God and Cosmos

Catalog description

This on-line only seminar will begin by comparing and contrasting models of God's relationship to the world appearing in the history of religions such as atheism polytheism, henotheism, pantheism, theism, and panentheism. Secondly, trinitarian theism will be selected and explicated along with both creation out of nothing (creatio ex nihilo) and continuing creation (creatio continua) in light of contemporary Big Bang cosmology and evolutionary biology. Thirdly, caring for the Earth in the face of climate change will be treated as a case study in both eco-ethics and proleptic ethics. Finally, the other planets within our solar system and within the Milky Way which could possibly host living creatures will become subject to theological and ethical exploration. [One or more courses in systematic theology or theological ethics]