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2018/19 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

THEO5370M Theology and Public Life

30 creditsClass Size: 25

Module manager: Dr Alistair McFadyen
Email: A.I.McFadyen@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

Pre-requisite qualifications

Completion of modules in Christian Theology OR Ethics to at least Level 3 or equivalent.

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This is an advanced module in Christian Theology and students should have some background at least Level 3 in Christian Theology or Christian Ethics. Students will be exposed to discussions regarding the possibilities of theology making contribution to public life in a secular and plural context and will explore such potential in relation to a number of key themes (human rights, human dignity, spirituality, wealth, marginalisation, terrorism).

Objectives

This module will enable students to engage in advanced study of the substantive and methodological issues in Christian theological engagement with aspects of public life in a 'secular' context. Students who complete the module will be able to assess patterns of theological engagement and discernment across a range of sub-disciplinary areas in Christian theology (e.g. political theology, contextual theology, urban theology, modern systematic theology, theological ethics, practical and pastoral theologies) in relation to a number of significant thematic areas. Students will be expected to identify and defend the criteria against which such assessments may be made, and self-critically to develop a method of theological engagement in relation to atleast one area of public life, showing sensitivity to its limitations, achievements and potential for more extensive application. The module will equip students for further postgraduate study in this area.

Learning outcomes
At the end of this module, students will have a critical understanding of key themes in, and areas of the encounter between, theology and public life in a secular and plural context. They will have an appreciation of established traditions of theological engagement with public practice and public issues and will have developed tools for critical appraisal of both substantive positions and methodological issues. Students will be required to engage with secular literature and/or practice in relation to atleast one thematic area and to establish means of engaging theologically with it in ways which are self-critically and methodologically aware. Students will be required to write an essay (which may be in the form of a report for a church on an issue of public life, or for a public body or business on an aspect of their work from a theological point of view), together with a separate literature review.


Syllabus

1. Theology and Public Life: Issues in theological engagement; debating the 'public' sphere in 'secular' society; methodologies
2. Patterns of Ecclesiastical Engagement: Church Reports on Social Issues
3. Themes and Spheres of Engagement 1: Human Dignity (Law; medicine; paternalism; autonomy; criminal justice; torture)
4. Themes and Spheres of Engagement 2: Human Rights (politics)
5. Themes and spheres of Engagement 3: Spirituality (health care; chaplaincy; work; education)
6. Themes and spheres of Engagement 4: Wealth and Wealth Creation (economy; business)
7. Themes and spheres of Engagement 5: Marginalisation (racism; sexism; urban theology)
8. Themes and spheres of Engagement 6: Terrorism as a context of theological engagement with religious plurality, community, cohesion and social order
9. Themes and spheres of Engagement 7: Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Political Process
10. Doctrine and Public life

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture111.0011.00
Seminar111.0011.00
Tutorial21.002.00
Private study hours276.00
Total Contact hours24.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)300.00

Private study

5 hours reading per lecture (55 hours)
10 hours per seminar preparation (111 hours)
110 hours essay/report and literature review preparation.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The weekly seminar will be used to monitor the level of understanding of students collectively and individually, as well as their level of work. Students will be given an internal deadline for completion of the literature review in penultimate draft prior to the end of teaching. Tutorials on the literature review and essay will give opportunities for assessing the level of student work and for giving advice and direction.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay4,000 words70.00
Literature Review2,000 words30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2018

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