Introduction to Theology

TH 1301

Todd R. Hanneken, Ph.D.

Fall 2025

August
 

September




 
 
October
 




November



December
 

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, August 20 — Introduction to This Class

Syllabus

Screen notes: Introductions

Friday, August 22 — Introduction to the Academic Study of Theology

Unit 2: The Israelites

Monday, August 25 — Who Are the Israelites?

Reading: Theological Questions 2.1 Who are the Israelites?

Screen notes: Who are the Israelites?

Wednesday, August 27 — 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?

Optional practice quiz in Canvas covers course readings and classes through today.

Friday, August 29 — Theodicy: Is God Just?

September 1 — Labor Day, No Class Meeting

Wednesday, September 3 — Israelite Practice

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

Screen notes: Israelite Practice

Friday, September 5 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: The Life of the Buddha

Presentation: The Four Noble Truths

Presentation: The Eightfold Path

Unit 3: Early Judaism and Christianity

Monday, September 8 — 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, September 10 — Where is the World Going?

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

Screen notes: Eschatology

Friday, September 12 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Reincarnation

Presentation: Islamic Eschatology

Presentation: Plato, Gorgias 523-527

Monday, September 15 — Who is Jesus?

Reading: Theological Questions 3.3 Who is Jesus of Nazareth?

Screen notes: Jesus of Nazareth

Wednesday, September 17 — Why Did Jesus Die?

Reading: Theological Questions 3.4 Why did Jesus die?

Screen notes: Soteriology

Friday, September 19 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Life of Muhammed

Presentation: Homer, Odyssey Book 11

Monday, September 22 — What Will Jesus Do in the Future?

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

Screen notes: Judgment Day

Wednesday, September 24 — Are We Ready?

Friday, September 26 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Jewish Liturgical Year

Presentation: 5 Pillars of Islam

Unit 4: Christendom

Monday, September 29 — What if the Roman Empire Isn’t So Bad After All?

Wednesday, October 1 — What is the Church?

Reading: Theological Questions 4.2 What is the Church?

Screen notes: Ecclesiology

Friday, October 3 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Early Caliphates

Presentation: Maimonides

Monday, October 6 — What About the Jews?

Wednesday, October 8 — How Should Christian Life Be Practiced?

Friday, October 10 — Midterm

Monday, October 13 — Fall Break (No Class Meeting)

Unit 5: Reformation

Wednesday, October 15 — Who Were the Protestant Reformers?

Friday, October 17 — What Did They Protest?

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

Screen notes: Scripture and Tradition

Monday, October 20 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Sunni and Shi'i

Presentation: Hadith and Fiqh

Presentation: Spain 1492

Wednesday, October 22 — 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

Friday, October 24 — How Should I Live My Life?

Monday, October 27 — Overnight Intensive for Theology Majors and Minors (No Class Meeting)

Wednesday, October 29 — Mary and Marianists

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

Screen notes: Mary, Mariology, and the Marianist Family

Friday, October 31 — Presentations and Quiz

Unit 6: 20th Century

Monday, November 3 — What Happened in the 20th Century?

Wednesday, November 5 — 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, November 7 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Karl Marx

Presentation: Richard Dawkins

Presentation: Neither western religion nor western science

Monday, November 10 — Is Christianity Useful?

Wednesday, November 12 — What Can I Do to Make It More Useful?

Friday, November 14 — Presentations and Quiz

Unit 7: 21st Century

Monday, November 17 — Global Environment

Wednesday, November 19 — Synodality

Reading: Theological Questions 7.2 Can we talk?

Screen notes: Synodality

Friday, November 21 — Presentations and Quiz

Final

Monday, November 24 — Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting (No Class Meeting)

Wednesday, November 26 — Thanksgiving (No Class Meeting)

Friday, November 28 — Thanksgiving (No Class Meeting)

Monday, December 1 — Review for Final Exam and Course Evaluations

Wednesday, December 3 — Study Day (No Class Meeting)

Final Exam

Day and time announced by registrar.