2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

THEO5031M Sin and Contemporary Public Discourse

30 creditsClass Size: 20

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

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

None

This module is mutually exclusive with

THEO3220

Sin

Module replaces

THEO5030M

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

'Sin' is a religious and theological way of speaking about situations and behaviour where human beings are harmed in some way. The module will try to relate Christian ways of speaking about human harm and damage in relation to topics which are sensitive and could be potentially re-traumatising for some students. Examples of such topics are: domestic abuse & violence; sexual violence; racism; addiction; child abuse. If you are unsure whether this module is suitable for you, please contact the module leader for more details before choosing this module. What is sin? Is it only concerned with sex? And is even that concern trivial? Can it have anything to do with issues in public life? How might it relate to secular ways of discerning and describing what goes wrong in human affairs? What is the proper use of the language of sin, and how might and has it been misused? Why do Christian and post-Christian feminists have such a problem with the doctrine of sin? Is the doctrine of original sin offensive to moral reason or undermined by modern science? Is institutional racism an example of it? Students on this module will seek answers to these questions by engaging with a range of theologies of sin, from Augustine to contemporary feminist reconstructions and critique, and by engaging with public issues and debates concerning human pathologies.

Objectives

This module will enable students to engage in advanced study of the Christian doctrine of sin, and of substantive and methodological issues in Christian theological engagement with aspects of public discourse in a 'secular' context.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a deep and critical understanding of the diversity of Christian views of sin;
2. Critically analyse and respond to primary theological texts on the doctrine of sin and related topics;

3. Understand and critically evaluate how the various positions taken on the doctrine of sin relate to other doctrines and theological themes (such as grace, salvation, humanity, creation, christology, church);

4 Develop an extended independent critical theological engagement between the doctrine of sin and at least one non-theological discipline informing public discussion and policy formation, or one contemporary public issue;

5. Articulate and defend a method for relating theology to contemporary public discourse, in relation to the doctrine of sin.

Syllabus

The syllabus will include consideration of such topics and questions as:

- sin as act and sin as situation or state;
- the relationship between theological and secular languages of pathology;
- Biblical understandings of sin; freedom and sin;
- original sin;
- Augustine;
- Pelagius;
- Liberation Theologies;
- Feminist Theologies;
- individual and social sin;
- forgiveness and confession;
- structural sin;
- the explanatory power of sin in relation to issues in public life

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Tutorial	1	1.00	1.00
Private study hours			277.00
Total Contact hours			23.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

3 hours reading per lecture (33 hours)
5 hours average per seminar preparation (55 hours)
189 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. 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 type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	4,000 words	70.00
Literature Review	2,000 words	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The literature review and essay should both relate to the same topic. Topics will be developed by the students with support from the module leader

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 29/04/2024 16:19:43

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