Intercultural Studies and Ministry

C 4001 Crossing Cultural Boundaries: Ministry at the Margins
Who are we, what are we doing, and why? We all have different social locations, assumptions, and expectations, and we bring them to our ministry. The Course examines culture, religion, faith, and encounter–and the call to conversion–as constitutive of the marginal and boundary-crossing ministry to which we are called.

C 4002 Abraham’s Children: Jews, Christians, and Muslims
A cross-cultural and comparative introduction to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam using historical, theological, and ethnographic methodologies.

CS 4010 Spirituality, Ministry and Survivors of Human Rights Abuses
A seminar combining theory and praxis with Chicago agencies and groups working with refugees/ survivors of torture and human rights abuses. What is our pastoral responsibility in accompanying survivors on their journey to healing and reconciliation? What are the possibilities and limitations of this ministry (personally and collectively)? What is a spirituality of accompaniment? What is a spirituality of reconciliation? What is beyond reconciliation? How does this process inform and challenge our theology, mission and ministry? How do we attend to our own healing process? How do we deal with the oppressor/wrongdoer/perpetrator? These are the questions and concerns that our class-community will address during this semester. Admission by consent of instructor.

C 4100 Inculturation and Dialogue: Ministry Across Boundaries
Building upon and integrating previous studies and experiences, this course enables students to attend more closely to the contexts, in which they minister, particularly when the cultural/social contexts and the ideological or faith convictions they encounter are not their own.

CD5210 – Theology of Interreligious Dialogue
Takes as starting point the Second Vatican Council's declaration "Nostra Aetate" to examine the Church's relations with other religions. Begins with a historical perspective and then looks at the theologies and forms of interreligious dialogue today. The actual praxis of dialogue will be integral to the course.

DC 4200 Christology and Culture
An investigation of the meaning of the person and work of Jesus Christ for Christian faith today. Special emphasis given to emerging christologies in the World Church, constructing christologies today, and the final consummation of all things in Christ. 

MPC 4300 Pastoral Challenges of Cultural Diversity
Cultural diversity is a growing phenomenon in the new global context. By engaging participants in an intercultural learning process, this course prepares pastoral leaders to deal with challenges of cultural diversity in their communities.

CH 4301 Constants in Context: A Mission Theology for Today
Weaving together a systematic theology with mission at its core and a global history of the world Christian movement, this course traces the patterns by which theological constants are shaped in changing contexts in developing relevant mission theologies.

CH 4302 Earliest Christian Traditions in Asia
An investigation of earliest Christian contacts with Asian cultures and traditions along the "silk" routes (land and sea), beginning with the apostle Thomas to 1500 C.E.. It distinguishes facts, legends, and hypotheses as a framework for assessing such contacts.

MPC 4308 Pastoral Care in an African-American Context
This course explores the psychological and cultural elements that contributed to the formation of an African-American identity. The goal is a better understanding of the African-American experience and a greater sensitivity to the strength and needs of this cultural tradition. Students develop a better understanding/ability to minister in the African-American community.

C 4310 Mission Integration
Integrating seminar for those returning from cross-cultural and/or overseas training placements (OTP) of mission/ministry. This course provides a process for deeper understanding of the experience through theological reflection and integration of the past, present, and future.

CH 4310 History of the World Christian Movement in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
The end of the French Revolution marked the beginning of a period during which Christianity eventually developed into a vibrant world movement. This course examines historical-theological models of mission and related contemporary issues within varied social-political, religious, and ecclesial contexts.

DC 4311 Introduction to Asian Theologies
As Christianity becomes post-western, the church in Asia will have an increasingly significant role in the church of the future. This course is an introduction to the theology emerging from the Asian church. It begins by looking at the context of Asia and then explores how theology addresses the realities of the many poor, many religions, and many cultures of Asia.

C 4320 Islam
This introduction to the faith tradition of nearly one-fifth of humanity includes: the life of Muhammad (s.); Qur’an and hadith; the five “pillars” of Muslim praxis; Islamic law and theology; Sunni/Shi`ite sectarianism; mysticism; and contemporary Muslim renewal and reform movements.

C 4321 The Qur’an
This course explores the role that the Qur’an plays in Muslim consciousness by focusing on such topics as: the function of the text in Muslim piety; biblical-Quranic intertextuality; Quranic commentary and exegesis; and the Qur’an as oral/aural scripture.

C 4325 Introduction to Judaism
Designed to introduce the most important aspects of Jewish practice and belief, particularly stresses questions and problems relevant to contemporary Jews, while setting them within a historical context. Considers issues in the relationship between Judaism and Christianity, including the dialogue that has developed in recent decades.

