THEO41630: TWENTIETH-CENTURY CATHOLIC THEOLOGY

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• To introduce students to the main contours of Roman Catholic theology in the Twentieth Century.
• To examine closely some of the key texts of the two most important theologians of the period, Karl Rahner and Hans Urs von Balthasar.

• In this module we will approach the study of 20th century Catholic theology through an in depth examination of the work the two most important theologians of the period, Karl Rahner and Hans Urs von Balthasar. While the main focus will be the study of central and exemplary texts by each, attention will also be given to the context out of which their work emerged, to interpretive debates arising in the secondary literature, and to the relationship between the two theologians and on-going struggles over their reception.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Critical understanding of key primary texts of Rahner and Balthasar, and of debates in the secondary literature concerning their theology.
• Understanding of debated issues of theological method

Subject-specific Skills:

• The ability to critically engage a number of Catholic theologians.
• To discriminate between the different theologians, articulating and justifying their rational for any particular theologian or approach and assess the relevance of their contribution to 21st century catholic theology

Key Skills:

• The ability to critically engage a number of Catholic theologians.
• An ability to identify the relations between these theologians and their sources.
• To conduct a focused and critically constructive written piece of work on a chosen theologian/s and the theology presented

• After an introductory session, sessions will combine student led seminar discussion of set texts with tutor led input. Each session will be driven by a minimum reading of chapter/essay length pieces that all students are required to read in advance, and on the basis of which the presenting students will offer a formal discussion paper. The discussion will be the primary means of promoting the students confidence and competence in the conceptual understanding that is foundational to theology. Students will also have a one-to-one tutorials in each term.

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