RS 103 Introduction to Biblical Studies 1FLW 3c 0.5
A survey of the literature, history and religion of ancient Israel as seen in its cultural background in the Ancient Near East.
Religious Studies (RS)
108 courses in the 1978–79 Undergraduate Calendar, read from the scanned original. The text comes from OCR, so check the scanned page before relying on a detail.
Notes
Faculty listed in 1978–79
Associate Professor and Chairperson B. J. Hubbard, BA (Seattle), MA (Marquette), PhD (lowa) J
Professor W. Klaassen, BA (McMaster), BD (McMaster Divinity School), PhD (Oxford) G
Associate Professors
Faculty listed in 1978–79
W. J. Bildstein, BA (Western), STB (Gregorian), MA (Windsor), STD (Angelicum) J
F.C. Gerrard, MA (College St. Dominique, France), BD, STM (McGill), PhD (Hartford Seminary Foundation) P
H.S.Kim, BA (Kyungpook), BD (Hankook), ThM (Pittsburgh), ThD (Khox) P.
Faculty listed in 1978–79
J.W. Miller, BA (Goshen), MA (NYU), BD (Princeton), ThD (Basel) G
D. Sahas, BD (Athens), STM (Christian Theological Seminary), PhD (Hartford Seminary Foundation)
Faculty listed in 1978–79
A.F. Thompson, BA (Toronto), BTh (Huron), MA (Western), STM, PhD (McGill)
Assistant Professors
Faculty listed in 1978–79
R. M. Bird, BA, MA,.PhD (lowa) R
M.D. Bryant, BA (Concordia), STB (Harvard), MA, PhD (St. Michael's) R
R. D. Legge, BA (Transylvania), STB (Harvard), PhD (McMaster)
R. J. Sawatsky, BA (Bethel, Kansas), MA (Minnesota), MA, PhD (Princeton) G
J.D. Whitehead, BA (Toronto), PhD (Chicago) J
Lecturers
A. L. Evans, 8A (Toronto), BD (Emmanuel), STM (McGill), DMin (Andover-Newton) P
J. Rempel, BA. (Waterloo) MDiv (Assoc. Mennonite Seminaries) G
Faculty listed in 1978–79
V.G. Shillington, BA, MA (Wilfrid Laurier) P
Note
Professors designated with suffix G (Conrad Grebel), J (St. Jerome's), P (St. Paul's), and R (Renison) are located in the respective Colleges.
Course Descriptions
Note Please consult the Course Offerings List to determine which courses are offered in the church colleges.
RS 220 Evangelical Christianity
Listed without a description.
RS 221 Religions of Waterloo County
Listed without a description.
RS 265P Religion in Canada 2 Social Work
Listed without a description.
RS 104 Introduction to Biblical Studies 2F,W 3C 0.5
Asurvey of the literature, history and religious thought of the Christian community during the New Testament period as seen in its cultural setting in the Greco-Roman world.
RS 105 Elementary Biblical HebrewY 3C 1.0
Astudy of elementary Biblical Hebrew grammar. Written exercises in both Hebrew and English. Reading of selected portions of the Hebrew scriptures.
RS 106 New Testament GreekY 3c 1.0
This course will consist of two parts.
a) An introduction to Greek grammar with appropriate grammatical exercises and development of vocabulary. b) An exegetical study of the Greek text of the Synoptic Gospels, with Mark as the basis.
RS 110 Religions of Mankind 1F,W,S 3C 0.5
An introduction to the religious traditions of the East: history, religious beliefs and practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Shinto.
RS 111 Religions of Mankind 2F,W 3C 0.5
Encounter with Judaism, Christianity and islam: the history and interaction of the three major religious traditions which have shaped the image of the Western World.
RS 130 Introduction to TheologyF,S 3C 0.5
A study of the nature of the Christian faith with consideration of questions such as these: How do you speak of God in a secular age? What significance have the Bible and Church doctrines for history and faith? Who is Jesus? The Cross and Resurrection; the question of Salvation.
