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

Handouts: Syllabus, 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

Handout: 2.1 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

Handout: 2.2 What kind of god do we have?

Friday, August 28 — Activity 1

Handout: Heritage

Monday, August 31 — Theodicy: Is God Just?

Wednesday, September 2 — Israelite Practice

Reading: Theological Questions, 2.4. How Should We Live Our Lives?

Quiz 4

Handout: 2.4 Israelite Practice

Friday, September 4 — Activity 2

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

Handout: 3.1 Afterlife

Friday, September 11 — Where is the World Going?

Reading: Theological Questions, 3.2. What Does God Have Planned for This World?

Quiz 6

Handout: 3.2 Eschatology

Monday, September 14 — Who is Jesus?

Reading: Theological Questions, 3.3. Who Is Jesus of Nazareth?

Prepare video clip in Canvas: PBS Frontline, From Jesus to Christ, Roles of Jesus’s Ministry

Quiz 7

Handout: 3.3 Jesus of Nazareth

Wednesday, September 16 — Why Did Jesus Die?

Reading: Theological Questions, 3.4. Why Did Jesus Die?

Prepare video clip in Canvas: PBS Frontline, From Jesus to Christ, Responses to the Death of Jesus

Quiz 8

Handout: 3.4 Soteriology

Friday, September 18 — Activity 3

Handout: TBA

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

Reading: Theological Questions, 3.5. What Will Jesus Do in the Future?

Prepare video clip in Canvas: The Simpsons, Thanks God Its Doomsday

Quiz 9

Handout: 3.5 Judgment Day

Wednesday, September 23 — Are We Ready?

Reading: Theological Questions, 3.6. How Should God’s People Live Their Daily Lives?

Prepare video clip in Canvas: PBS Frontline, From Jesus to Christ, Property, Egalitarianism

Quiz 10

Handout: 3.6 Early Jewish and Christian Practice

Friday, September 25 — Activity 4

Handout: TBA

Unit 4: Christendom

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

Reading: Theological Questions, 4.1. What If the Roman Empire Isn’t So Bad After All?

Quiz 11

Handout: 4.1 Christology

Wednesday, September 30 — What is the Church?

Reading: Theological Questions, 4.2. What Is the Church?

Quiz 12

Handout: 4.2 Ecclesiology

Friday, October 2 — Activity 5

Handout: TBA

Monday, October 5 — What About the Jews?

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

Friday, October 9 — Midterm

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

Unit 5: Reformation

Wednesday, October 14 — Who Were the Protestant Reformers?

Reading: Theological Questions, 5.1. What Changed with the Renaissance Leading to the Reformation?

Prepare video clip in Canvas: Martin Luther, Driven to Defiance

Quiz 15

Handout: 5.1 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

Handout: 5.2 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

Handout: 5.3 Faith and Works

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

Friday, October 23 — Activity 6

Handout: TBA

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

Handout: 6.2 Faith and Reason

Monday, November 2 — Is Christianity Useful?

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

Friday, November 6 — Activity 7

Handout: TBA

Unit 7: 21st Century

Monday, November 9 — Global Environment

Wednesday, November 11 — Synodality

Reading: Theological Questions, 7.2. Can We Talk?

Quiz 24

Handout: 7.2 Synodality

Friday, November 13 — Activity 8

Handout: TBA

Mary, Mariology, and Marianists

Monday, November 16 — Mary

Wednesday, November 18 — Marianists

Friday, November 20 — Activity 9

Handout: TBA

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.