United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities · Courses
EJ
9 courses with the subject EJ, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
EJ 1001Christian Ethics3
Planned frequency of offerings: annually This is an introduction to ethical theory and ethical reflection that includes a critical study of various approaches to Christian ethics as they are expressed in biblical, classical and contemporary sources. It includes systematic analysis of moral reasoning and Christian responsibility and explores some contemporary ethical issues.
Corequisite for this course: TR1001 except for Interreligious Chaplaincy (Islamic Studies) concentration. Planned frequency of offerings: annually This course introduces students to ethical traditions in world religions. The course will give primary attention to challenges and opportunities of comparative moral inquiry across the “major” world religions of Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, but will also invite exploration of American Indian traditions, among others. Discussion of case studies and specific ethical topics will direct the comparative study. The course is an opportunity to explore the diversity of approaches to religious ethics, to engage the practical significance of religious reflection on moral action, and to analyze one’s own moral experience.
Prerequisite for this course: EJ1001 or EJ1002. Planned frequency of offerings: biennially (every other year) Using scientific, social, economic, spiritual, and theological lenses, this course will examine the perilous state of the environment today and what we may do to ensure the sustainability of life on earth. We will explore the justice imperatives related to creation that arise from our religious traditions, drawing on multiple sources ranging from sacred texts to direct experiences of nature. We will then apply these within a variety of ethical frameworks from the monotheistic, karmic and earth-centered beliefs to topics such as love of neighbors, interdependence, and non-violence as they relate to earth and its inhabitants. We will then ask: to what are we called to do and be as a result of our inquiries?
Prerequisites for this course: TR1001; EJ1001 or EJ1002. Planned frequency of offerings: biennially (every other year) The course will articulate and analyze effective strategies to address eco-justice issues; specific attention will be given to one issue in particular and the ways that various approaches to that issue demonstrate an informed understanding of appropriate theory and practices. The course will take into account data from the physical, life, and social sciences, and other areas of study at the intersection of theory and practice in ecological issues, such as economics, race and racism, and interreligious approaches to ecological care.
Prerequisites for this course: EJ1001 or EJ1002. Planned frequency of offerings: annually Grounded in liberation theology and feminist theology, LGBTQ, queer, and trans theologies embrace sexual orientation and gender identity as key lenses through which to understand sacred texts, spirituality, and religious heritage. This course begins by tracing the origins of gay and lesbian theology and then examines how the conversation and scholarship expanded to include bisexual, queer, transgender, intersex, and non-binary voices from multiple religions. Topics will include the roles of apologetics, queer United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities Academic Catalog 2026–2027 7/1/2026 Page 64
Prerequisites for this course: EJ1001 or EJ1002. Planned frequency of offerings: annually The struggle for survival, political liberation, and human wholeness have been the central concerns for Black and Womanist theology since their inception as theological disciplines. Emerging from the contributions of the Black Church, Black Power, and the Black Arts movement, Black and Womanist theologies have developed a thread of constructive theology that integrates sacred and secular sources to address racism and white supremacy, sexism and heterosexism, and exploitation based on class. In this course, we will engage the contextual origins and ancestral minds of Black and Womanist theology, understand the internal conversations, critiques, and developments, and follow contemporary growing edges of both disciplines and their overlap. In keeping with the integrative and creative nature of Black and Womanist theologies, this course will also engage key black thinkers adjacent to, but outside of Christian theological perspectives.
Previous Course Number: EJ2004 Prerequisites for this course: EJ1001 or EJ1002. Planned frequency of offerings: TBD Many of the most hotly contested topics in public policy and current debate occur at the intersections of sex, gender and religion. In this class, we will examine these controversial and often divisive issues and consider how to respond ethically, constructively, and faithfully to them. Subjects will include the debate between comprehensive and abstinence-only sex education, the use of religious liberty to deny goods and services to LGBTQ people, reproductive justice, abortion, HIV/AIDS, and sex work. This course will draw on a variety of disciplines, including theology, Biblical studies, ethics, education, pastoral ministry, economics, and LGBTQ studies. Diverse perspectives welcome and expected.
