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.

Course description:
The basic characteristics of religion, the histories of the great traditions, how the understanding of life has been transformed through these traditions - these are the topics for a course on comparative religions.  It centers on the questions which everyone asks about the meaning of life.  In our day, with inter-religious dialogue forming a major part of global awareness and with constant challenges to our values, we can easily see the significance of a serious study of the world's great religions.  The goal is not to condemn but to understand.  This class will consider all dimensions of religion, private and public.  We will look at the deepest mystic experience and heroic calls to action.

About Fr. David Borbridge:
Father David Borbridge, S.J. teaches theology and history at Spring Hill College.  He received his PhD in History from the University of California at Berkeley.  Before coming to Spring Hill, Father Borbridge taught for eleven years at Rice University in Houston and for seven years at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.  He did research in Comparative Religion and Inter-religious dialogue in India, Brazil, and Germany.

Course description:
Limited to students in the Certificate of Spiritual Direction program, this seminar aims to provide an in-depth exploration of the principles and the practice of spiritual direction in the Christian tradition, with particular emphasis on the dynamics found in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

About Rev. Christopher Viscardi, S.J.:
Rev. Christopher Viscardi, S.J. completed his doctorate in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, in the area of spirituality.  His dissertation was a study of the conversion theology of Jonathan Edwards, the New England Puritan and spiritual leader, generally considered America’s greatest theologian.  He has been at Spring Hill since 1979 and currently serves as the chair of the theology department.

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 between 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, S.J., 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.  

Course description:
This course is limited
to students in the Certificate of Spiritual Direction or Faith Companioning programs. It will explore issues of psychological pathology, human developmental dynamics and therapeutic relationships, insofar as they might affect the practice of spiritual direction. The course is conducted in a mixed format,
consisting of three-hour classes at the beginning and end by the theology faculty and a three-day workshop in the middle by a psychological professional.

About Rev. Christopher Viscardi, S.J.:
Rev. Christopher Viscardi, S.J. completed his doctorate in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, in the area of spirituality.  His dissertation was a study of the conversion theology of Jonathan Edwards, the New England Puritan and spiritual leader, generally considered America’s greatest theologian.  He has been at Spring Hill since 1979 and currently serves as the chair of the theology department.