 22 and 29
9:00AM-4:00PM
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
1
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton
AP/WM649
Hinduism & Buddhism
BTI Category
Semester
Interreligious Learning
SP25
An overview of the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. We will examine their histories, beliefs, rites, and impacts upon various cultures and societies in Asia and other parts of the world. Efforts will be made to develop a Christian response to the traditions and appropriate missiological thinking and strategies. Not for students who have taken AP/WM645 or AP/WM646.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Yao, Xiyi
F Sat
Fri 6:30-9:30pm; Sat 8:30am-4:30pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
Y - with live meeting time
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
Feb. 21-22, Mar. 21-22, Apr. 25-26
School
Harvard Divinity School
HDS 3089
Reparations as a Spiritual Practice
BTI Category
Semester
Ethics (all traditions)
SP25
This course focuses on the social movement and practices utilized by spiritual, faith based and ethically communities to understand and engage in reparations as a healing, constructive and decolonial process. This journey will provide an introduction to reparations through its history and major figures and frameworks; it then explores economic, experiential, theoretical and legal bases for understanding reparations as articulated in academia, social movements, and in advocacy arenas. We will examine historical calls for reparations and the current movement and the possibilities toward reparations for Blacks in the U.S. Building on the key histories,theories and ideas that inform reparations, we will frame this contemporary discussion through the lens of spirituality and decoloniality to understand slavery, reconstruction, civil rights, truth and reconciliation, restorative and transitional justice. We will explore various understandings and approaches to reparations from organizations and individuals at the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America, National African American Reparations Commission, Caribbean Reparations Commission,Reparations4Slavery, UHURU solidarity, and many others.
Professor
Class Day & Time
David Ragland
M
12:00pm - 2:59pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F
Credits
4
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Online?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
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