2021/22 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

THEO1760 Studying Christianity

10 creditsClass Size: 150

Module manager: Prof. Rachel Muers
Email: r.e.muers@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The module will introduce students to a range of approaches to the academic study of Christianity, while also introducing them to the diversity of Christianity globally, in any given location, and historically.

Objectives

- To equip students with the basic concepts, vocabulary, information and skills required to study Christianity in academic contexts;
- To enable students to recognise, and engage critically with, the diversity of contemporary Christian practice and thought, with historical awareness;
- To introduce major current issues and trends in the study of Christianity and to enable students to understand and evaluate ongoing work on these issues.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
- Understand basic concepts, vocabulary and information – both about Christianity and about the study of Christianity – and demonstrate the ability to use them in discussing specific examples of Christian practice, thought and organisation;
- Understand, and give an account of, how one or more approaches to the study of Christianity might illuminate a contemporary issue.

Syllabus

The course will be structured around a series of ‘case studies’ of contemporary global Christianity, to which the lectures and discussions will return.
Part 1: Introduction
- Introduction: World Christianity today (and the case studies)
- 'How We Got Here': an overview of Christianity's history
Part 2: Dimensions of Christianity – and How to Study Them
- Worship and Ritual – Anthropological Approaches
- Symbols, Stories and Texts – Theological Approaches
- Institutions and Organisations – Sociological Approaches
- Arts and Cultures – Cultural Approaches
- Worldviews and Ethics – Philosophical Approaches
Part 3: Issues in the Study of Christianity
- Gender and Sexuality
- Christian Politics?
- Christianity in/and Modernity
- Christianity and Religious Plurality

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	1	2.00	2.00
Group learning	5	1.00	5.00
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	5	1.00	5.00
Private study hours			77.00
Total Contact hours			23.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Preparation for seminars and group learning, 20 hours; preparation of presentation, 10 hours; work on report during semester, 20 hours; finalisation of report before submission, 27 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will give a 5-minute presentation on the topic of their summative assessment and will receive formative feedback on the basis of this. Students will be able to consult the module leader in office hours.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	Project Report 2000 words (end of module)	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Resit for presentation will be submission of notes and any visual aids.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/06/2021 14:25:35

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