Courses in English and German in the academic year 2016/2017
(last updated 24 August 2016)

*The winter semester 2016/2017*

Czech language courses

Czech for Foreign Students - Beginners - RET9534
Practice, 2 hours/week, 4 credits, Teacher: PhDr. Hana Slavíčková

Czech for Foreigners Pre-Intermediate - RET9533
Practice, 2 hours/week, 4 credits, Teacher: Mgr. Aleš Hoznauer

Courses recommended for students of Theology

Biblical Archaeology and Theology - RET1042 (Methodology, Important Issues, Controversies)
Lecture and Practice, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher: Mgr. Filip Čapek, Th.D.
The objective of the seminar is to inform about contemporary discussion that takes part between biblical theology and archaeology. Emphasis will be laid on analysis and critical evaluation of individual positions held in this discussion starting with more general concepts /interdisciplinarity, question of place of origin of Israel, verifiability of great biblical narratives etc./ and ending with particular subjects /chronology, stratigraphy, architecture, pottery etc./. The place that will be preferentially dealt with is Ancient site Tel Azekah.

New Testament Exegesis - RET2038 (Lucan Jesus)
Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher: Jan Roskovec, Th.D.

Seminar Kirchengeschichte : Kirche und Nationalismus - RET3052 oder RET3052A 
Seminar, 2 Stunden/Woche, 6 Kredite (RET3052A 4 Kredite), Lehrer: Dr. Peter Morée
Die enge Verbindung zwischen Religion und Nation in Zentraleuropa bis 1945 war eng mit dem Nationalismus verbunden. Es gab allerdings verschiedenen Alternativen dieser Verbindung, wie das auch reflektiert wird in der Geschichte der Deutschen Evangelischen Kirche in Böhmen, Mähren und Schlesien. Einführung in die Problematik der Beziehung zwischen Religion und Nation, hauptsächlich in der ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts, am Beispiel von Kirchen in der damaligen Tschechoslowakei. Orientierung in den verschiedenen Positionen und ihren Nuancen. Forschung von Archivmaterial der Deutschen Evangelischen Kirche in Böhmen, Mähren und Schlesien.
 
Church History: Introduction to the Bohemian Reformation I - RET3031 
Lecture and Seminar, 2 hours/week, 4 credits, Teacher: Dr. Peter Morée
The Bohemian Reformation between ca. 1350 and 1620 started as a movement of spiritual and liturgical renewal, but entered with Jan Hus a phase in which it offered an alternative model of the church. After a period of revolution and violence a phase of religious pluralism started, in which its players had to find their relations to the other Reformations in Europe and to Rome.

Practical Theology: The History and Practice of Christian Initiation - RET6051 
Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher: Professor David Holeton
This course covers the development of Christian Initiation from Jewish roots to the present day. Through lectures and assigned readings in primary sources the student will become familiar with the historical development of Christian initiation practices, the various theologies of initiation through the ages as well as the contemporary renewal of initiation practices in the churches. By the end of the course students should have a solid background which to engage the contemporary reforms of initiation practice in their own church as well as the place and theology of baptism and confirmation in ecumenical dialogue.

Systematic Theology: Christian Doctrine - RET40507
Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher: Associate Professor Petr Macek
Reading a contemporary and ecumenical statement of what Christians believe by the Czech theologian Jan Milič Lochman. Getting acquainted with this internationally respected interpreter of Christian theology by reading and discussing his exposition of the Apostles’ Creed.

Holy Spirit in XXth - XXIst Century Theologies - RET40509
Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher: Professor Ivana Noble

Theological Interpretations of Culture - RL033 (Christological Themes in Film)
Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher: Timothy Noble, Ph.D.
This course will work with a number of films, both European and American, to see how the story of Jesus is told in film, and how issues such as salvation, redemption, forgiveness, healing, and sacramental encounter are dealt used as the basis for film. Each week we will watch an extract from a different film, and then discuss it, drawing out the main themes.

Introduction to Missiology - RET6057
Lecture and Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher: Timothy Noble, Ph.D.
This course will offer an introduction to the discipline of missiology. It will start with a brief overview of the history of the discipline, and will then look at major themes in the history and theology of mission. The course will start with the biblical material, seeing the Bible not simply as having something to say about mission as well as other things, but as emerging from the demands of mission. We will look at some key themes of contemporary missiology, such as the importance and difficulty of context, the idea of missio Dei, the theological foundations of mission. We will also have an overview of the historical development of mission. We will finish by looking at some key questions, especially the role of other religions and Christian attitudes towards them, and the possibility of doing Christian mission today.

Migration, Integration, Identity and Christian Faith - RET3058
Block seminar, 2 credits; Teachers: Dr. Peter Morée, Prof. Gert Pickel
This theme has been chosen in the context of the arrival of refugees to Europe, the diversity of reactions of citizens and politicians to this development, and the activities developed by individuals, NGOs and churches. During our meeting we would like to explore the consequences of these developments under the guidance of Prof. Gert Pickel, who teaches sociology of religion at the Protestant Theological Faculty in Leipzig. Other guests will share their experiences in working with refugees with us. The course will be held as a block seminar during the weekend of 11-13 November 2016 only.

Courses recommended for students of Social Work

Theological Ethics Seminar (English) - RET5059 (Family, Marriage and Christian Ethics)
Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher: Associate Professor Jindřich Halama, Dr.
The course will be focused on analysing the development of Protestant and Roman Catholic attitudes to Marriage and Family during the last century. Recent theological studies on the topic will be used (e.g. L. S. Cahill, D. Torrance, K. Demmer, J. Neusner) and church documents concerning family will be analysed (encyclicals Casti connubii, Familiaris consortio, Evangelii gaudium, documents of European Protestant churches). Themes like divorce and remarriage, contraception, same-sex partnerships will be included.

Social Work in Czech Republic I; Current Situation and Challenges – RPZ02
Lecture and Seminar, 2 hours/week, 5 credits; Teachers: PhDr. Eva Křížová, PhD., Mgr. Daniel Bartoň, PhDr. Hana Janečková, Ph.D., PhDr. Jaroslava Šťastná. Ph.D.
The course aims to introduce major social issues and concerns in CR which are closely associated with social work: socio-economic development after 1989, current social structure and emerging problems, approaches to solve them and basic coping strategies. The course will explore theories and concepts related to social exclusion and integration, legal concerns and give examples of practical applications to be analysed and discussed by the course participants. The course is taught over a semester (12 sessions) with one lecture or seminar each week. 

Theological Ethics: Psychological Crisis Co-operation – RDI0704
Lecture and Seminar, 2 hours/week, 5 credits, Teacher: PhDr. Bohumila Baštecká, Ph.D.
Psychosocial Crisis Co-operation is the interdisciplinary field that deals with (family, community, organization) responses to emergencies and suffering. Lectures are given in English and they are based on student’s papers covering the main topics.