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: Hadith and Fiqh

Presentation: Spain 1492

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

Unit 6: 20th Century

Friday, April 10 — What Happened in the 20th Century?

Monday, April 13 — 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

Wednesday, April 15 — Presentations and Quiz

Presentation: Karl Marx

Presentation: Richard Dawkins

Presentation: New Age Movement

Presentation: Neither western religion nor western science

Quiz 10

Friday, April 17 — Oyster Bake (No Class Meeting)

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

Dr. Hanneken will be in court serving jury duty. Group study is encouraged. Please also use the time to complete the course evaluations.

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

Final Exam

Day and time announced by registrar.