Theology Major

WHAT IS THEOLOGY?
Theology examines biblical literature, develops tools in biblical interpretations and brings this wisdom to bear on current personal and social issues. In addition, students explore the meaning of the Christian gospel in today’s complex and often confusing world.

WHAT KINDS OF THEOLOGY DEGREES DOES KING’S OFFER?

Available As A Concentration For:
3-Year Bachelor of Arts
4-Year Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies

Available As A Minor For:
B.A. B.Com., B.Mus., 4-Year B.Sc.(BIOL & CMPT majors)

Courses Available Include: (for full course descriptions, see the registry pages here)
studies in: contemporary theology, biblical theological themes, Jesus and the Gospels, historical theology, Christian missions, Christian ethics and world religions

THEO 250 - Entering the Story: Introduction to the Bible
THEO 310 - Bringing the Text to Life: Biblical Theological Themes
THEO 342 - Facing the Darkness: Evil as Experience and Challenge
THEO 349 - Southern Exposure: Reading The Bible With the Two-Thirds World
THEO 351 - God in Flesh and Blood: Jesus Christ in Scripture and Confession
THEO-353 - Prophet to the Nations: Paul's Epistles and Theology
THEO 361 - The Lord, the Church, and the Nations: Contemporary Political Theology
THEO 364 - Futures in the Past: Historical Theology
THEO 369 - Saving God? Contemporary Theology
THEO 370 - All Things: Theology of Creation (formerly THEO 324)
THEO 371 - A Conspiracy of Goodness: Studies in Christian Mission
THEO 373 - Theology, Culture, and Pluralism (formerly THEO 393)
THEO 374 - Micah's Challenge
THEO 375 - God, Physics and the Human Prospect (formerly THEO 395)
THEO 376 - Jubilate: Studies In Christian Worship
THEO 380 - Earthly Good: Christian Ethics (formerly THEO 390)
THEO 391 - Philosophy of Religion
THEO 397 - Engaging Difference: World Religions (formerly THEO 367)
THEO 399 - Special Topics in Theology
THEO 495 - Senior Theology Seminar
THEO 499 - Directed Studies in Theology

