MSM courses C&D

Mount St Mary's - Series C Course Options

Participants can choose a total of FOUR courses to follow for the week, that is
ONE course only from each of the Series A, B, C and D.
However the long course (A2/C2) counts as two courses. So those choosing A2/C2 can also choose one other course from Series B and one from Series D.

C1 Jesus and Muhammad for Muslims and Christians
Chris Hewer

Jesus is a key figure in Islam – the last Prophet before Muhammad. There are 94 verses about him in the Qur’an, which record his virgin birth, miracles, sinless exemplary character and his return to the earth in the End Time; but how did he end his earthly life and how is he regarded? What would Muslims find problematic about Jesus in Christian understanding?

Why are Muslims so sensitive about Muhammad? How is he understood by Muslims? Christians have a long history of dismissing any claims to prophethood for Muhammad or any suggestion that he could be an instrument of God; is that all that there is to say?

1. The Muslim Prophet Jesus and Christian reflection thereon.
2. Our Lord Jesus Christ and Muslim reflection thereon.
3. The importance of Muhammad for Muslims.
4. What can the Christian say of Muhammad?

Short Bibliography:

Geoffrey Parrinder, Jesus in the Qur’an, Sheldon Press, 1982
Tarif Khalidi (ed), The Muslim Jesus: sayings and stories in Islamic literature, Harvard University Press, 2001
Martin Forward, Muhammad: a short biography, Oneworld, 1998
Tariq Ramadan, The Messenger: the meanings of the life of Muhammad, Penguin, 2007

Hewer

Chris Hewer has a background in Christian theology, education and Islamic Studies and has worked in the field of Muslims in Britain and Christian-Muslim relations since 1986. From 1999 to 2005 worked as the Adviser on Inter-Faith Relations to the Bishop of Birmingham, and from 2006 to 2010 was the St Ethelburga Fellow in Christian-Muslim Relations

C2 How did Jesus see Himself?
Gerry J. Hughes SJ
(Note this is a course of 8 lectures and participants must also choose course A2)

For details see A2

Gerry Hughes

Gerry J Hughes is a Jesuit priest: he studied Classics at Oxford, and did a PhD in philosophy at the University of Michigan. He taught philosophy at Heythrop College 1970—98, was Master of Campion Hall in Oxford University 1998—2006, and, now in charge of nothing, still tutors in philosophy there. He is the author of Authority in Morals, The Nature of God, Aristotle on Ethics, Is God to Blame? and, in this last year, Fidelity without Fundamentalism: a Dialogue with Tradition.

C3 Telling Our Story: Constructing a Salvation History for our Time
John Moffatt SJ

Can we tell the story of our tradition in a way that does justice to our trust in God and does not do violence to the realities of history? This course will explore some of the different ways available for Christians to tell their story and suggest ways that a narrative of faith can cohere with a reasonable version of the wider human story.

Diarmaid MacCullogh: A History of Christianity
Eusebius: A History of the Church
Acts of the Apostles
2 Kings, Isaiah 40 – 55
The Book of Revelation

John Moffatt

John Moffatt SJ has worked many years as a school chaplain and has most recently been working in university chaplaincy. He worked with the Living Theology team between 2000 and 2005. He has written a book called ‘Beyond the Catechism’ for Catholics who ask awkward questions. A revised and expanded version of the text is due to be produced by Way Publications in spring 2012 entitled ‘The Resurrection of the Word’.

Mount St Mary's - Series D Course Options

D1 The development and future of multi-faith Britain
Chris Hewer

The religious profile of Britain, and indeed Western Europe, has radically changed over the last half-century; how did that come about? The development of single minority faith quarters in British cities; seeking to understand the social, cultural, economic, security and communal natures, as well as the religious. How goes the process of integration in Britain and the building of multi-faith and multicultural cities for the future? What do the faiths of Britain have to offer to the future of British society?

1. Setting the scene up to 1960.
2. From migrant workers to settled British communities.
3. Current and future trends and issues.
4. What do the faiths have to offer to the future of British society?

Short Bibliography:

Sophie Gilliat-Ray, Muslims in Britain: an introduction, Cambridge University Press, 2010
Humayun Ansari, The Infidel Within: Muslims in Britain since 1800, Hurst, 2004
Tahir Abbas (ed), Muslim Britain: communities under pressure, Zed, 2005
Philip Jenkins, God’s Continent: Christianity, Islam and Europe’s religious crisis, Oxford University Press, 2007

Hewer

D2 The Witness of Christian Marriage
Helen Costigane SHCJ

This course will look the historical development of Church thinking and practice regarding marriage, assess the impact of contemporary changes in lifestyle and social structure on marriage as a social institution; discuss the specific features of the understanding of Christian marriage, and look at pastoral care issues when marriages break down. Suitable for all who have an interest in marriage generally, as well as those involved in marriage preparation and pastoral care, this course is taught by interactive teaching using case studies, with group discussion and time for individual questions. No knowledge presupposed

Short Bibliography:

John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, 1981 (downloadable from Vatican website).
Buckley, T., What Binds Marriage? (Continuum, 2002).
Kelly, K. T., Divorce and Second Marriage: Facing the Challenge (London, Geoffrey Chapman, 1996).

Helen C

Helen Costigane teaches Christian Ethics and Canon Law at Heythrop College, University of London

D3 After Jesus, What?
The Letter of Paul to the Galatians
Peter Edmonds SJ

Much of the New Testament consists of letters attributed to St Paul, and these reveal Paul as a conscientious and human pastor who approached the problems with which early generations of Christians had to struggle through ‘living theology’. His writings provide us with a view of the first days of Christianity which predates the accounts we read in the Acts of the Apostles.

In his Letter to the Galatians, we learn about the life of Paul and his transformation from a persecutor of the church to apostle to the Gentiles. We hear about his dispute with Peter and the profound theological issues underlying it. We are given a vision of what ‘faith working through love’ might mean in our own daily lives. This course is commended as a sequel to that on the Acts of the Apostles, but will make sense also to those who have not studied the Acts.

The lecturer will presuppose only a beginner’s knowledge of the material and will welcome discussion.

Participants are recommended to read the text of the Letter to the Galatians beforehand.

Peter Edmonds

Peter Edmonds is a Jesuit priest who is a tutor in biblical studies in the University of Oxford.

Click here to go to SERIES A & B COURSES

Click here to download and print a BOOKING FORM