RS 131 Introduction to TheologyW 3c 0.5
Further study of the Christian faith to include the questions and issues: What is freedom? Is there a Christian lifestyle? the new morality; Man and Nature; the Church: Mission and Worship; the Future.
RS 160 The Religious Quest: Men and Women in Search of GodF 3C 0.5
The Great questions of religion and culture. Who am I? What are my roots? What is my destiny, will be explored through the study of individual lives, e.g. Augustine, Gandhi, Michelangelo, Luther, in traditions East &.West.
Course Descriptions Religious Studies
RS 161 W 3C 0.5
The Religious Quest: Movement Towards the Kingdom. Questions of religion in Society - What is the “perfect” society? How Achieved? are explored through the study of religious movements that aim at the transformation of the earth: Monasticism, Millennialism, the Social Gospel and Communal Groups.
RS 200 The Study of ReligionW 3C 0.5
An exploration of the nature of religion through: 1) the history of the study of religion, 2) exposure to varying methods and ways of approaching religious phenomena, and 3) consideration of accounts of religious experience.
RS 203 Wisdom, Literature In the Old TestamentF 3c 0.5
A study of Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes and other wisdom writings in ancient Israel, against their Near Eastern background.
RS 204 Song and Poetry in Ancient Israe!
Listed without a description.
RS 205 The Hebrew ProphetsW 3C 0.5
A study of the prophetic movement from Amos to Malachi, in the historical, social, and religious context of Israel and the ancient Near East.
RS 206 Modern Study of JesusF,S 2C1D 0.5
An examination of recent approaches to the study of Jesus of Nazareth to determine his significance for the beginnings of the Christian Church and for modern man.
RS 207 The Gospel of John
Listed without a description.
RS 209 The Apostie Paul: Life and LettersF 2C,1D 0.5
An examination of the career and thoughtof Paul as seen in his letters and in the Acts of the Apostles.
RS 211 Religion in JapanF 3C 0.5
An historical survey of Religion in Japan from ancient time to the present. The course will examine the development and inter-relationships of folk religion, Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism, religious Taoism, Christianity, and the emergence of new religions.
RS2t2 F 3C 0.5
Ancient Near Eastern Religions
An analysis of the myths, epics legends, rituals, incantations, prayers and festival texts of ancient Near Eastern peoples, with special emphasis on the religions of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Canaan-Phoenicia.
RS 213 Hinduism.W 3C 0.5
A study of the development of religious thought in India from the Vedic Period to the present. The course will combine an historical survey with a study of representative texts from the religious, philosophical, social and political thought of the Hindus.
RS 214 Buddhism in Indian and South-East AsiaW 2C0,1T 0.5
An historical survey of the essential doctrines and practices of Buddhism in India and South-East Asia, along with a study of representative texts that illustrate interpretations of the Buddha’s teachings that proved to be so significant for the cultures of these areas.
RS 215A Religion in China 1F 2C,1T 0.5
A study of the development of religious beliefs and practices in China from the Ancient Period through the Early Han Dynasty, and of the contributions of the philosophers of the Classical Period to Chinese Spirituality.
RS 215B Religion in China 2W 2C,1T 0.5
Beginning with the time of the Later Han, the course will deal primarily with the introduction of Buddhism into China and the subsequent interaction between the Indian form of this religion and the classical Chinese world-view.
RS 216A Islam: “Religion Perfected”F 3c 0.5
The study of the religious experience of the Muslim community with an emphasis on pre-Islamic Arabia, Muhammad the Prophet, the Qur’an as the World of God, the Articles of Faith and the Pillars of Islam.