C 4330 Interreligious Dialogue
Participants investigate forms of dialogue with other religions developed in Catholic Christianity since Vatican II. Attention is given to the dialogue of religious experience and a comparative theology arising from the practice of dialogue. Field trips and various media formats are employed.

CE 4400 Mission and Peacemaking
Systemic violence (social, cultural, economic, political, and ecological) is globally widespread. Drawing on Catholic social teaching, theology of peace, and some contextual pastoral experiences, this course helps students develop a theological and pastoral vision for the praxis of social peacemaking.

BC 4403 Mark in Cross-Cultural Perspective
A study of the narrative of Mark from a cultural and theological perspective. Focus is on Markan style and theology in dialogue with the Jewish background and with the contexts and questions of today.

CD 4430 Doing Theology in the Context of Migrations
This course is dedicated to the elaboration of a theology that deals with the reality of migrations particularly in the U.S.A. Participants are exposed to the complexity of this phenomenon through the analysis of theories that explore the reasons why people migrate and the historical, political, legal, cultural, and social dynamics of international migration in the U.S.A. Issues of ethnicity, race, and gender are emphasized. Particular attention given to the human and religious experience of the migrants. Students are required to critically relate the reality of migration with the Christian revelation and traditions. Examines the experience of migration as depicted by the Bible, church documents, and theologies that deal with the contemporary and diverse experience of migrants within the U.S.A.

BC 4502 Reading the Bible Differently: African-American Biblical Perspectives
Different contexts and perspectives lead to different approaches to, and interpretation of, the Bible. This course studies the interplay between the African-American contexts and the resulting appropriation and interpretation of the Bible. Participants are inducted into the wider issue of social location in biblical hermeneutics.

BC 4503 Perspectives in African Biblical Interpretation
After an introduction into the African culture and context, the approaches, themes, and texts in current African biblical interpretation are studied. Participants are introduced to the question of text and context in interpretation.

C 4700 Praxis for Cross-Cultural Transformation
A J-term Intensive course (inspired by Paulo Freire’s methodology) prepares students for ecumenical, cross-cultural mission/ministry, and consists of preparation, field experience, and integration. Field experience: January (Chiapas or Chicago), May/June (Lakota Reservations). Additional costs involved depending on location.

BC 5001 The Servant of the Lord and Interpretation
An extensive introduction to the text and themes of Deutero-Isaiah is followed by the study of the sayings about the Servant of the Lord, in relation to their meaning for the vocation of Israel and for that of people called to be God’s servant. Reapplications of the servant theme in the New Testament are considered to the extent possible

DC 5001 Catholicism, U.S. Culture, and the Mission of the Church
An investigation of the history of Catholicism in the United States, how it has interfaced with U.S. culture, and what implications this has for the missionary nature of the church in the U.S. context.

BC 5002 Women in the Scriptures
An advanced seminar in feminist approaches to the scriptures, examining texts from the canonical as well as some non-canonical literature.

CS 5010 Spirituality, Ministry, and Survivors of Human Rights Abuse .
The prevalence of torture, human rights abuses, and violence in our world challenges the missionary/minister to understand the personal and societal effects of trauma and to develop a spirituality of accompaniment with survivors in their healing and reconciliation. Not open to audit.

BC 5010 Bible, Mission, and Culture
An examination of the grounds for, and models of, mission in the Bible, and of some issues in mission and culture. In even years the course is limited to the Old Testament; in odd years the entire Bible is considered.

BC 5012 Latina Perspectives on Biblical Interpretation
A seminar on the work of women theologians in the U.S.A. and in Latin America, with attention to Latina feminist/mujerista methods for interpreting scripture and insights for preaching and teaching from the scriptures in a multicultural church.

C 5020 Christianity in the Middle East
The course examines the main historical and cultural developments of Christianity in what is today known as the Middle East. The focus of this course will be on exploring the relations between Eastern Christians and the West, particularly since the colonial era, and the current debates among different Christian communities on their theological and cultural self-understanding and the mission of the church in a Muslim majority region.

CS 5020 Spirituality, Discipleship, and Mission Today
This course explores discipleship in the New Testament, seeking its applications amid changing lives and in a changing world. First, we are called, then sent; the initiative and the agenda are not our own. Ponder the implications and applications.

