Theology deserves to be called the highest wisdom, for everything is viewed in the light of the first cause.-- St. Thomas Aquinas

The science of theology studies what God has revealed to man for the sake of leading man to God. Christ is the fullness of this revelation.

The Church is the guide Christ has established to explain His revelation, so all true theology must begin by examining what the Church teaches on the issue under consideration. Through Christian Doctrine (THE 200), students, by systematically studying the whole of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, acquire a solid foundation for pursuing theology. The Catechism introduces but does not exhaust the Church's teachings on most issues. Students are given the tools to explore magisterial teaching at a more advanced level in Magesterial Thought (THE 245), which gives familiarity with more specialized types of Church Documents. The Church decrees in canon law that students of theology are to "learn to penetrate ever more profoundly the mysteries of salvation, with St. Thomas as their teacher in a special way," so the teachings of St. Thomas are always given special weight, and his method is examined in Thomistic Thought (THE 271).

Sacred Scripture has a special place within theology, for it is the word of God. The Church's teachings concerning the study of scripture are studied and applied while studying those books of the Bible that are most foundational for understanding the whole in Introduction to Biblical Literature (THE 210) and Biblical History (THE 310).

With a strong foundation in the teachings of the Church and the Bible, students may proceed to study specific topics in theology in greater depth through the variety of elective courses offered in Theology at the Academy. THE 200 and THE 210 are required for all of the Academy's certificates; THE 271 and THE 310 are required for the Associate and Christian Humanities Certificate; the Christian Humanities Certificate also requires the completion of THE 245. To earn a concentration in theology, students must also take PHI 325 Metaphysics, THE 343 The Trinity or THE 345 Christology, THE 331 Patristics or THE 339 Second Vatican Council, and six additional credits of theology at the 300 level or above.

THE/LAS 107: Liturgy for the Laity. While still a Cardinal, the present Pope observed both that “Liturgical education today, of both priests and laity, is deficient to a deplorable extent” and that the area of liturgy is “one of the clearest examples of the contrast between what the authentic text of Vatican II says and the way in which it has been understood and applied.” These deficiencies should be addressed, as “The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the font from which all her power flows” (Second Vatican Council). This course will examine how this truth applies to the laity, including how and why the laity should direct all their activity toward the liturgy as the “summit” of their lives, and how and why the liturgy may give power to all the ordinary activities of daily life.  (3 credits [includes the credit for chorus], Full Year.  Co-requisite or Pre-requisite: LAS 095. Pelton)

THE/HIS 131: Church History.  (6 Credits. This course has been replaced in the core by HIS 101.)

THE/LAS 163: Economics and the Social Teaching of the Church. The production and consumption of material goods are the identifying characteristics of a society that defines itself as “industrial.” While such production and consumption should not be the sole activities of man, they are an important component of his activity, and one worthy of special consideration while dwelling in an “industrial society.” The Church provides guidance for man in this area through her social teaching, but to intelligently apply this teaching to one’s self, one must also understand the economic principles that guide society. This course will provide an introduction to the basic concepts of economics and a brief history of economics so that the students may intelligently read the Church’s social documents. After surveying the social documents, historical attempts of Catholics to apply the Church's social teaching to economic life will be examined. (3 Credits. Pre-requisite: none. Not offered 2007-2008)

THE 200: Christian Doctrine. This course covers the Catechism of the Catholic Church, explained in the light of the Church's perennial philosophy and theology, especially as embodied in the Summa Theologica of Saint Thomas Aquinas. It begins with an overview of the meaning of Tradition and Revelation and the role of reason in interpreting both. The four sections of the Catechism--the Creed, the Sacraments, the Moral (Christian) life, and Prayer--will be examined in their entirety, with supplementary readings from Saint Thomas Aquinas and others on selected topics. Throughout the course practical application of what is learned, in prayer and in action, is emphasized. Through a series of short papers, this course also seeks to develop students' writing skills. (6 Credits, Full Year. Co-requisites: PHI 100 and PHI 200. Meenan)

THE 201: Christian Doctrine  (8 Credits. This course has been replaced by THE 200.)

THE/LIT 210: Introduction to Biblical Literature. “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ” (St. Jerome, as quoted by the Second Vatican Council). Scripture, the inspired, inerrant Word of God, provides the very foundation for our Catholic faith. The Scripture courses at OLSWA do not seek to cursorily survey the entire Bible, but follow the method advised by Pope Leo XIII: “Take the students through the whole of a few books continuously and with a certain development . . . in such a way that the students may learn from the sample that is thus put before them to love and use the remainder of the sacred book during the whole of their lives.” In Introduction to Biblical Literature, students learn both how to read Scripture in the light of the Church’s interpretative authority and how to incorporate Scripture into the life of prayer more fruitfully, so that they might come to a fuller knowledge of Christ. Particular attention is paid to the relation between New and Old Testament books, for, as Saint Augustine says, “the New Testament is hidden in the Old and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.” Both the Old Testament books from Genesis through Joshua, and the New Testament books of Matthew and Hebrews are studied with an emphasis on the formation of the New and Old Covenants. (3 Credits, Spring. Co-requisite: THE 200. Nicholson)

THE/LAS 224: Introduction to New Testament Greek. “Latin-speaking men, whom we have here undertaken to instruct, need two other languages for a knowledge of the Divine Scriptures, Hebrew and Greek, so that they may turn back to earlier exemplars if the infinite variety of Latin translations gives rise to any doubts,” says St. Augustine. By drawing upon the grammatical knowledge already acquired in the Academy’s Latin courses and concentrating upon the vocabulary that is most frequent in the New Testament, students will, after a brief introduction to Koine Greek grammar, begin reading the New Testament with the help of lexical aids. With practice, the students will begin to appreciate the nuances present in the original text of the New Testament that are not always evident in translation. This course will enable students to read through the New Testament in the original language while consulting Kubo’s A Reader’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. The Gospel of Mark will be read in this course. (3 Credits, Pre-requisite: LAS 221 or permission of the instructor. Not offered in 2007-2008)

