Welcome to the core curriculum's religion class.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really know what to expect,鈥� says Kathleen Gilbert 鈥�14 when asked about her class called Intro to Judeo-Christian Tradition. 鈥淚鈥檓 not really religious 鈥� so I didn鈥檛 know much about the Bible before I took the class. Now, I have a deeper understanding of Christianity and a better point of view on the Bible in general.鈥�
Most undergraduates at Saint Joseph鈥檚 have a limited religious education background and enter their required theology class with no preconceived notions.
鈥淭hey come at it like blank slates,鈥� Dr. Steven Bridge, chair of the theology department, says. 鈥淢ost students don鈥檛 know much about the Bible, so I try to use a lot of popular culture analogies that they can relate to.鈥�
From global issues like 9/11 to personal experiences, students learn how the Bible and God relate to both monumental events and the small events in their day-today lives.
鈥淚 love how dedicated the theology faculty is,鈥� Steven Wiley 鈥�14 says. 鈥淭he fact you can talk to them at any point in the day just about life in general is great. I even talked to Dr. Bridge about how I found God. They鈥檙e just there for you.鈥�
While some students are greatly affected by the introductory course, others just find the course gratifying. The faculty members make the material interesting through videos, class discussions, and assigning personal essays about an individual鈥檚 spiritual journey. 鈥淎s part of the course, using readings and topical items on YouTube, students discuss such themes as the Holocaust, Jewish and Christian views of death and the afterlife, the meaning of suffering, and the theology of sin and grace,鈥� says theology professor Sister Marilyn Sunderman, RSM, Ph.D.
鈥淚 found how theologians used historical knowledge and scientific proofs to prove the stories in the Bible fascinating,鈥� Nathaniel Hunt 鈥�10 says. 鈥淭he records the Romans kept on Jesus, for example, coordinate with the events of the Bible.鈥�
Science, historical fact, and the Bible are three things most students dismiss as unrelated. That is a common misconception, according to the theology faculty.
鈥淣ot everything in the Bible was meant to be taken literally. The Catholic Church supports the teaching of evolution and doesn鈥檛 take Genesis literally,鈥� theology professor Daniel Sheridan says. 鈥淭here is no split between science and religion, or at least there shouldn鈥檛 be.鈥�
Intro to Judeo-Christian Tradition functions not just as an introductory course to the Bible, but also helps to inform students about fallacies regarding Catholicism, Christianity, Judaism, and even Islam.
鈥淢ost public universities don鈥檛 have these courses, but I believe every educated person should have a college level knowledge of the Scriptures for both educational and spiritual purposes,鈥� Dr. Sheridan says. 鈥淲e are not just trying to better inform Catholics or Protestants with the course. We are trying to inform everyone to better understand the great religions of this world in order to combat prejudices.鈥�
Students in theology classes often share personal beliefs and stories. Discussions are amiable and respectful, as well as invigorating and interesting. Some students are not Christian, yet feel secure enough to participate in the discussions.
While required core curriculum classes are a hotly debated issue among students, the theology course provides a chance to truly apply the material students have learned to their everyday lives.
鈥淭he part of the class that most students take to heart is practicum,鈥� Dr. Bridge says. 鈥淭his is when a person goes out and practices Christian love, which focuses on extending kind acts to strangers and enemies. I鈥檝e seen so many students rise to the occasion and repair their estranged relationships. It鈥檚 really amazing.鈥�
