Introduction to Theology

TH 1301

Todd R. Hanneken, Ph.D.

Fall 2026

August
 


 
 
September
 




 
October
 
 




November




 
 

Jump to Unit:

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

Unit 1: Introductions

Wednesday, August 19 — Introduction to This Class

Syllabus

Screen notes: Introductions

Friday, August 21 — Introduction to the Academic Study of Theology

Unit 2: The Israelites

Monday, August 24 — Who Are the Israelites?

Reading: Theological Questions 2.1 Who are the Israelites?

Quiz 1

Screen notes: Who are the Israelites?

Wednesday, August 26 — What Kind of God Do We Have?

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

Quiz 2

Screen notes: What kind of god do we have?

Friday, August 28

Monday, August 31 — Theodicy: Is God Just?

Reading: Theological Questions 2.3 If there is only one God and that god is good, how does evil exist?

Quiz 3

Screen notes: Theodicy

Wednesday, September 2 — Israelite Practice

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

Quiz 4

Screen notes: Israelite Practice

Friday, September 4

Monday, September 7 — Labor Day, No Class Meeting

Unit 3: Early Judaism and Christianity

Wednesday, September 9 — How Did the Greeks and Romans Change the Meaning of Life?

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

Quiz 5

Screen notes: Afterlife

Friday, September 11 — Where is the World Going?

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

Quiz 6

Screen notes: Eschatology

Monday, September 14 — Who is Jesus?

Reading: Theological Questions 3.3 Who is Jesus of Nazareth?

Quiz 7

Screen notes: Jesus of Nazareth

Wednesday, September 16 — Why Did Jesus Die?

Reading: Theological Questions 3.4 Why did Jesus die?

Quiz 8

Screen notes: Soteriology

Friday, September 18

Monday, September 21 — What Will Jesus Do in the Future?

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

Quiz 9

Screen notes: Judgment Day

Wednesday, September 23 — Are We Ready?

Friday, September 25

Unit 4: Christendom

Monday, September 28 — What if the Roman Empire Isn’t So Bad After All?

Wednesday, September 30 — What is the Church?

Reading: Theological Questions 4.2 What is the Church?

Quiz 12

Screen notes: Ecclesiology

Friday, October 2

Monday, October 5 — What About the Jews?

Wednesday, October 7 — How Should Christian Life Be Practiced?

Reading: Theological Questions 4.4 How should religious life be practiced?

Quiz 14

Screen notes: Monasticism and Religious Orders

Friday, October 9 — Midterm

Monday, October 12 — Fall Break (No Class Meetings)

Unit 5: Reformation

Wednesday, October 14 — Who Were the Protestant Reformers?

Friday, October 16 — What Did They Protest?

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

Quiz 16

Screen notes: Scripture and Tradition

Monday, October 19 — Do My Actions Affect My Salvation?

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

Quiz 17

Screen notes: Faith and Works

Wednesday, October 21 — How Should I Live My Life?

Friday, October 23

Monday, October 26 — Theology Overnight Intensive (No Class Meeting)

Unit 6: 20th Century

Wednesday, October 28 — What Happened in the 20th Century?

Friday, October 30 — How Does Faith Hold Up To Reason in the 20th Century?

Reading: Theological Questions 6.2 Faith and/or reason?

Quiz 20

Screen notes: Faith and Reason

Monday, November 2 — Is Christianity Useful?

Reading: Theological Questions 6.3 How is Christian faith relevant to the poor and oppressed today?

Quiz 21

Screen notes: Liberation

Wednesday, November 4 — What Can I Do to Make It More Useful?

Friday, November 6

Unit 7: 21st Century

Monday, November 9 — Global Environment

Reading: Theological Questions 7.1 Can we work together with each other and with the environment?

Quiz 23

Screen notes: Global Environment

Wednesday, November 11 — Synodality

Reading: Theological Questions 7.2 Can we talk?

Quiz 24

Screen notes: Synodality

Friday, November 13

Mary, Mariology, and Marianists

Monday, November 16 — Mary

Reading: Sections 1-3 in “Mary, Mariology, and Marianists” in Theological Questions Supplements

Quiz 25

Screen notes: Mary, Mariology, and the Marianist Family

Wednesday, November 18 — Marianists

Reading: Sections 4-5 in “Mary, Mariology, and Marianists” in Theological Questions Supplements

Quiz 26

Screen notes: Mary, Mariology, and the Marianist Family

Friday, November 20

Final

Monday, November 23 — Society of Biblical Literature (No Class Meeting)

Wednesday, November 25 — Thanksgiving (No Class Meeting)

Friday, November 27 — Thanksgiving (No Class Meeting)

Monday, November 30 — Review for Final Exam and Course Evaluations

Wednesday, December 2 — Study Day (No Class Meeting)

Friday, December 4 — Begin Final Exams

Day and time announced by registrar.