THE 240: Christian Marriage. In this one-semester course students will study Christian marriage and the family in both theological and practical dimensions, coming to a deep appreciation of the gift of marriage and pursuing sanctity in that state of life.  Founded on the truth of the human person and love, as enlightened by John Paul II’s theology of the body, the class will cover the nature, the graces and the goods of the sacrament of marriage as well as present the student with historical and theological background of the Church’s teaching on marriage, focusing on the teachings of the last few pontificates. The second part of the course will cover the Christian family, a school of holiness. (3 Credits Pre-requisite: THE 200: Christian Doctrine. Next offered 2008-2009.)

THE 242: States of Life. All vocations are a call to love. It is in love and making a sincere gift of himself that man lives the fullness of his being, for man, who is the only creature of earth which God willed for itself, cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.  (Gaudium et spes, 24) Christian marriage, consecrated virginity, and the clerical state are all realizations of this call to gift of self and call to holiness, for holiness is the perfection of love. Each state illumines the others and finds meaning in the others.  (3 Credits, Spring.  Pre-requisite: THE 200.  Meenan and Reilander)

THE 245 Magisterial Thought: "Roma locuta, causa finita est" (St. Augustine). The teaching of the Supreme Pontiff manifests the very mind of Christ. The goal of this course is to gain the ability to read a papal document intelligently, in the light of the Church's Tradition and the historical setting and circumstances in which it was written. Thus, after the course is finished, the student will be capable of assimilating on his own new documents issued by the Church's teaching authority, as well as being capable of locating and assimilating the Church's teachings on any specialized subject which is important to the state of life to which he is called. This seminar surveys some of the key pronouncements, letters, and encyclicals of the popes of the 20th century, with a special emphasis on the rich teaching of John Paul II, and his call for a new evangelization. (3 Credits, Fall. Pre-requisite: THE 200: Christine Doctrine. Meenan)

THE/PHI 270: Augustinian Thought. John Paul II urged the spiritual sons of St. Augustine “to keep the fascination of St. Augustine alive and attractive even in modern society.”  Few today venture outside of The Confessions to encounter this great Doctor of the Church, and so remain unaware of the fact that St. Augustine’s contribution to Catholic theology, and indeed, to Christian theology as a whole, is exceeded only by the Bible itself.  Controversies that have sprung from his thought have occupied a great part of the life of the mind since his death in 430, and remain major events in the Church even today.  It is impossible to imagine theology apart from his contributions to Trinitarian theology, sacramental theology, theology of grace, mysticism, and the philosophy of personhood.  All Latin theologians since his time have considered themselves his disciples, including St. Thomas Aquinas, which makes this course a perfect complement for Thomistic Thought.  This class shall plot out the course by which a middle-class African teacher of rhetoric changed the face of the thought of humanity, with special attention to his encounter with the Manichaeans, the Donatists, and the Pelagians. (3 Credits, Spring.  Co-requisite: THE/PHI 271.  Kerr)

THE 345 Christology: This course will examine the mystery of the Incarnation, and the union of two natures in the Person of Jesus Christ. Thus, the course will focus upon the esse of Christ, and how God could 'become' man. The course begins with an historical perspective, following the controversies surrounding this 'question of Christ' from Apostolic times, beginning with Gnosticism and Docetism, before examining the major heresies of the fourth to sixth centuries, namely Arianism, Nestorianism, Monophysitism, and Monothelitism, and how the Church responded to each of them. The course then turns to a systematic examination of how to understand the 'hypostatic union' in the Person of Christ, following primarily Saint Thomas' exposition as found in the Tertia Pars of the Summa Theologica, questions 1 to 26. Texts used will be the excerpts from the Fathers and the Councils, the Summa Theologica, and excerpts from secondary sources. (3 Credits, Pre-requisite: THE 200. Next offered 2008-2009) 

THE/PHI 368: Apologetics. This course is designed to foster the basic principles of apologetic discourse, as well as the fundamental skills of public speaking. Rather than focus on all the elements of Catholic theology (covered in other courses), this course teaches students how to argue well for the faith, using reason and revelation. Students will give a series of weekly talks on various subjects pertaining to apologetics, including the beliefs of our separated brethren, as well as clearing up certain misconceptions about our own faith. Clarity of thought, rational discourse, as well as basic rhetorical skills will all be emphasized. (3 Credits, Co-requisites: THE/PHI 271, THE/HIS 310.  Next offered 2008-2009)

THE 371: Consecrated Life. “The teaching and example of Christ provide the foundation for the evangelical counsels of chaste self-dedication to God, of poverty and of obedience . . . They constitute a gift of God which the Church has received from her Lord and which by his grace she always safeguards” (Second Vatican Council). This course will examine the development and nature of consecrated life and its essential place in the Church. Contemporary teaching and practice in consecrated life will be placed in proper context through an in-depth study of the Church’s rich tradition of religious life as found in the writings of religious founders and Church doctors. (3 Credits. Pre-requisites: HIS 101or HIS 131 and THE 200. Not offered 2007-2008)

THE 373: Spiritual Theology. “God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself… created man to share in his own blessed life” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, opening line). Through the spiritual life, man begins to participate in the life of God even while on earth. This course seeks to examine systematically the principles of the spiritual life in the light of Catholic Tradition. The students will be exposed to some of the great wealth of the Church through selected readings from the greatest Catholic spiritual writers. (3 Credits, Spring, Co-requisite: THE/PHI 271. Nicholson)