http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ A search of MERLOT materials Copyright 1997-2013 MERLOT. All rights reserved. Thu, 23 May 2013 01:45:41 PDT Thu, 23 May 2013 01:45:41 PDT http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/images/merlot.gif http://www.merlot.org:80/merlot/ 44 34 http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=555311 This course will introduce students to the African American faith experience, with particular attention being given to the historical development of spiritualities of liberation in the American Diaspora. Brief lectures and seminar discussions will offer "perspectives" on this rich and heterogeneous tradition from several vantage points within the humanities, social sciences, and theological disciplines. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=620014 This course serves as an introduction to the Buddhist artistic traditions of South, Southeast, and East Asia, as well as the Himalayas. It starts with the core tenets of Buddhism, Buddhist iconography, and early Buddhist art and architecture in India, then progresses to Southeast Asia. The course then focuses on Vajrayana Buddhism and its artistic traditions in the Himalayas, then examines Mahayana Buddhist art and architecture in China, Korea and Japan. This free course may be completed online at any time. See course site for detailed overview and learning outcomes. (Art History 406) http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=555296 This course provides a historical study of the origins of Christianity by analyzing the literature of the earliest Christian movements in historical context, concentrating on the New Testament. Although theological themes will occupy much of our attention, the course does not attempt a theological appropriation of the New Testament as scripture. Rather, the importance of the New Testament and other early Christian documents as ancient literature and as sources for historical study will be emphasized. A central organizing theme of the course will focus on the differences within early Christianity (-ies) http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=555309 This course examines the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible) as an expression of the religious life and thought of ancient Israel, and a foundational document of Western civilization. A wide range of methodologies, including source criticism and the historical-critical school, tradition criticism, redaction criticism, and literary and canonical approaches are applied to the study and interpretation of the Bible. Special emphasis is placed on the Bible against the backdrop of its historical and cultural setting in the ancient Near East. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=620139 This course introduces the history of the Middle East from the rise of Islam to the twenty-first century. The course will emphasize the encounters and exchanges between the Islamic world and the West. By the end of the course, the student will understand how Islam became a sophisticated and far-reaching civilization and how conflicts with the West shaped the development of the Middle East from the medieval period to the present day. This free course may be completed online at any time. See course site for detailed overview and learning outcomes. (History 351) http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=555420 This is an introductory course to the Bible and historical Christianity that aims to familiarize the student with the contents of the Bible and the development of the early Church. Special emphasis is placed on theological themes of perennial interest and the significance of the Bible for Christian thought and practice as well as the relationship of Christianity to Judaism. http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=555153 The course provides an overview of the history of Roman Catholic moral theology by examining how the Roman Catholic tradition developed certain distinctive ways of speaking about moral goods, obligations, and the forms of life. It explores basic principles, values, and patterns of thinking that have formed the tradition of Roman Catholic moral theology including creation, freedom and human dignity, grace, law, virtue, sacrament, prayer, and social justice. Although the basic approach will be historical, the course will alternate between the classic Roman Catholic texts and contemporary Roman Catholic statements on particular moral issues such as economic justice, human sexuality (including discussions of marriage and family), biomedical research, and issues surrounding the use of force in warfare. The course also examines how Roman Catholic thinkers have used various literary genres to speak about the normative and practical implications of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ.