Biblical and theological studies form an essential part of a liberal arts education. They put students into contact with the historical foundations of the Christian faith in the Old and New Testaments and introduce the great doctrines of Christianity, which have been formulated in the Church and have been expounded and debated by theologians past and present. They provide a forum in which the foundation and content of students' faith can be examined and an opportunity for students to understand the teachings of the most significant world religions. Students in biblical and theological studies are also encouraged to see the value of learning one or more of the languages in which the Christian Scriptures were written (Greek and Hebrew).
Besides its service to students within the liberal arts curriculum, the Department of Biblical and Theological Studies aims to prepare students for seminary or other graduate studies in fields related to theology, to provide biblical and theological background for other ministries that students may enter without a graduate degree, and to enrich the life and ministry of the Church by equipping educated laypeople with the tools for lifelong Bible study. |
