The Developing Tradition: Theologians of the Second Century (Distance Learning - 20 credits)
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| THEO4048 | Philosophy | 4 | 20 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- THEO4048
- School
- Philosophy
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year UK
Summary
The module will be a close reading of four second-century Christian documents of various lengths in their entirety. The concerns of each text will be given priority rather than viewing them as sources for other thematic concerns. This will lead to an examination of how these documents bring before us some of central questions of Christian theology. There will be close attention throughout the module on how these texts have been used in theology in the past and how that can be used in theological understanding today.
Target Students
Only available to postgraduate students in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies
Classes
Printed study pack with primary and secondary sources and questions for consideration;Contact with the module tutor by email, webct, Skype, or letter on points of interest and questions requiring further clarification or explanation;Recorded interviews provided through webct;Online discussion with the module tutor and fellow students;Lectures at the annual Spring Seminar.
Assessment
- 100% Coursework 1: 3000-4,000 word essay
Assessed by end of designated period
Educational Aims
This module has three aims. First, to develop in the student a thorough familiarity with theological texts from the time when Christian theology was acquiring its distinctive form and to use these texts competently and confidently within theological investigations or historical research. Second, to provide the student with advanced training in the academic disciplines of patristics and historical theology. Third, to introduce the student to the problematic of how Christian doctrine developed.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding:
- demonstrate knowledge of key aspects of early Christian concerns (theological and practical) of early churches through a close reading of primary texts;
- demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of using these texts in theology, and of the more general problematic concerning our use of all early Christian texts.
Intellectual Skills:
- ability to interpret and critically reflect upon the issues raised in the documents studied in the module, and critically relate their own research with that found in existing scholarship;
- ability to think critically, independently and contextually about theological issues;
- ability to engage in significant independent research;
- ability to present the results of research in written form, offering arguments and marshalling evidence;
- ability to think about theological issues with the critical skill of the historian and with the acumen to distinguish different types of historical evidence.
Professional Practical Skills:
- ability to make discriminating use of a range of library and information resources in order to identify appropriate source material, compile bibliographies and inform research;
- ability to show independence of thought, and critical self-awareness about one's own beliefs.