2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

THEO1970 Introducing Theology

10 creditsClass Size: 70

Module manager: Al McFadyen
Email: a.i.mcfadyen@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module will introduce students to thinking within a specific tradition. It will introduce students to the diversity and range of Christian theological thinking, the basic logic and interconnection of Christian faith through a consideration of several interlinked doctrines. It will give students a basic grounding in some of the major loci of Christian doctrine, the factors that drove their initial development and help to explain their resilience as sites of contemporary theological discernment as Christians engage with their traditions and their contemporary contexts. Students will be introduced to the plurality of Christian theology, the significance of context, issues in theological method and issues will explore what it is to study Christian theology in a secular academic context.

Objectives

• Introduce students to the study of religious traditions by studying traditions of thinking, internal coherence and diversity
• Tools to think and analyse theologically in relation to traditions other than Christianity by studying the theological tradition of Christianity
• To equip students to recognise theological practice in other modules, including those focussed on traditions other than the Christian
• To introduce students to the significance and function of authoritative texts, traditions, and of core concepts in different traditions – understandings of humanity, salvation, good life, worship, sin – by focussing on studying them in one tradition.
• To introduce the students to the theological concepts of orthodoxy, tradition, sources and norms
• To equip students with the basic concepts, vocabulary, information and skills required to study Christian theology in academic contexts
• To equip students with sufficient grounding in the basic themes and methodological issues in Christian theology to enable them to begin to engage confidently, critically and constructively in and with theological reflection in this and other traditions
• To introduce students to the plurality of theological positions and of approaches to theology within a tradition of faith.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
• Understand basic theological concepts, vocabulary and information 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 theological approach might yield distinctive positions in relation to specific areas of doctrinal reflection; how different contexts might make a difference to theological reception and production; how traditional areas of doctrine might resonate with contemporary forms of understanding and expression.

Syllabus

1. Introduction: what does it mean to study theology?
2. What-logy? Speaking about God, and why classical theism might not always help
3. Knowing and encountering God [Christology]
4. Scripture, authority and interpretation(s) [from-Bible-to-creeds]
5. Theology in the flesh [incarnation
6. Changing contexts, rethinking traditions ['who is Christ for us today']
7. What's the point and where's it all going?: narratives of salvation
8. Evil and suffering, power and love [atonement]
9. Creation and science
10. Belief in one God - and why it's not simple: Trinity
11. Method in the madness? Scripture, Tradition, reason, experience … what else?

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	5	1.00	5.00
Private study hours			84.00
Total Contact hours			16.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Directed reading and associated tasks in preparation for seminars: 15
Directed reading in support of lectures: 15
Preparation of sources exercise: 2
on-line tasks: 5
Revision and preparation for exam: 47

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Simple on-line tasks will be set at intervals to check basic understanding (including an MCQ quiz). Seminars afford the opportunity to advance understanding, and to receive feedback and evaluation on it.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Source Analysis	1000 words	25.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		25.00

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

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	1 hr 00 mins	75.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		75.00

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

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 20/07/2017

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