This course is designed to provide students with the essential knowledge, skills and dispositions to think theologically about restorative justice and the crisis of mass incarceration in the United States. Specific focus will be on the holistic ministry of chaplains in the criminal justice system. Issues of crime, justice, and forgiveness will be examined in the overall work of chaplaincy leadership, equipping learners with the skills to bring transformation and positive impact to the criminal justice field.

An introductory survey of the main beliefs and practices that constitute the Christian tradition. Christianity will be approached in a way that overcomes the traditional division between doctrine and practice. The Biblical, theological, historical, ethical, and spiritually formative aspects of Christian faith will be explored. The course aims to enable the student to develop a personal theology and life perspective that is informed by Christian faith and Christian spirituality. Prerequisite: BIBL 101. This course is a prerequisite for all other THEL courses. IS - Faith Foundation: Theology. Fulfills General Education THEL 209 requirement. Liberal Arts.