RS 216B The Development of the Muslim CommunityW 3C 0.5
The evolution of the ‘‘Brotherhood of Believers” from the time of Muhammad to the present: a study of the Islamic expansion and civilization, the Khalifate, the development of Letters and Sciences and the condition of the Islamic States in the modern world. ~
RS 217 JudaismF,S 3C 0.5
An introduction to the religious tradition of the Jews, in terms of beliefs, practices, ideals and institutions from the beginning to the present time.
Course Descriptions 401 Religious Studies
RS 218 ChristianityF 3C 0.5.
An introduction to the Christian tradition in retrospect; the facts and the experiences pertinent to the evolution of beliefs, institutions, practices and cultural expressions, as these elements delineate the essential identity of Christianity as one of the religious traditions of the world.
RS 220 Evangelical ChristianityF 2C,1D 0.5
A descriptive, historical and theological review of that wing of North American Christianity known as evangelicalism, fundamentalism, or revivalism.
RS 221 Religions of Waterloo CountyW 2C,1D 0.5
A consideration of North American religion through the study of a variety of local religious groups, such as Mormons and Missionaries, Scientologists and Presbyterians, Amish and newly emergent religions.
RS 227 -228 (Hist 235-236) FW 3c 1.0 History of Christianity 1 and 2 ,
Listed without a description.
RS 231A The Evolution of Christian ThoughtF 2C,1S 0.5
An analysis of the major theological developments in the Christian Traditions from the apostolic era to the Reformation.
RS 231B The Evolution of Christian ThoughtW 2C,1S 0.5
An analysis of the major theological developments in the Christian traditions from the Reformation to the present.
RS 232A Christ and Contemporary Man
Listed without a description.
RS 233 Contemporary Atheism & Christian Faith 1
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 234 Contemporary Atheism & Christian Faith 2F 2C,1S 0.5
A continuation of the study of Western atheism in representative 20th century spokesmen: Freud, Russell, Ayer, Sartre, Camus, Christian atheists. New patterns in the restatement of theism.
Prereq: RS 233 or consent of instructor
RS 235 Issues in Catholic Moral Theology 1F 2C,1D 0.5
A study in moral theology of current social problems. Concrete possibilities for individual initiative toward needed social’ change will be stressed. -
Prereq: Second year standing or consent of instructor.
RS 236 Issues in Catholic Moral Theology 2W °2C,1D 0.5
An investigation of the moral implications of an evolving sexual consciousness in the Christian tradition. Prereq: Second year standing or consent of instructor.
RS 238A The Ecumenical MovementW 3C 0.5
A study of those unitive efforts which marked the history of the Christian Church, emphasizing developments from the Reformation to the present.
RS 238B The Ecumenical Movement
Listed without a description.
RS 253 History and Thought of Christian Pacifism 1F 2C,1D 0.8
The Biblical materials. An examination of the documents of the early church, notably the Bible, with reference te their teaching on war and peace.
RS 254 History and Thought of Christian Pacifism 2W 2C,1D 0.5
The Contemporary Discussion. A survey of Christian teaching on war and peace, focusing on the twentieth century discussion. .
RS 255 Christian Ethics 1
Listed without a description.
RS 256 Christian Ethics 2
Listed without a description.
RS 260 Issues in Science, Technology and Religion
Listed without a description.
RS 262 Religion and Politics 1F 3C 0.5
An historical examination of the relationship between religion and politics from primitive to modern societies. Special focus will vary from year to year.
RS 263 Religion and Politics 2. W 2C,1D 0.5
An examination of the relationship between religion and politics in the 20th century. Areas of concentration will vary from year to year, and will include the following topics: The Nazi phenomenon, the Christian-Marxist dialogue in Latin America and Europe, and movements for the ‘'re-birth of politics”.
Course Descriptions Religious Studies
RS 264 Religion in Canada 1
Listed without a description.
