Courses in English

The following courses will be tutored in English during the autumn term 2023 and the spring term 2024 at The Newman Institute.

Autumn Term 2023

28th August – 12th January

Module 1 (28th August – 27th October) 
Module 2 (6th November – 12th January)

Module 1 and 2

Holy Images and Worship

This course addresses questions concerning the role of art in worship from historical, anthropological, and theological standpoints. From the biblical prohibition of the Second Commandment, through debates about early Christian art culminating in Byzantine iconoclasm, arguments for and against the use of holy images in worship are examined by reading primary sources in their historical contexts. 

Theological Studies of Culture and Society
Distance course (meetings via Zoom), 15 p
Course leader: Barbara Crostini
Course syllabus

Module 1

A New Heaven and a New Earth

Christianity preaches the hope for a new heaven and a new earth. This eschatological hope does not entail the abolishment of the natural world but the anticipation of its redemption and fulfilment. But what does this apocalyptic message imply in a period of ecological challenges? Can it deepen our care for the world? In this course students will have an opportunity to analyse our caring for the world in relation to the hope for a new earth and a new heaven. 

Ecology. Systematic theology
Lessons on Wednesdays, 13:00–16:00
Local course, 7,5 p
Course leader: Mårten Björk
Course syllabus

A Good Disruption – Reinventing Economical Models

The socio-environmental crisis comprises many elements, from climate change to financial and social breakdown. While the experts have been talking a great deal about possible solutions when looking into the future, only a few look back to understand where things went wrong. This course will provide insight into how the dysfunction of the world’s economy came about and what it takes to correct the models of growth that have proved incapable of ensuring a healthy environment.

Ecology. Theological Studies of Culture and Society
Lessons on Mondays, 13:00–16:00
Half distance course, 7,5 p
Course leaders: Tomas Ekenberg and others
Course syllabus

Philosophy of Music

In this course we will discuss some of the fundamental questions concerning the nature and function of music. What is the significance and meaning of music, in particular of instrumental music, and how does music relate to other art forms? To those questions, following an overview of historically influential philosophical answers, the focus will be placed on contemporary philosophies of music. Musical examples from various genres will be used to highlight the arguments. 

Philosophy
Lessons (mandatory) on September 11 and October 16
Half distance course, 7,5 p
Course leader: Lars-Olof Åhlberg
Course syllabus 

Module 2

Biology, Ecology, and Theological Anthropology

This course reflects theologically and philosophically on the issues of human dependence and agency in the biological world. Many organisms shape their environment, but the degree to which humans do so is unparalleled in the biological world, as our environmental crisis makes clear. How did the uniquely human forms of “niche construction” evolve? What does an evolutionary informed, as well as ecologically responsible, theological anthropology look like? 

Ecology. Systematic theology
Lessons on Mondays, 13:00–16:00
Local course, 7,5 p
Course leader: Christoffer Skogholt 

Environmental Justice

The course will explore the impact of climate change and ecological awareness on understanding the concept of justice. Using case studies from around the world, the course will shed light on the social dimension of sustainability and human rights. A connection will be made to Catholic social teaching about the importance of developing an integral approach to social justice as much as to ecology. 

Ecology. Theological Studies of Culture and Society
Lessons on Wednesdays, 13:00–16:00
Local course, 7,5 p
Course leaders: Vanja Romlin and others

Logic and Argumentation

One of the central problems in modern logic is the question of what constitutes a valid argument and good argumentation. In order to answer this question, arguments expressed in natural languages are translated into formal languages of symbolic logic, whereby their logical structure stands out more clearly. In this course, two such formal languages are studied: propositional logic and predicate-logic language. Several methods in logic for analysis of the validity of arguments are also studied. 

Philosophy
Lessons on Wednesdays, 16:00–18:00, and Fridays, 10:00–12:00
Local course and half distance, 7,5 p
Course leader: Taeda Tomic

Spring Term 2024

16th January – 4th June

Module 3 (15th January – 22nd March)
Module 4 (2nd April – 31st May)

Module 3 and 4

Advanced Reading Course: The Classics of the Coptic Tradition

This course explores the richness of one of the most ancient churches in the world, the Coptic church of Egypt. It starts with the definition of the word “Coptic,” and how this applies to the school of Alexandria featuring key figures such as Clement and Origen, in the third century. Other key figures treated in the course are Athanasius of Alexandria, Anthony the Great, Cyril of Alexandria, Severus of Antioch, as well as some later, lesser known, theologians. 

Advanced candidate and master level
Distance course (meetings via Zoom)
Course leader: Youhanna Nessim Youssef 

Module 3

A Christian History of the Environment

The present socio-ecological crisis compels us to look back in history and consider the role played by natural events and catastrophes on the world’s population. Were people passively undergoing such challenges, or did they take active responsibility for the impact those events had on their surroundings? This course will look at some key historical events from an ecological perspective and reflect on the conscious shaping of an environmentally-friendly way of life. 

Ecology. Theological Studies of Culture and Society
Local course and half distance, 7,5 p
Course leader: Barbara Crostini 

Planetary Boundaries and Integral Ecology

The concept of planetary boundaries, within the broader discussion on the Anthropocene, aims to define the environmental limits within which humanity can safely operate. Facing these limits, Catholic social teaching guides sustainable development principles by favouring both human and natural environments. Thus, this course will analyse the interrelation of the concept of integral ecology with the broader framework of planetary boundaries. 

Ecology. Theological Studies of Culture and Society
Local course, 7,5 p
Course leader: Vanja Romlin

Existentialism

Existentialism was one of last century’s most important philosophical schools of thought. Philosophers like Simone de Beauvoir and Jean- Paul Sartre asked themselves what it means to live an authentic life. They struggled with questions about existence, freedom, anxiety, guilt, and lethargy. The course takes the concepts and thoughts developed by the 20th century existentialists as a point of departure and relates them to questions and concerns of our own times. 

Philosophy
Half distance course, 7,5 p
Course leader: Kim Solin

Module 4

What is Nature?

In addition to analysing the term “nature” in philosophy and theology from a historical perspective, the course studies the hermeneutics of nature, how we experience it and how this experience expresses itself in, for example, literature or aesthetic theory. These two aspects are then put in relation to our use of nature (medicine and forestry, for example.) and are concretised in practical examples of the effects it causes. 

Ecology. Systematic theology
Local course, 7,5 p
Course leaders: Ylva Jansson and others

Ecological Conversion

Scientific evidence shows that efforts to convince consumers to become sustainable are failing. Putting the theological and ethical concept of “conversion” at the heart of the matter may show how personal involvement is indispensable in the climate crisis. Through practical theological and critical reflection, this course addresses identity and socio-cultural standing as it relates to consumption, lifestyle choices, and sustainable practices. 

Ecology. Systematic theology
Local course, 7,5 p
Course leader: Philip Geister

Jeremiah

The Book of Jeremiah is in many ways an outstanding book. For one thing, it is the longest single book in the Bible. It also references many other biblical writings and reflects upon them, thus forming a kind of summary of them on a higher level. The prophet Jeremiah further takes on many different roles: he embodies the “Servant of the Lord” and has an intimate relationship with God. The course will explore the breadth and depth of this remarkable book. 

Exegetic theology
Half distance, 7,5 p
Course leader: Georg Fischer