THEO 1430 Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue
This course is both an introduction to Buddhism and to Buddhist-Christian comparative learning. In early weeks we study concepts and practices of Theravada and Zen Buddhism from Southeast and East Asia. We then explore some areas of Christian thought that can be compared with Buddhism--understandings of faith, God, Jesus, sin, spiritual rebirth, sacramentality, and social ethics. Finally, from Buddhist and Christian perspectives, we focus on one or more of the following topics: spiritual practices of deepening care and discernment, faith-based action, interfaith learning, ecology, and/or feminism. Satisfies Core requirement for: Theology (Sacred Texts and Traditions)
Course overview
- Department
- Theology
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Every Fall, Every Spring, Every Summer
Catalog details
- Satisfies core
- Cultural Diversity,Theology
Requirements fulfilled
- Theology (Honors): Theology Core, Option A — One semester of Sacred Texts and Traditions (one of) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Theology: Theology Core, Option A — Sacred Texts and Traditions (STT) course (one of) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- University Core: Cultural Diversity (All undergraduates)
- University Core: Sacred Texts and Traditions (STT) (All undergraduates)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.27 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.41 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 14
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Tiffany Hartnell-Howden | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 63 of 77 |
| Fall 2025 | Matthew Vale | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 24 of 30 |
| Fall 2025 | Tiffany Hartnell-Howden | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 48 of 70 |
| Summer 2025 | Louis Petillo | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4–6 hrs/week | 13 of 20 |
| Summer 2025 | Tiffany Hartnell-Howden | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | — | 11 of 26 |
| Spring 2025 | Matthew Kruger | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | — | 36 of 44 |
| Spring 2025 | Scott Molony | 4.4 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | — | 36 of 44 |
| Spring 2025 | Tiffany Hartnell-Howden | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 30 of 38 |
| Fall 2024 | Matthew Vale | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4–6 hrs/week | 32 of 37 |
| Fall 2024 | Michael Costas | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4–6 hrs/week | 32 of 37 |
| Fall 2024 | Tiffany Hartnell-Howden | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 63 of 76 |
| Summer 2024 | Louis Petillo | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 18 of 33 |
| Summer 2024 | Tiffany Hartnell-Howden | 4.4 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 3.4 | 7–9 hrs/week | 7 of 14 |
| Spring 2024 | Matthew Vale | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 61 of 80 |
| Spring 2024 | Tiffany Hartnell-Howden | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 25 of 38 |
| Fall 2023 | Matthew Vale | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 28 of 35 |
| Fall 2023 | Tiffany Hartnell-Howden | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 62 of 74 |
| Summer 2023 | Louis Petillo | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 of 40 |
| Summer 2023 | Tiffany Hartnell-Howden | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 of 20 |
| Spring 2023 | John Mileski | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 25 of 29 |
| Spring 2023 | Matthew Vale | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4–6 hrs/week | 55 of 79 |
| Spring 2023 | Tiffany Hartnell-Howden | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 1–3 hrs/week | 61 of 76 |
| Fall 2022 | John Mileski | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 21 of 28 |
| Summer 2022 | Tiffany Hartnell-Howden | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 7–9 hrs/week | 11 of 34 |
| Spring 2022 | Dorothy Goehring | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 25 of 39 |
| Spring 2022 | John Makransky | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 25 of 39 |
| Spring 2022 | Tiffany Hartnell-Howden | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4–6 hrs/week | 22 of 39 |
| Fall 2021 | John Makransky | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 1–3 hrs/week | 25 of 40 |
| Fall 2021 | Tiffany Lee | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 44 of 64 |
Data freshness
Instructors
Sections
- Section 02
- Section 03
- Section 04
- Section 01
- Section 02
- Section 01
- Section 02
- Section 03
- Section 04