RS 265 Religion in Canada 2
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 266 Religion and the Film 1F 2C0,1S 0.5
A theological approach to the study of film as a world-transforming phenomenon for man. An assessment of film’s special characteristics as an art form capable of addressing man’s quest for a significant existence. Consideration of a wide range of films and directors, with particular emphasis on ingmar Bergman. Cross-listed as Fine 246(R)
Film fee $5.00
RS267, W 2C1S 05
Religion and the Film 2
An exploration of selected themes — death, evil, guilt, fate, alienation, love redemption-— in the films of several of today’s leading directors: Bunuel, Pasolini, Kurosawa, Fellini, Pintonioni, Polanski.
Cross-listed as Fine 247(R)
Film fee $5.00
RS 268A Religious Prespectives in Contemporary Literature
Listed without a description.
RS 269 Myths & Symbols of Indian Art & CivilizationW 3c 0.5
An approach to understanding symbols and perennial themes of Indian religion through a study of representative art, architecture and folk-literature of Hinduism, Indian Buddhism and Jainism.
RS 270 Psychology of ReligionF 3C 0.5
A study of theories of the psychological nature of religious experience, the sources of religious belief and religious significance of psychological phenomena. Topics include faith, doubt, evangelism, conversion, faith healing, mysticism, drugs and religious experience, tongue-speaking.
RS 271 Personality and ReligionW 3C 0.5
A study of the psychology of personality in its relationship between personality and religious thought, experience and behaviour.
RS 275 Religion and Psychotherapy
Listed without a description.
RS 280 The Parables of JesusW 3C 0.5
Detailed examination of the stories Jesus told, their form, method, message, and significance for religious thought, past and present.
RS 281 Foundations of Sacramental TheologyF 2C,1D 0.5
A study of the nature of Sacrament as an encounter between man and God in Christ. The mysterious, communal, symbolic and. personalizing aspects of sacramentality will be discussed. The course will critically examine and evaluate the impact of social change, the secularization process and traditional forms on the sacramental life in the Roman Catholic experience.
Prereq: Second year standing or consent of instructor.
RS 282 New Perspectives in Sacramental TheoryW 2C,1D 05 .
A discussion of sacramental theology in the light of the ongoing renewal, inaugurated by the Second Vatican Council, through a study of the individual sacraments and their role as meaningful cultic signs in contemporary Roman Catholicism.
Prereq: Second year standing or consent of instructor.
RS 291 Studies in the History of ReligionsA-D Ww 3C 0.5
Studies using the ‘History of Religions’ methodology will focus on specific movements or streams of religious life.
RS 301 Palestinian Archaeology
Listed without a description.
RS 303 Palestinian Archaeology: Field Experience
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 304 Selected Topics in Israelite Religion
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 305 Intermediate New Testament Greek1.0
Extensive reading of the New Testament, selected sections of the Didache and other related materials. Advanced grammar and syntax arising from the readings.
Prereq: RS 106 or consent of instructor
RS 306 Intermediate Biblical Hebrew
Listed without a description.
RS 307A -D Selected Topics in Biblical Theology
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 308 The New Testament WorldW 30 05.
A study of the religio-cultural forces which influenced early Christianity. Jewish rabbinic and apocalyptic literature (including the Dead Sea Scrolls), Greek mystery religions and Gnosticism will receive special emphasis.
RS 309 New Testament Themes
Listed without a description.
RS 313 Modern Religious Movements in India° W 3c 0.5
A study of the development of Hinduism from medieval times to the present, with emphasis on new movements of religion and thought in the 19th and 20th centuries. Prereq: RS 110, or 213 or consent of the instructor
RS 314 Zen BuddhismW 3c 0.5
A seminar based on interpretations of Zen, East and West. The course will develop through four areas of concern:a) basic Mahayana principles b) the uniqueness of Zen within Mahayana c) Eastern interpretations, and d) Western interpretations.
RS 321 Radical Reformation
Listed without a description.
RS 322 Radical Reformation 2
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 323 Medieval Church History # from 312-1122
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 324 Medieval Church History from 1122-1449
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 325 The Orthodox ChurchW 2C,1D 0.5
A study of Eastern” Christianity; its history, theology, culture, spiritual experience, and its situation in modern Greece, Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and in the West.