SC 5020 Hispanic Spirituality: History and Religiosity
Provides a general introduction to the foundations, beliefs, and challenges of Hispanic/Latino spirituality. The course covers topics like: Mesoamerican and medieval Spanish religiosity; what Latinos believe about God, Mary, humanity, evil, etc.; and finally, the challenge of evangelizing popular religiosity and of enhancing Latino interest in the Word of God, justice, and liberation.

CS 5030 The Spirituality of Lakota-Christian Dialogue
In dialogue with Lakota Native Americans who practice traditional spirituality and/or Christian faith, this course examines a spirituality of justice and interfaith mission/ministry. Includes a week-long field trip on Rosebud and Pine Ridge Lakota Reservations in South Dakota.

SC 5040 Islamic Mysticism and Spirituality
An exploration of the Muslim traditions of piety, devotion, and spiritual purification known as “Sufism.” Topics include: early Muslim asceticism; love mysticism; sobriety and ecstasy; the stages and states of the spiritual journey; Sufi prayer and praxis; and classical Sufi poetry.

C 5041 Contemporary Islamic Renewal and Reform Movements
A thoughtful perspective on what is popularly called Islamic “fundamentalism.” This course examines the phenomenon as a response to the effects of western modernity and modernism. It also explores the spectrum of such movements ranging from progressive to extremist.

CS 5050 Discipleship, Mission, and Spirituality Today
This course seeks to bring together three deeply enmeshed topics. Discipleship is the way we live out God's Mission in our lives and world, and Spirituality is the life of the Holy Spirit with which our baptism enriches us. None of these can exist authentically without the others. We ponder the implications of the "disturbing quality" of Jesus' call.

WC 5200 Advanced Preaching
This practicum addresses specific pastoral and cultural contexts for preaching, e.g. preaching specific sacramental rites (weddings and funerals), preaching various aspects of the church year (a cycle of the lectionary or particular feasts and seasons), or preaching in distinctive cultural contexts (Hispanic or Asian). Prerequisite: Liturgical Preaching, W4204

WC 5202 Liturgical Inculturation
This seminar explores the inculturation of the church's worship in both historical and contemporary perspective with emphasis on current methodological and theological issues raised by the engagement of the church with contemporary cultures promoted by Vatican II.

WC 5205 Liturgy in a Multicultural Community
This seminar explores the complex situation of liturgical celebration in communities comprising people of diverse languages and cultural backgrounds. It takes up the dynamics of intercultural engagement, assumptions and principles relating to multiculturalism, liturgy, and popular religiosity, conceptual and practical groundwork, and models for liturgy that embrace the plurality of cultures in a respectful, inclusive way.

DC 5310 Interreligious Dialogue in Asia
Explores the theory and praxis of interreligious dialogue, including the influence of personal, social, and extra-religious factors. Taking into account the contextual realities, the texts of Christian scriptures and teachings are investigated to discern the church's theology of religions.

DC 5311 Readings in Asian Theology
This is a reading course on the writings of key Christian theologians-- especially on how they address the issues arising from the context and realities of Asia. Among the major themes examined from an Asian perspective are post-colonialism, contextualization, hermeneutics, theological methods, inculturation, integral liberation, and interreligious dialogue.

CH 5322 The History of Muslim-Christian Relations
An investigation of Christian-Muslim relations from the early seventh century Common Era to the present. Specific topics include: the early Muslim conquests, the Crusades, the fall of Constantinople, the Bosnian genocide, twentieth-century Algeria, and contemporary Nigeria, Indonesia, and the U.S.

C 5042 Witchcraft in Contemporary Africa
Witchcraft, sorcery, and associated beliefs and practices, continue to plague Africa and constitute perhaps the most serious social problem for millions. The Christian response has been at best patchy and at worst indefensible. Through an anthropological analysis, we probe the social reality of witchcraft, and then bring theological and pastoral insights to bear on addressing it.

BC 5515 Forms and Meanings in Bible and Culture
The course examines themes that recur in cultures and in the First Testament in order to see how anthropology and biblical studies can enlighten each other as well as the missionary/theological enterprise.

DC 6000 Theological Anthropology in Intercultural Perspective
A doctoral seminar in emerging issues in theological anthropology in the World Church today, as well as new challenges to the Christian understanding of the human being. Emphasis is placed on the different contexts in which these issues and challenges are encountered.

CD 6001 Inculturation
Much misunderstood, inculturation will be carefully explicated, theoretically and practically. We will study methods by which Christianity and a culture may actually encounter each other, and to what effect. The outcome (under the Holy Spirit and with the local people) is a new reality: the People of God Transformed.