http://www.alkalimah.org

1. Introduction

2. Program Description

3. Objectives

4. Registration

5. General Rules and Regulations

6. Curriculum

7. Course Descriptions

1. INTRODUCTION 

There has always been a need for theological education to be easily accessible to a great number of people who cannot join a theology institute or any other church institution capable of providing them with the knowledge they long for. E-learning has become widespread all over the world in various domains, which reflects the urgent need to use new and flexible methods in religious education for pastoral and educational purposes. 

To fulfill this need, the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology has launched the Kalima Online Theology Program in Arabic. This program has been adapted to E-learning in a way that preserves course content and efficient communication between the instructor and the learner as well as the scientific and pastoral aspects of the curriculum in order to achieve the best results.

2. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION  

The Kalima Online Theology Program is composed of 12 courses which are spread over three years, with students taking an average of two courses per semester. The courses cover the major theological fields (Holy Bible, Dogmatics, History of the Church, Liturgy and Pastoral Studies) within an academic and pastoral perspective. The program is addressed to all those who are interested in religious theoretical aspects by providing them with study of pastoralism, which is necessary in every theological endeavor. All those who seek to deepen their understanding of the foundations of their faith will benefit from this program.

 Each course lasts 14 weeks with an average of one seminar per week.

 At the end of the academic period and after passing all courses and fulfilling all the program requirements, the student is granted, with the approval of the Institute of Theology, a Diploma in Theology.

3. OBJECTIVES 

The program’s objectives are the following:  

-          Removing theology from a traditional framework and allowing it to benefit from online learning techniques (E-learning)

-          Introducing a large number of people to theological knowledge

-          Creating a forum for discussion between those admitted to the program and theology experts

-          Establishing links between Church followers in the Antiochian See by providing them with the opportunity to communicate with each other or facilitating face-to-face meetings

-          Emphasizing the presence of the Institute of Theology as a center for theological teaching under the authority of the Antiochian Church.

-          Assisting clergy in their pastoral service in the field of teaching by giving them the opportunity to apply to the program

-          Communicating with Orthodox Antiochian emigrants who wish to keep a strong relationship with their Mother Church

 4. REGISTRATION 

-          Each person wishing to register in the Kalima Online Theology Program must follow the instructions mentioned on the program’s webpage

-          Students may register for all offered courses or only some of them, knowing that they will get a certificate stating that they have attended and passed the courses

-          The tuition fee for each course is 50 USD. It must be paid before the end of the first week of the semester.

5. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS 

1.        Each student who registers in any of the program’s courses should abide by all rules and regulations in terms of attendance, fulfilling all the course requirements, submitting assignments, and preparing daily lessons.

2.        Students must follow the lessons on a regular weekly basis, and must never fail to attend the courses being offered. For any absence exceeding two weeks, the student will be dropped out of the course and the program.

3.        Students are subjected to a weekly examination, a midterm, and a final exam in all courses. The general average of the course consists of the weekly, the midterm and the final exam’s grades. 

4.        Students must submit all assignments given by the course instructor. Assignments are graded according to the policy that the instructor has decided at the beginning of the course.

5.        If the student’s grade is less than 60, he/she will be considered as having failed the course and will not get a certificate of attendance.

6.        Students may drop the course at anytime providing that they inform the instructor or the program’s director in written form. In this case, they will receive a refund of the registration fee. However, if they wish to attend the course they dropped, they do not have to pay the tuition fee again.

7.        Students must come, when necessary according to the course requirements, to the Institute of Theology or another location near to where they live in order to attend individual meetings with their instructors, sit for written exams, and participate in scheduled activities.

6. CURRICULUM

 The following tables describe the coursework to be taken which include courses in the following disciplines: Biblical Studies, Doctrines, Church History, Orthodox Liturgy, and Social Sciences. 

 KALIMA E-Learning Theology Courses

First year: 

Second year: 

Third year:  

7. KALIMAH PROGRAM OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (KALIMAH) COURSE DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE KLMA 201

Year: First

This course offers a discussion of the background of the Bible and the circumstances which led to its appearance, starting with Babylonian civilization and ending with the Roman Empire. It also presents the contents of the books, their interrelation, their authors, the time of writing, the styles, and the literary genres. This course enables students to be acquainted with the Bible and provides them with what they need for the exegetical courses.

IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN CHURCH HISTORY KLMA 240

Year: First

This course offers an exposition of important periods in the history of the Church from the New Testament’s times, through the apostolic and the apostolic fathers, the period of persecutions until the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, and the seven ecumenical councils. Then the course deals with schisms and focuses on the Antiochian history until modern times.

PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES KLMA 203

Year: First

This introduction aims at clarifying the status of Dogma in the Church by highlighting the close connection between the doctrine and the way of life in Christianity. It deals with the most important Christian doctrines such as Christ’s salvation, the mystery of the Holy Trinity, Creation, ecclesiology and Christian eschatology.

HISTORY AND RULES OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP KLMA 204

Year: First

A general introduction to Christian worship, its roots, sources and history, with a special focus on the services which are practiced in the parishes, such as the daily prayers and the Eucharist. It also deals with the sacraments, their practice, and their importance in the life of the Church and the parish.

BIBLE EXEGESIS: SELECTIONS FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT KLMA 210

Year: Second

This course offers an exegesis of selected passages from the New Testament covering the four gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the letters of Paul. Texts are chosen from liturgical readings and are presented to the students as examples of biblical exegesis by pointing to some exegetical methods which can be used in the parishes and within youth groups.

THE ORTHODOX DOCTRINE OF TRINITY AND CHRISTOLOGY KLMA 230

Year: Second

This course focuses on the doctrines related to the Holy Trinity and Jesus Christ and their elaboration in the Ecumenical Councils and in the writings of the Fathers, their history, with a special emphasis on their role in the life of the Church, its liturgy, and the faith of the community.

PASTORAL CARE AND PERSONAL STATUS KLMA 228

Year: Second

This course revolves around personal status, based on the law that was launched by The Patriarchate Orthodox of Antioch. It is therefore connected to personal life from the moment of birth till death. This course contains the following subjects: the ecclesiastic holy engagement, its effects, and its cancellation; marriage, its definition, purposes, conditions, effects and the duties of parents and their children; adoption, abandonment, and expense; and the dissolution of marital bonds by abolishment, separation, and divorce, and its effects on family members.

INTRODUCTION TO ANTHROPOLOGY AND CHRISTIAN ETHICS KLMA 235

Year: Second

This course sheds light on the main ethical aspects of faith in Christ, with emphasis on the Orthodox vision of man. The course deals with the impact of this Orthodox anthropology on the behavior of church followers regarding important social issues such as family, work, and politics. The course also deals with the problems of bioethics, which present a great challenge to Christianity in this day and age, especially cloning, euthanasia, and abortion. These issues will be discussed from a Christian point of view.

BIBLE EXEGESIS: SELECTIONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT KLMA 211

Year: Third

This course offers an exegesis of selected passages from the Old Testament covering the books of the Law, Prophets, Wisdom Literature and Psalms. Texts are chosen from liturgical readings and are presented to the students as examples of biblical exegesis by pointing to some exegetical methods which can be used in the parishes and within youth groups.

THE CHURCH AND THE CHALLENGES OF THE MODERN WORLD KLMA 236

Year: Third

The course provides a discussion of the most important theories and ideologies prevailing in the modern world concerning politics, economics, religion, and philosophy while attempting to elaborate a position towards them from the point of view of the Christian faith rooted in tradition and open to modernity.

CHRISTIANITY AND OTHER RELIGIONS KLMA 293

Year: Third

This course discusses the Christian position towards other religions. It deals with dialogue of religions, taking into consideration actual discussion about this topic in different places in the world. This course emphasizes the importance of Christian Witness in openness and love.

EDUCATION IN CHRIST KLMA 282

Year: Third

This course shows the student a holistic vision which instills faithfulness in Christ throughout their life in Church. It enables students to study the content of an educational program and discuss it, and to criticize any educational paradigm showing its positive and negative aspects. They should also be able to critically approach texts in order to see whether they are related to their pastoral purposes.