Prereq: RS 111, or 218 or consent of the instructor
RS 331 The Church in the Modern World .
Listed without a description.
RS 332 Fantasy
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 333 Creativity: A Religious Perspective
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 344 Islamic Theology, Philosophy and Mysticism
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 336A Contemporary Theology 1
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 336B Contemporary Theology 2
Not offered in 1978–79.
RS 339 Luther and Calvin: The Reformation inF 3C 0.5
Theological Outline
The course willexamine the religious experience and the theologies of Martin Luther and John Calvin in their respective historical contexts.
Prereq: one of RS 130, RS 218, RS 227 or consent
of instructor.
RS 351 Contemporary Western Mysticism
Listed without a description.
RS 352 Situation EthicsY 3C 1.0
An examination of the new morality that places the emphasis in ethical decision-making on the situation. The course will include consideration of the writings of Fletcher, H. J. Niebuhr, Barth, Bonhoeffer, and Lehmann. Prereq: 2nd year standing or consent of instructor
RS 353 Ethics in indian Thought
Listed without a description.
RS 360 Sacred and Profane in the Arts 1F 20,18 0.5
A consideration of ‘‘the holy” and of categories of sacred and profane in the arts. Thematic and methodological
issues will be explored in the areas of painting, music, architecture, dance and cinema.
Prereq: Introductory RS course or consent of instructor
RS 361 Sacred and Profane in the Arts 2W 2C,1S 0.5
A continuation of issues in RS 360. Prereq: RS 360 or consent of instructor
RS 365 Religious Issues in Marxism
Listed without a description.
RS 369A Study-Travel Seminar in Religion-F 0.5
Observation and analysis of religious life in particular geographical areas, or of particular themes or problems, by means of on-location study. Topics and countries to be visited will be announced.
RS 373A Religion and Social Change-F Ww 3C 0.5
Studies of issues that have arisen in the interaction of religious tradition with social change.
RS 398 -399 Directed Reading in Special Subjectst Course Descriptions Religious Studies
Listed without a description.
RS 401 Studies in Jewish Scripturest
Listed without a description.
RS 402 Studies in the Christian Scripturest
Listed without a description.
RS 415 Studies in Comparative Religiont
Listed without a description.
RS 425 Studies in Church Historyt
Listed without a description.
RS 430 Studies in Historical Theologyt
Listed without a description.
RS 431 Studies in Contemporary Religious Thoughtt
Listed without a description.
RS 432 Studies in Selected Theological Problemst
Listed without a description.
RS 433 The Problem of Authority in Contemporary
Listed without a description.
RS 460 Special Topics In Religion and Culture-463 Ww 3c 0.5
Focus on themes, developmentor the work of individual thinkers who have devoted study to the relationship of religion and culture.
RS 490 Senior Seminars in Special Topics-499 1.0 each
Seminars are offered each year for senior honours
RS students and senior students from other departments who have taken sufficient relevant survey and/or depth courses in RS or related disciplines. The instructors of and topics for the seminars are announced prior to the preregistration period. In all cases the instructor's permission is required.
Note Every student in the Honours RS Programme is required to take at least one of these seminars.
RS 598 Directed reading in Special Subjects for graduate students-599 R 0.5 each
+ Students wishing to enrol in a course marked with a dagger(t) should consult the department.
RS 160 Religion and Culture, 1 and 2 i
Listed without a description.
RS 231B The Evolution of Christian Thought 2
Listed without a description.
RS 266 Religion and the Film, 1 and 2
Listed without a description.
RS 298 Directed Readings in Special Subjects
Listed without a description.
RS 360 Sacred and Profane in the Arts, 1 and2
Listed without a description.
RS 460 -463 Special Topics in Religion and Culture Course Descriptions er tr) Social Development Studies/Sociology
Listed without a description.