Module THEO2311: SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY - THINKING THEOLOGICALLY

Department: Theology and Religion

THEO2311: SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY - THINKING THEOLOGICALLY

Prerequisites

• Either (THEO1041) 'Christ in the Christian Tradition: An introduction to Doctrine' or (THEO1081) 'God and the World.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• Building on the level 1 modules 'Christ in the Christian Tradition' (compulsory for SH Theology students and JH Theology and Philosophy students) and 'God and the World' (compulsory for JH Theology and Philosophy students) this module will:
• Introduce candidates to the resources, methods and dynamics of Christian theological thinking in its constructive, systematic mode;
• Investigate a representative selection of substantive doctrinal issues in theological anthropology and soteriology with a view to their contemporary relevance and articulation;
• Introduce candidates to a range of significant modern and contemporary theologians and select writings relating to the methodological and substantive issues explored in the module;
• Prepare candidates for the successful pursuit, subject to option choices, of a proposed new level 3 module intended to come on-line in 2006/07 and/or a dissertation in the area of contemporary systematic theology.

Content

• Build on level 1 work in THEO1041 Christ in the Christian Tradition: An introduction to Christian Doctrine and THEO1081 God and the World, work in the Michaelmas term will focus on the following key issues relating to the resources and dynamics of constructive Christian systematic theology: approaches to the task of Christian Theology; the place of the Bible and revelation in theological thinking; the role of tradition and church in theological thinking; the relationship between experience and context and theological thinking; the modes of reasoning in theology. Teaching will combine overview sessions aimed at mapping the key issues, approaches, figures and debates etc. with specific closer engagements with select relevant texts of one of more specific theologian. In turn the Epiphany terms' work will focus on a number of particular substantive issues in the specific areas of theological anthropology and soteriology. Three two-week units (Humanity in Theological Perspective; Christ and Salvation; Salvation and Liberation) will again combine overview lectures with close engagements with specific figures and texts. Finally there will be a number of sessions exploring the issue of salvation in relation to topics such as feminism, religious pluralism, the theology of the Trinity and eschatology.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students should be able to: demonstrate an understanding of the resources, methods and dynamics of Christian theology in its constructive, systematic mode;
• Pursue and informed and critically constructive investigation of select substantive doctrinal issues in theological anthropology and soteriology;
• Analyse select key writings of a range of significant modern and contemporary theologians of relevance to the methodological and substantive issues explored in the module.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching will be in the form of lectures and seminars. The first term will focus on the fundamental methodological issues in constructive Christian systematic theology (cf. first stated learning objective above). Five two-week units will combine overview lectures with closer engagements with specific revelant figures and texts (cf. third stated learning objective) Two of these closer, text-based engagements will be in the form of small group seminar discussions led by a member of teaching staff or a senior postgraduate student, the purpose of which is to allow opportunity for clarification, consolidation, extension and for practice in theological discussion.
• The second term will focus on some significant substantive issues in constructive systematic theology (cf. second stated learning objective). The pattern for the six weeks of the second term will be overview lecture followed by small group seminar exploration of specific relevant figures and texts. The final three lectures, each exploring a key substantive issue, will again identify specific relevant primary sources for Consolidation, extension and deepening.
• Easter term revision sessions will be aimed at enabling the students explicitly to think through - by reflecting back upon the module - what is involved in pursuing theological thinking in a critical, constructive and systematic fashion (cf. the fourth earlier stated learning objective).
• Summative assessment will be a combination of coursework )2 essays, constituting 20% a piece of the overall mark) and final examination (2 questions in 2 hours). The essays will relate respectively to Michaelmas and Epiphany terms' work. The exam will include essay questions relating to select aspects of the entire module.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One formative essay (2500 words).

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University