Aquinas and the Summa Contra Gentiles (First Half)

Taught by Ryan M. Hurd
Discipline: Theology
Crosslist: None
Runs 9/9/24 – 11/16/24
Meets Sat, 10:00–12:00 pm

This Theology course will be taught by Ryan M. Hurd. This course will run from September 9, 2024 through November 16, 2024.


Whereas Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae is aimed primarily at Christians, to educate them in the revealed doctrines of the faith, his Summa Contra Gentiles is more of an apologetic work. The bulk of the work deals with questions of natural theology and reason.

In this seminar, students will study the first half ofSumma Contra Gentiles, narrowing in particularly on Book 1, Chapters 1–44. Among other issues, students will study Thomas’s teaching on faith and reason in divine truths, demonstrating God’s existence, the nature of the negative way, various “negative names” of God and their use throughout the SCG, and different modes of predicating names of God. Although focus will be especially on Thomas’s SCG, students will interface with other works such as the Summa Theologiae and De potentia where appropriate.


Online only, runs 10 weeks, meeting 2 hr./wk. via Zoom. Students will also have the option to participate in class discussion on the Davenant Common Room Discord server. This is a graduate-level course. Although a BA is not a necessary pre-requisite for this course, students should come prepared to do graduate-level work.

Registration after August 26 will be considered late. There is an additional $25 fee for late registration.

Auditor: $225
Enroll for Credit (Part Time): $449
Enroll for Credit (Full Time): $325

LECTURER

Ryan M. Hurd

Ryan M. Hurd

Doctoral Student, Theologische Universiteit Kampen

Ryan Hurd is a systematic theologian whose area of expertise is doctrine of God, specifically the Trinity. His primary training is in the high medievals and early modern scholastics as well as the 20th century ressourcement movement. He has written a number of articles and regularly does translations of early modern theology sources; but his primary project is writing a systematics of the Trinity. He is currently a doctoral student at Theologische Universiteit Kampen.

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Faq

Do I need to be a graduate student or seminarian to participate in a course?

No, in fact, you do not need to currently belong to an academic institution at all. Undergraduate students, pastors, teachers, and independent scholars are welcome as well.

Do I need to apply?

If you want to participate as a degree-seeking student in one of our Certificates, M.St, or M.Litt program, then yes, you do, although the application process is very straightforward. Click HERE to apply. If you are participating as an auditor or just want to take individual classes for credit now (which could later be applied to a degree), then no, you can register for individual courses.

Are there any prerequisites?

Not generally, although certain courses may require certain other courses as prerequisites (e.g. languages). All classes are open to students 18 and over who are capable of deep reading, charitable engagement, and coherent writing (though of course students will be expected to grow in these skills through participation). While a wide range of people may take courses, admittance to one of our programs generally requires an undergraduate degree or significant undergraduate coursework, though this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

What is the time commitment?

The standard format for online courses is 10 weeks, 2 hrs/wk (summer 8 weeks, 2.5 hrs/wk). For-credit students should plan on spending roughly 4 hrs/wk on average outside of class for each online course. Full-time students should plan on enrolling in four to five classes each term (no less than four, no more than six).

How do the live classes work?

All of our live classes use industry-leading videoconferencing software, Zoom. Recordings of each class session, including any “whiteboards” or screen-shares, will be made available for students who were unable to make a particular class meeting.

Does it matter what time zone I am in?

It is important that for-credit students be able to participate in live classes, although auditors may participate via recordings only if desired. It is our goal to schedule live class times that are convenient for all enrolled students. If the scheduled time does not work for you, you should consult the Drop Policy in the Registration section of the catalog. If you are an international student, please consult our International Student Policy in our Registration section of the catalog.

Is there a drop/add date?

Please see the Academic Catalog for exact dates.

  • Drop Date (100% Refund): Before the term starts, students may drop with a 100% tuition refund. Registration fee is non-refundable.
  • Drop Date (50% Refund): Within the first two weeks of a term, students may drop the course with a 50% tuition refund. Registration fee is non-refundable.
  • Withdrawal: Within weeks three and four of a term, students who drop a course will receive no refund and will earn a “W” on their transcript. Students cannot drop after this time and will receive a letter grade.
What is the transfer credit policy?

Degree students may request to transfer credits of graduate courses from another graduate institution. Undergraduate credits will not be accepted. Acceptance of credits will be conducted on a case-by-case basis, will require an academic transcript, and may require a course description or syllabus from the other institution’s catalog. Transfer credit cannot be applied to a certificate degree. To request transfer credit, please email the registrar (registrar@davenantinstitute.org).

Courses from the previous institution must have earned a minimum of B. Up to 6 courses may be transferred in one of our degree subject areas. Up to 6 language courses (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) may be transferred, but actual competency will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Transfer credits will be translated into our program may not reflect the same number of credits as the other institution. Transfer credits cannot substitute for required core courses in each subject area, though elective credit may be granted.

How do the residential courses work?

Residential intensive courses will run for two weeks in the summer and should be considered full-time commitments during the two-week period. Davenant Discipleship Weeks will be scheduled with each student at a time that is convenient for them and their family. For more information, please see the residential courses page on our website and email our Residential Teaching Fellow Dr. Joseph Minich (j.minich@davenantinstitute.org). You may view detailed information on residential courses on our Catalog in our Residential Courses section under the Course Offerings in our catalog.

Are scholarships available?

At present, no. We have made an effort to price these classes at rock-bottom levels, so that cost will not be an obstacle to most students. Moreover, students who complete the M.Litt will be eligible for generous scholarships from the Davenant Institute toward future graduate study. In particular, any student who successfully completes the M.Litt and then goes on to finish a PhD in an approved program (including the partnership with Union Theological College) will, upon successful completion of their PhD, receive a reimbursement of $10,000 paid for the M.Litt. See catalog for details. See Tuition Reimbursement Policy in the Catalog for details.

Is your program currently accredited?

Davenant Hall is not currently accredited by any outside agency, although we believe our courses and our program as a whole conform to high standards of professional qualification, academic rigor, and student assessment. However, we are currently building relationships with other academic institutions to have our courses and degrees recognized for transfer credit or advanced standing.

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Davenant Hall Courses

“Davenant courses are second to none in the quality of the teachers and the depth of the engagement they make possible. I can think of no better way of diving into the riches of classical Protestant thought, and few more worthy endeavors for our time”

Tom, PhD student