Course description:

The course will focus first on the historical background of Paul of Tarsus and the social situation of the early Christian movement.  We will examine the various worlds of Paul - his Jewish background, his Hellenistic training in Philosophy and Rhetoric, and his Greco-Roman political and social world view.  The course will then examine each of the seven authentic letters in their historical context with a focus on the issues of belief and community life that Paul is addressing.  Each letter will be studied for its social background, controlling images, rhetorical features and theological message.  We will look at the place of Paul and his letters in the development of Christian belief and practice, and then consider Paul’s Letters as a resource for the Church today.

As a hybrid-course with only two in-class meetings at each site (Birmingham, Mobile, Jackson), the course material will be presented on-line through articles, PowerPoint Presentations with recorded commentary, Video Presentations and Discussion Boards.  The in-class meetings will provide a chance for the professor to meet with students individually about their own research and papers, and for classroom discussion of the material.  It will provide an opportunity for the professor to develop and explain points in the on-line material that are of interest to the students.  In Mobile the two meeting times will be September 11 and October 16. 

About Dr. Timothy Carmody:
Timothy Carmody has a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from The Catholic University of America.  On the faculty at Spring Hill College since 1989, he just stepped down as Director of Graduate Theology Programs.  He was elected as Vice-President for the Association of Graduate Programs in Ministry, to serve as President in 2009-2010.  His areas of specialization are narrative criticism of the Gospels and the Pentateuch, and historical analysis of Early Christianity.  He lectures extensively in the Southeast on topics ranging from the creation stories to the parables and from The DaVinci Code to Fairy Tales.  His first book, Reading the Bible, was published by Paulist Press in 2004, and his second book for Paulist, Mark: Question by Question, is now available.

Text Books:

·    Michael Gorman, Apostle of the Crucified Lord: A Theological Introduction to Paul and his Letters. Eerdmans, 2004.   ISBN: 978-0802839343

·    Luke Timothy Johnson,  Reading Romans: A Literary and Theological Commentary. Smyth and Helwys.  2008.   ISBN:  978-1573122764

·    Bible (an academic translation)

 Spring 2011

Course description:
A graduate-level introduction to the nature, tasks, and methods of theological inquiry. It is intended to assist adult learners as they return to critical academic study. The course will introduce questions concerned with the possibility and form of divine revelation, the relationship bewteen faith and reason, sources for theology, the relationship between scripture and tradition, and the place of reflection and experience in critical inquiry. On a practical level, the course will introduce students to the academic resources, methods of research and writing, logical argumentation, and styles of documentation utilized by the various branches of theology.

About Dr. John Switzer:
John Switzer is assistant professor of theology at Spring Hill College, and is the director of graduate programs in theology and ministry.  He is also the 2008-2009 Edward B. Moody, SJ, Teacher of the Year.  In 2006 he completed the interdisciplinary Ph.D. in theology and education at Boston College.  His primary areas of interest include historical, comparative, and pastoral theology as well as issues revolving around the challenge of interreligious understanding.  A popular speaker in churches and parishes throughout the southeast, his articles on theological, pastoral, and intercultural issues have appeared in numerous publications, including U.S. Catholic and National Catholic Reporter.  He is the author of two articles in the Encyclopedia of Love in the World Religions published by ABC-CLIO.

About Dr. Joy Blaylock:
Joy Blaylock received her Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from The Catholic University of America in 2003.  She has taught as an adjunct at Catholic University and is an ongoing Adjunct Professor for the Spring Hill Theology program.  She has authored numerous articles for The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedia of American Catholic Women.  

About Rev. Gregory Bittner:
Rev. Gregory T. Bittner is a priest of the Diocese of Birmingham and has served as Judicial Vicar for the last 16 years. Fr. Bittner received his M.Div. Degree from the Catholic University of America, his J.C.L. from St. Paul’s University of Ottawa in Canada, and his J.D. from the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University. He has served on the Ethics Committee at St. Vincent’s Hospital for the last 12 years and served on the Pastoral Care Advisory Board at Baptist Medical Center Princeton from 2000-2004. He served UAB Medical Center while pastor at St. Stephen’s University Parish. In 1996, he attended a Symposium on Bioethics in Rome, Italy.  In 2006, he received a certificate for successfully completing the National Catholic Certification Program in Health Care Ethics offered by the National Catholic Bioethics Center. He recently completed a sabbatical and during that time attended a seminar in Bioethics taught by Rev. Richard M. Gula, S.S. of the Franciscan School of Theology of the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California. Fr. Bittner has taught Fundamental Canon Law, and Sexuality and Marriage, for Spring Hill College in previous sessions.