suggested uw courses
We are thrilled to announce that our new Scholar in Residence, Professor John Boersma, will teach 2 courses, one being on Catholic Social Thought, at UW-Madison this Fall. Professor Boersma is working part time at Saint Paul’s while pursuing his post doctoral studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison at the Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy.
Christian Political Thought PS 460 –
Professor Boersma
This course is designed to introduce you to the questions concerning man’s place in the world and in society according to the Christian and Catholic tradition. The goal is to explore the theoretical bases of major ideas that have contributed to a Christian understanding of society and politics. The course will be divided into five major sections: (1) Christian Anthropology –in this section we will explore the Christian understanding of human nature, including the origin and purpose of human life; (2) Christian Legal Thought –What is the purpose of law in fostering virtue and ordering human life; (3) Church-State relations –What is the proper relationship between temporal and spiritual authority; (4) Christianity and Religious Freedom; and (5) Catholic Social Teaching –What is the role and purpose of economic and social life.
The First Amendment PS 470 –
Professor Boersma
This course will focus on the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, covering both the Free Speech and Freedom of Religion Clauses. We will analyze the meaning of the text from a historical perspective, with a particular emphasis on the way in which the Supreme Court’s interpretation of these clauses have changed over time. The course will end with a discussion of the current application of these clauses.
Relig st 440-italian 440-medieval 440 Poverty, Ecology and the Arts: St. Francis of Assisi
History/Religious Studies 409– Christianity in the Atlantic World, 1500-1800
Professor Eric Carlsson
This course explores some big themes in the history of modern Christianity, including: the Reformations of the 16th century (Protestant and Catholic) and their impact on people and society; European colonialism and the spread of Christianity among Indigenous peoples in the “New World”; African Christianity and the beginnings of the Black church in the Americas; religious renewal movements (including new Catholic religious orders and Protestant evangelicalism); and Christianity’s relationship to democratic political revolutions. We will encounter the voices of many actors in the period as well as the work of contemporary scholars. Geared toward any UW-Madison student, the course will likely be of special interest to those wanting to understand their own place in the bigger story of Christianity.
Anthro 310 – Dr. Geoffrey Ludvik
Course Description: This course investigates the complex relationships between the ancient civilizations of Western Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. The course begins with a brief introduction to the historical and archaeological records of Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Eastern Mediterranean/Aegean, and Syro-Palestine. Each region will then be examined in more detail using a series of case studies in contemporary approaches to interregional interaction. Students will explore the ways in which archaeologists study past cultural contact, with special attention to trade, ethnicity/immigration, and religious identity. Specific topics include: trade between early South Asia, the Near East, and Aegean; migration and ethnicities of the Hyksos, early Israelites, and Philistines; foreign relations in Biblical Judah and Israel; the Greek and Roman army in the Near East/Egypt; Jewish religious identities in the 1st century CE; Early Christian identity and liturgy; and Islamic pilgrimage.
Educational Psychology 925, Moral Development: Forgiveness Psychology – Dr. Bob Enright
The course focuses on what forgiveness is, the measurement of forgiveness, and scientific studies on Forgiveness Therapy and Forgiveness Education.
PS460, Christian Political Thought – Eduardo Passos
ILS 200: Critical Thinking and Expression – George Clark
