This optional third year module provides students with an opportunity to explore in depth the notion of “God” in Christian thought through biblical, historical, and theological documents. The module offers a culminating option for students of 1st and 2nd year modules who have engaged in the study of primary and secondary sources in a broader overview to study in detail the primary concern Christian theology places on God. Students will gain an understanding of the various ways that texts, events, and communities have argued for specific ways to understand “God” in relation to central ideas from the history of Christian thought. Core issues to be explored are the ideas of divine nature and personhood and the understanding of trinitarian theology in its use of the titles ‘Father,’ ‘Son’ and ‘Holy Spirit.’
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Differentiate developments, agreements, and disagreements of Christian thought in their respective contexts;
Interpret primary texts that offer different arguments on the same topic with the help of secondary sources;
Critically relate and distinguish rival interpretations of Christian teaching.
Assessment
35158-01 : 1500 word Definition Question and Critical Review : Coursework (50%)
35158-02 : 2500 word Critical Review/Commentary : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions
Assessment: The summative assessment is based on the following question: Give a definition of “God” in Christian theology that engages the notion of divine “person” and “nature” in the contexts of conversations about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (10%). Then write a commentary (90%) on your definition that discusses the key concepts, terms, and ideas of historical and doctrinal debates in Christian theology (total 4000 words).