THEO43430: Classic Texts in Christian Theology

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• To provide an advanced introduction to major texts from the history of Christian theology
• To enable students critical understanding of the nature, goal and tasks of Christian theology
• To foster students awareness of, and engagement with, appropriate research methods and approaches in the study of Christian theology

• The module will be devoted to a study of a range of major texts taken from the history of Christian theology. It is conceived on the great books model, in which students are introduced to a series of classic texts by staff with appropriate expertise. Texts from each of the great periods of Christian theology will be explored; they will be chosen to ensure that students gain a critical understanding not only of the nature and history of Christian doctrine, but also the different genres in which Christian theology has been expressed, and the different modes in which it has been undertaken (doctrinal theology, philosophical theology, moral theology, etc.). As the core module for the Christian Theology MA, there will also be a special emphasis on methodological questions, with particular consideration of the sources, methods and approaches appropriate to Christian theology. The module convenor will be present at each seminar to ensure continuity and to ensure that the aims of the module are being met. The precise texts to be studied each year will be decided in relation to staff availability, but the content will always be structured to ensure that coverage is fully adequate and appropriate.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of the module, students should be familiar with and understand the significance of a range of major texts from the history of Christian theology.
• to be able to analyse and critically assess some major texts from the history of Christian theology;
• to be able to identify and evaluate different understandings of the nature, goals, tasks of Christian theology;
• to be able to understand and evaluate a range of different sources, methods and approaches in the study of Christian theology

Subject-specific Skills:

• By the end of the module students should possess the following subject-specific skills:
• to be able to analyse and critically assess some major texts from the history of Christian theology;
• to be able to identify and evaluate different understandings of the nature, goals, tasks of Christian theology;
• to be able to understand and evaluate a range of different sources, methods and approaches in the study of Christian theology.

Key Skills:

• By the end of the module students should have acquired:
• advanced research skills, including the ability to locate, summarise and evaluate key sources, both in print and online, and be able to cite them in a professional and academic manner;
• advanced communication skills, including the ability to construct well-supported and sophisticated arguments, presented in clear, concise and convincing prose.

• Reading for the seminars acquaints all students with each of the texts. The seminars will consist of an introduction by the staff leader, followed by brief student presentations by student leaders and then staff-guided discussion. Each student will be expected to make one formative seminar presentation on a particular text during the year. Seminars enable staff to provide focussed introductory material, for students to engage with and critically analyse the texts through seminar discussion, and for student leaders to develop their presentational skills and gain deeper understanding of particular texts through background research. Seminars will also provide the opportunity to attend to specific questions of sources, methods and approaches in Christian theology.
• The formative essay will enable students to develop a critical understanding of a particular theologian through focussed analysis of an individual text or group of texts, and will also require them to reflect specifically on questions of sources, method and approach. Each student will receive an individual feedback tutorial on their essay.
• The summative essay, which will be required to be on a different theologian than the formative essay to ensure coverage, has the same aims and contributes to the learning outcomes as the formative essay, but will benefit from the experience of researching, writing and receiving tutorial feedback on the formative essay.

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