Related Links

Course Schedule | Theology Department| Potential Careers

 
Entering the Story: Introduction to the Bible, Every Year, Fall and Winter 3(3-1-0)
An exploration of the genres, storylines, themes and theological patterns within the Bible. We shall engage the biblical text both as ancient literature and as Christian scripture which reveals the truth of God, the world and humanity.
Bringing the Text to Life: Biblical Theological Themes, Every Year, Winter 3(3-0-0)
This course is a close study of selected biblical theological themes and their social-ethical implications for contemporary society. Themes investigated may include Christian political responsibility, war and peace, gender and sexuality, environmental stewardship, etc.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
Facing the Darkness: Evil as Experience and Challenge, Every Year, Fall 3(3-0-0)
This course will address the experience of evil in our world by examining the biblical literature about evil and its relation to the central biblical confession of a good creation. How did biblical authors respond to the experience of evil in their day? How did their responses relate to the cultural climate of their times? The course will then survey prominent theological and philosophical options for thinking about evil today. Finally it will struggle to articulate a faithfully Christian response to the reality of evil in our time.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
Southern Exposure: Reading The Bible With the Two-Thirds World, 2009-10, Winter 3(3-0-0)
"When the colonists arrived here, they had the Bible and we had the land. Now we have the Bible and they have the land. I wonder who got the better deal?" (Desmond Tutu) The Bible has been characterized as a "foreign" text imposed on subject peoples, legitimizing colonial and neo-colonial ideologies. However, the Bible is currently being read and appropriated in the Two-Thirds world in fresh, liberating, and transforming ways. What are the implications of the new ways of reading for the global Christian community? What can North Americans learn from these reading strategies? How can they help us hear the challenging Word anew? This course does not fulfill theology foundations requirements.
Prerequisite: THEO 250
God in Flesh and Blood: Jesus Christ in Scripture and Confession, 2008-09, Winter 3(3-0-0)
This course examines: Jesus' life, teachings and ministry in the religious, social, cultural and political context of first century Palestine; the nature and purposes of the New Testament Gospels as historical and theological documents and the relationship of history and theology; core issues in the development of Christology from the New Testament to the early creeds and christological definitions.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
Prophet to the Nations: Paul's Epistles and Theology, 2008-09, Fall 3(3-0-0)
A detailed study of the life, letters and theology of the apostle Paul in the context of his time and mission. Special attention will be paid to past and present paradigms for understanding Paul, as well as to his contribution to a variety of current issues in theology, ethics, church life and Christian mission. This course does not fulfill theology foundations requirements.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
The Lord, the Church, and the Nations: Contemporary Political Theology, 2008-09, Fall 3(3-0-0)
Just as within contemporary philosophy there is a new interest in the meaning of theology for political life, so within contemporary theology there is a new engagement of the political as mapped within the discourse and practices of the historic church. This course will explore this engagement, examining the retrieval of classical and medieval sources into a post-modern context, African and Latin American liberation theologies, and European and American political theologies.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
Futures in the Past: Historical Theology, 2008-09, Fall 3(3-0-0)
A study of important stages in the development of Christian doctrine and some of the major figures in the history of Christian theology. We will examine the influence of social, political and cultural contexts on doctrine and theology, and ask the question whether and how a study of the Christian past might give shape to the church, theology and Christian faithfulness in the present and future. Same as HIST 364.
Prerequisites: HIST 202 or 203
Saving God? Contemporary Theology, 2009-10, Fall 3(3-0-0)
This course will present historical background to and engagement with selected themes and theologians of importance in contemporary Christian discussion, with special emphasis on North American theology. Topics may include feminist theology; evangelicalism, post-liberalism, and post-modernism; and current trinitarian theology, represented bycontemporary theologians. This course does not fulfill theology foundations requirements.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
All Things: Theology of Creation (formerly THEO 324), Every Year, Fall 3(3-0-0)
A study of the Christian theology of creation which addresses the issues of: the integrity of the universe as God's creation; humankind's place and task in creation; the honouring and care of creation as intrinsic to knowledge of God as Creator and the world as God's creation. Special attention will be paid to how the central Christian doctrines of the Trinity, Christology, the imago dei and the eucharist shape the theology of creation, and to how such a theology influences and is influenced by the aims and practices of environmental stewardship.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
A Conspiracy of Goodness: Studies in Christian Mission, 2008-09, Winter 3(3-0-0)
A close examination of some central issues in Christian mission. Students will study key Biblical passages that inform the nature and scope of mission, explore contemporary images of mission, consider the nature of mission in the contemporary world, and examine topics such as the role of the church in urban renewal, the biblical nature of evangelism, the relationship of theology and development, liberation theology, inter-religious dialogue and others.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
Theology, Culture, and Pluralism (formerly THEO 393), 2009-10, Fall 3(3-0-0)
A biblical and theological examination of religious pluralism, which poses both challenge and promise for Christian witness. This course addresses questions about the truth, identity, integrity, and mission of the Christian faith which arise in its engagement with the other faiths of the world. This course does not fulfill theology foundations requirements.
Prerequisites: THEO 250, and either PHIL 230 or THEO 397
Micah's Challenge, 2009-10, Winter 3(3-0-0)
The Hebrew prophet Micah summarized the calling of God's people in the simple yet powerful verse: "What does the Lord require of you? To do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God." This ancient but succinct statement is a powerful summons for the people of God to be engaged in the quest for justice today. In a world besieged by economic inequality, violence, poverty and hunger, HIV/AIDS, war and famine, Micah's Challenge takes on a particular urgency. In this course students will examine the Millennium Development goals in the context of biblical injunctions to seek justice, show mercy and walk humbly with God. This course does not fulfill theology foundations requirements.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
God, Physics and the Human Prospect (formerly THEO 395), 2008-09, Winter 3(3-0-0)
This course is intended for students in their senior year of study and will focus on the dialogue between scientific and other ways of knowing. Topics will be drawn from Physics, Theology and Sociology that will illuminate such motivating questions as 1) How can Science and Theology engage in a conversation of mutual understanding and transformation? 2) How, or in what ways, has science changed our ideas about what it means to be human? and 3) Given these changes, how then ought we to live our lives? Same as PHYS 395 and SOCI 395.
Prerequisites: Six credits in one or more of Physics, Sociology or Theology
Jubilate: Studies In Christian Worship, Every Year, Full Year Course 3(1.5-0-0)
A study of Christian worship which includes biblical principles for worship, the historical development of liturgy, cultural dynamics in contemporary worship, and explores the rich and varied resources with the ecumenical Christian community. Themes to be studied include praise and lament, confession and proclamation, use of the lectionary, sacraments, liturgical dance, the use of art in worship, the relationship of worship and justice, and more. There will be a strong emphasis on the music of worship. Students will have an opportunity to attend various worship services as well plan, lead, and participate in worship. This course meets the senior level foundation theology requirement only for students with music as their major/first concentration. Same as MUSI 376.
Corequisites: THEO 250
Earthly Good: Christian Ethics (formerly THEO 390), 2009-10, Winter 3(3-0-0)
An examination of the nature of ethics, the relationship between the Bible and Christian ethics, several biblical concepts determinative for Christian ethics and ethical issues in areas such as politics, business, law, medicine and personal decision-making.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
Philosophy of Religion, 2009-10, Winter 3(3-0-0)
An inquiry into selected philosophical issues concerning religion such as the presuppositions underlying various accounts of the origin of religion, the relationships among faith, reason and revelation, the possibility of giving a rational defense of religious belief, and such topics as the problem of evil, immortality and the supernatural. This course does not fulfill theology foundations requirements. Same as PHIL 391.
Prerequisites: PHIL 230 and THEO 250 or PHIL 230
Engaging Difference: World Religions (formerly THEO 367), 2009-10, Fall 3(3-0-0)
Through studies of the histories, sacred texts and practices of Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, native Canadian and tribal religions, students will gain some understanding of the variety and complexity of living religious traditions in the modern world. Attention will be paid to the current debate on religious pluralism and Christian claims about the person and work of Jesus Christ in this context. This course does not fulfill theology foundations requirements.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
Special Topics in Theology, Subject to demand, Winter 3(3-0-0)
A course on a topic or figure of special interest to a member of the theology faculty and offered on a non-recurring basis. This course does not fulfill theology foundations requirements.
Prerequisites: THEO 250
Senior Theology Seminar, Every Year, Winter 3(0-3-0)
All students with theology as a first subject of concentration in the B.A. program are required to take this course. Students further develop skills in biblical, theological and interdisciplinary scholarship through the preparation of a senior research paper and seminar presentations and discussions. This course does not fulfill theology foundations requirements.
Prerequisites: Six credits in theology at the 300-level
Directed Studies in Theology, Every Year, 1 to 3 (varies)
An opportunity to do intensive study of a special topic or theologian of particular interest to the student. Students work closely with a theology faculty member in tutorial meetings. For directed studies in theology, students must apply in advance to a theology faculty member. This course does not fulfill theology foundations requirements.
Prerequisites: Six credits in theology at the 300-level, and consent of instructor