This semester course is an introduction to moral philosophy. We’ll discuss various theories in moral philosophy regarding what makes actions right or wrong, what makes someone a good person, and what it takes for a person to be morally responsible for some action or attitude. We will ask a number of questions about such claims in order to better understand the nature of morality. With respect to all of the questions we will investigate competing answers and critically engage with them to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. First, we will ask what we are doing when we say that an action is wrong: are we expressing a negative emotional reaction to it, offering our personal opinion, or making an objective claim about the action that it is possible to be mistaken about? Second, we will ask what makes actions right or wrong: is it the consequences of the action, or whether or not we have a duty to perform the action, or whether or not good people characteristically perform those actions? This course aims to evaluate these moral theories, in part, by focusing on how they bear on particular contemporary moral issues but also to improve the student's ability to think carefully and critically about ethical issues and to express his/her own views in a clear, well-reasoned way through both writing and conversation. 

All religions teach that peace and justice are core components of their nature. Yet, the reality is that members of religions often use religious principles to justify violence towards others. What are we to make of this? How should we understand it? Religiously justified violence is a constant theme in our world. This course will look at various case studies of the interaction between religion and violence and their relevance to our current world from multiple religious perspectives. 

Liberation theology emerged as one of the most important theological movements of the twentieth century. Overcoming poverty became a fundamental teaching of liberation theology. From its beginning, this movement has focused especially on explaining what it means to follow Jesus in a world marked by staggering poverty and structural injustice. Liberation Theology is understood as a dynamic, modern, spiritual-political-social movement. Students will examine the social and biblical contexts out of which liberation theology was born; consider closely several seminal liberationist texts; analyze various critiques of liberation theology; and consider the present and future of the movement.

Metaphysics is the study of reality—of what exists. Questions within the field of metaphysics involve many of the "big" issues in life: Is there an absolute right and wrong? Does God (or a creator) exist? Who are we? Does free will exist or are we traveling on a predetermined path? What is the nature of evil and why does it exist at all? All of these concepts and more, as well as their implications for human thought and life, are part and parcel of the philosophical discipline of metaphysics. While most people may not think in terms of "doing metaphysical thought", the fact remains that all thinking human beings have some sort of metaphysics that guide their lives everyday and inform their basic "worldview". Students in this course will explore various topics in metaphysics with the aim of grasping a deeper understanding of their own reality, existence, and place in time and space. Students will be challenged to think and debate, as well as write and synthesize.

Grief and Loss is an exploration into the different aspects of grief, death, and life. Students will explore common misinformation about grief, as well as the different types of loss other than death. Other topics covered are different cultural perspectives on death, the survivor’s experience of grief, and different cultural and religious beliefs about life after death. We also explore near-death experience and conclude the course by reading the book The Shack. The goal of the course is to introduce students to loss in a way that is informative and give them the tools to help navigate this experience in the future. 

This is an introductory study of past and present world religions. Looking through a chronological lens, students begin with the development of religion as a way to interpret and understand the primitive world. In the first semester, students will study the earliest indigenous traditions as well as Hinduism and Buddhism. In the second semester, students go beyond the eastern traditions and explore the monotheistic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Added to our historical and doctrinal study is a review of the ethical stance each religion takes on the contemporary issues of peace and justice. 

Students in this course will explore social justice issues, the foundational principles of Catholic social teaching, and apply their knowledge and faith to their experiential service work by engaging in an ongoing community service project. This course requires students to engage in learning about the organizations and communities they serve, the challenges they face, and issues of social justice on a local, national, and global level. While students engage in their service projects independently, they meet as a group to examine the theological foundations of social justice, discuss readings, current events, and to share reflections on their experiences. The coursework includes assigned readings, a reflection journal, and culminates with a final project presentation or research project. 

Readings from scripture, literature, modern theologians, and spiritual heroes will be our guides through an exploration of the theme of life as a journey toward reality, universal truth, and ultimately God and spirituality. Students will also specifically explore the concept of pilgrimage. This course will cover topics such as mindfulness, spiritual renewal, intentional travel, and the sacred journey. Inspired by formulating more questions than answers, the value of searching for those answers, and the process of discernment, students will challenge themselves to consider how responses to experiences allow opportunity to draw into deeper understanding and connection with God, self, and others.