Reasoned Examination of Faith courses, 2024-25 spring semester

One of the core requirements at Augustana College is for students to select a course that examines religious traditions. This requirement is called Reasoned Examination of Faith (REF).

Below are Reasoned Examination of Faith (REF) courses for 2024-2025 spring semester.

RELG-203 Christian Ethics (REF) An examination of Christian and other perspectives on ethical decision-making and on issues such as sexual ethics, abortion, war and peace, and the environment.

RELG-204 Christian Theology (REF) An examination of primary Christian understandings of God, sin, salvation, suffering, and hope, with an eye to how they can address contemporary social issues, including environmental degradation, racism, sexism, consumerism, and violence.

RELG-207 Jesus and Discipleship (4 Credits) (REF) An examination of the historical Jesus and the Christ of Faith, with focus on the counter-cultural discipleship of early Christians and of contemporary Christians such as Catholic Workers and members of neo-monastic religious communities.

RELG-208 Lit & Theology (4 Credits) (REF) An examination of the "existential" experiences of suffering, sin, doubt, faith, despair, and hope through the careful interpretation of fiction.

RELG-209 Global Christianities (4 Credits) (REF) An exploration of how the world religions of Christianity and Islam have interacted and shaped one another throughout history. The course includes an intro to both religions and a comparison of core theological beliefs about God, Jesus Christ, and Prophet Muhammad, comparing the Bible and Qur'an, early Christian-Muslim debates, religious violence (holy war, jihad), and contemporary interfaith dialogues.

RELG-215 Phil & Theology (4 Credits) (REF) Students will rationally examine their faith - their religious commitments if any concerning the existence and nature of God - through philosophical analyses and argumentation in support or criticism of theistic religious doctrines.