Courses in English and German in the academic year 2017/2018
(last updated 11 September 2017)

The winter semester 2017/2018

Courses intended for all students

Czech for Foreign Students - Beginners - RET9534
Practice, 2 hours/week, 4 credits, Teacher: PhDr. Hana Slavíčková
Information about the nature and characteristics of the language, pronunciation, spelling. Comparison with English (language the course is taught in). The aim is to cover the material in the first 7-8 lessons of the textbook New Czech Step by Step (greetings, numbers, months, colours, time….. basic grammar) in written and spoken form.

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

Courses recommended for students of Theology

History of Israel: Archaeology, History and Biblical Texts - RET1042 
Lecture and Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teachers: Associate Professor Filip Čapek, Th.D. and David Moulis, Ph.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.

Cult - Monotheism – Archaeology: In Search for Beginnings of Monotheism in Israel - RET1055 
Lecture and Practice, block seminar on 19 October, 9:15 – 12:30, 2 credits, Teachers: Professor Zeev Herzog (Tel Aviv), Associate Professor Filip Čapek, Th.D. and David Moulis, Ph.D.
The objective of the seminar is to present the Judahite religion in the terms of archaeology. Focus will be given on the private and state (official) forms of the cult. Part of the course introduces various research approaches to the interpretation of cultic finds (e.g. sanctuaries, altars, figurines).

Reading and Discussing Old Testament Theology: together with the Columbia Theological Seminary Colleagues  – RET10426
Block seminar, 3 credits; Teachers: Associate Professor Petr Sláma, Th.D. and Associate Professor ThDr. Petr Macek, Ph.D.  
The course will be held as a block seminar on Monday 8 January 2018 with an introductory colloquium on Tuesday 24 October 2017.
Reading a theological monograph individually and sharing views about it with fellow students from Prague and from the Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga, USA who are visiting Prague in January 2018. There will be an introductory colloquium on Tuesday 24th October 2017 about the book and about the seminar. The core of the seminar however is to discuss personally the book with overseas colleagues from the USA. This year we are reading Christine Hays's book WHAT'S DIVINE ABOUT DIVINE LAW (http://press.princeton.edu/titles/10509.html)

Paul on Justification - RET2064 
Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher: Jan Roskovec, Th.D.

The Roots of Christian Mysticism: Text and Commentary – RET40513
Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher: Kateřina Bauerová, Th.D.

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.

Theological Ethics Seminar Global Ethics (H. Küng) and Human Rights - RET5058
Seminar; 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teachers: Mgr. et Mgr. Kristýna Pilecká, Th.D., ThDr. Pavel Keřkovský
The first part of the course examines the reasons for the theological legitimacy of human rights and provides an overview of the historical development of human rights in Euro-American culture. We will examine and interpret the basic international documents, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and also specific Czech documents, such as Charta 77. The second part of the course provides a general introduction to the development of Küng’s thinking about ecumenical theology, extended to include interreligious dialogue. The course will give an overview of the terminology which is essential in order to understand the global ethic, including ethical standards and strategies to apply it. In discussing these themes relating to the global ethic, based on texts taken from books written by Küng, we will explore how religions, human rights, and human responsibilities are brought into symbiosis. This will be observed and assessed with reference to Küng’s 3 key statements: There will be no peace between the civilizations without peace between the religions. There will be no peace between the religions without a dialogue between the religions. There will be no new world order without a new world ethic (a planetary ethic). Recommended Literature: Komárková, Božena, Human Rights and the Rise of the Secular Age, Eman 2003, Heršpice Küng, Hans and Kuschel, Karl-Josef. A global ethic: the declaration of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, 1993. Küng, Hans, A global ethic for global politics and economics , London 1997.

Eastern Orthodox Theology - RET40511
Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher: Professor Ivana Noble

Theological Interpretations of Culture; Ministers in Movies, Priests in Pictures – RL0332
Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher: Associate Professor Timothy Noble, Ph.D.
This course will look at portrayals of church ministers (priests, pastors) in film. It will run fortnightly to allow viewing of a whole film and discussion. Films used will include Of Gods and Men, Romero, Priest, The Apostle, Mission, Silence. Given these films, questions will arise about the nature of religion and violence, and about the role of leadership in churches.

Introduction to Missiology - RET6057
Lecture and Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher:  Associate Professor 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.

Systematic Theology seminar: Pro gentes - RET40515 (J. H. Yoder: For the Nations - essays public & evangelical)
Seminar, 2 hours/week, 6 credits, Teacher Associate Professor Petr Macek, Ph.D., Dr.
Common reading and discussing the book “For the Nations – Essays Civil and Evangelical” by John Howard Yoder (1927-1997). “These essays from several decades testify to the author’s belief that ‘the politics of Jesus’ transforms conventional assumptions about power and weakness. They combine to offer ‘one holistic, Christological, paradigmatic proclamation: servanthood, enemy love, forgiveness’. It has been Yoder’s vocation to proclaim a gospel of biblical realism that challenges both the biblicism of many of his theological and secular contemporaries. He has insisted on a coherent witness that is at once ‘sectarian’ and ‘catholic’, even while it celebrates both the diaspora of Judaism-become-Christianity and the radical New Testament theology of the cross.” (From the endorsement by Alan Gayer)

Music in Czech and European Protestant Traditions - RET3059
Block seminar, 2 credits; Teacher: Dr. Peter Morée
This course will demonstrate how Protestant traditions in Bohemia and in other countries influenced and shaped church music throughout the centuries. Which esthetical and theological values were and are expressed in church music, how was it brought into practice, how was it received by the believers and what are the current developments? We will explore these questions from several angles by ways of presentations and workshops. The course will be held as a block seminar during the weekend of 10-12 November 2017 only.

Courses recommended for students of Social Work

Social Work in Czech Republic I; Current Situation and Challenges – RPZ02
Lecture and Seminar, 2 hours/week, 5 credits; Teachers: PhDr. Eva Křížová, Ph.D., 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. It takes resilience and partnership position in the context of socio-ecological paradigm and intersubjective and diversity stance. Lectures are given in English. Values and principles of this subject: Solidarity – Participation – Openness – Responsibility

Social Work in Practice I – RPZ21A
Practice placement, 50 hours, 5 credits, Teachers: PhDr. Hana Janečková, Ph.D. and Ing. Mgr. Ondřej Fischer