Introduction to Theology

TH 1301

Todd R. Hanneken, Ph.D.

Spring 2026

January
 


February



March




 
 
April
 




 
May
 
 

 

Jump to Unit:

  1. Introductions
  2. The Israelites
  3. Early Judaism and Christianity
  4. Christendom
  5. Reformation
  6. 20th Century
  7. 21st Century

Presentations

Rubric

Notes on Rubric

List of presentations

Unit 1: Introductions

Wednesday, January 14 — Introduction to This Class

Syllabus

Screen notes: Introductions

Friday, January 16 — Introduction to the Academic Study of Theology

Monday, January 19 — MLK Day, No Class Meeting

Unit 2: The Israelites

Wednesday, January 21 — Who Are the Israelites?

Reading: Theological Questions 2.1 Who are the Israelites?

Screen notes: Who are the Israelites?

Friday, January 23 — What Kind of God Do We Have?

Reading: Theological Questions 2.2 What kind of god do we have?

Screen notes: What kind of god do we have?

Quiz 1

Monday, January 26 — Theodicy: Is God Just?

Wednesday, January 28 — Israelite Practice

Reading: Theological Questions 2.4 How should we live our lives?

Screen notes: Israelite Practice

Friday, January 30 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: The Life of the Buddha

Presentation: Pantheism

Presentation: Hesiod, Theogony

Presentation: The Four Noble Truths

Presentation: Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva

Presentation: The Eightfold Path

Quiz 2

Unit 3: Early Judaism and Christianity

Monday, February 2 — How Did the Greeks and Romans Change the Meaning of Life?

Reading: Theological Questions 3.1 What changed with Hellenistic and Roman rule?

Screen notes: Afterlife

Wednesday, February 4 — Where is the World Going?

Reading: Theological Questions 3.2 What does God have planned for this world?

Screen notes: Eschatology

Friday, February 6 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Reincarnation

Presentation: Plato, Gorgias 523-527

Quiz 3

Monday, February 9 — Who is Jesus?

Reading: Theological Questions 3.3 Who is Jesus of Nazareth?

Screen notes: Jesus of Nazareth

Wednesday, February 11 — Why Did Jesus Die?

Reading: Theological Questions 3.4 Why did Jesus die?

Screen notes: Soteriology

Friday, February 13 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Life of Muhammed

Presentation: Homer, Odyssey Book 11

Quiz 4

Monday, February 16 — What Will Jesus Do in the Future?

Reading: Theological Questions 3.5 What will Jesus do in the future?

Screen notes: Judgment Day

Wednesday, February 18 — Are We Ready?

Friday, February 20 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Islamic Eschatology

Presentation: Five Pillars of Islam

Quiz 5

Midcourse: Mary, Marianists, and Midterm

Monday, February 23 — Mary

Reading: “Mary, Mariology, and Marianists” in Theological Questions Supplements

Screen notes: Mary, Mariology, and the Marianist Family

Wednesday, February 25 — Presentations and Marianists

Friday, February 27 — Midterm

Unit 4: Christendom

Monday, March 2 — What if the Roman Empire Isn’t So Bad After All?

Extra Credit: Monday, March 2, 2:30-3:30 pm, Law Alumni Room — Eco-Feminist Theology: What Is It? Why Do We Need It?

Wednesday, March 4 — What is the Church?

Reading: Theological Questions 4.2 What is the Church?

Screen notes: Ecclesiology

Friday, March 6 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Early Caliphates

Presentation: Maimonides

Quiz 6

Monday, March 9 – Friday, March 13 — Spring Break (No Class Meetings)

Monday, March 16 — What About the Jews?

Wednesday, March 18 — How Should Christian Life Be Practiced?

Friday, March 20 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Muhammed and the Jews of Mecca and Medina

Presentation: Sufism

Presentation: Kabbalah

Quiz 7

Unit 5: Reformation

Monday, March 23 — Who Were the Protestant Reformers?

Wednesday, March 25 — What Did They Protest?

Reading: Theological Questions 5.2 Whom do you trust with big decisions?

Screen notes: Scripture and Tradition

Friday, March 27 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Sunni and Shi'i

Presentation: Spain 1492

Presentation: Hadith and Fiqh

Quiz 8

Monday, March 30 — Do My Actions Affect My Salvation?

Reading: Theological Questions 5.3 What do I have to do to be saved?

Screen notes: Faith and Works

Wednesday, April 1 — How Should I Live My Life?

Friday, April 3 — Good Friday (No Class Meeting)

Monday, April 6 — Easter Monday (No Class Meeting)

Wednesday, April 8 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Nirvana

Presentation: Jewish Liturgical Year

Quiz 9

Friday, April 10 — Oyster Bake (No Class Meeting)

Unit 6: 20th Century

Monday, April 13 — What Happened in the 20th Century?

Wednesday, April 15 — How Does Faith Hold Up To Reason in the 20th Century?

Reading: Theological Questions 6.2 Faith and/or reason?

Screen notes: Faith and Reason

Friday, April 17 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Karl Marx

Presentation: Richard Dawkins

Presentation: New Age Movement

Presentation: Neither western religion nor western science

Quiz 10

Monday, April 20 — Is Christianity Useful?

Wednesday, April 22 — What Can I Do to Make It More Useful?

Friday, April 24 — Presentations and Quiz

Unit 7: 21st Century

Monday, April 27 — Global Environment

Wednesday, April 29 — Synodality

Reading: Theological Questions 7.2 Can we talk?

Screen notes: Synodality

Friday, May 1 — Presentations and Quiz

Final

Monday, May 4 — Review for Final Exam and Course Evaluations

Wednesday, May 6 — Study Day (No Class Meeting)

Final Exam

Day and time announced by registrar.