Undergraduate programmes in Divinity and Theology

A study of selected texts from the Pentateuch and the Former and Latter Prophets. The texts have been selected to cover the most essential aspects of the geography, history, writing and literature of the Old Testament.

Selected texts:

Genesis 1-11; Exodus 1-15; Deuteronomy; 1 and 2 Kings; either Amos or Hosea; either Ezekiel or Deutero-Isaiah; either Haggai or Zechariah 1-8.

(i) The purpose and theology of each of the Synoptic Gospels, with particular reference to the prescribed texts;
(ii) Paul's theology, with particular reference to the prescribed texts;
(iii) 1 Peter, James, Hebrews.

Attention should be given to:

• careful exegetical study of the texts, using at least one major commentary per text
• study of relevant texts other than those prescribed
• evaluation of modern scholarly discussion of the texts and principal topics relevant to the syllabus.

Set texts to be studied in English:
Mark 3:22-30. Matthew 12:24-32. Luke 11:14-23.
Matthew 6:7-15. Luke 11:1-4.
I Corinthians Chapters 1 and 15. Romans Chapter 8.

A systematic study of three central themes in contemporary Christian theology:
(i) Christology - such issues as: the relationship between theological claims regarding Christ and Jesus of Nazareth as a historical figure; the consciousness of Jesus and its theological significance; the normativity or otherwise of the Chalcedonian definition; the designation of Jesus as sinless; claims about the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ; Spirit Christology.
(ii) Trinity - such issues as: how the doctrine of God as three-in-one can be elucidated and grounded; the connections between a Trinitarian understanding of God and the concept of Christian revelation; psychological and social analogies for the Trinity; the proper use of the term 'person' in Trinitarian theology; the doctrine of the Holy Spirit; the filioque controversy; the ongoing significance of early Church debates regarding the nature of God.
(iii) Atonement- such issues as: the strengths and weaknesses of such metaphors as ‘sacrifice’, ‘satisfaction’, ‘victory’; the truth status of metaphorical language in soteriology; the coherence or otherwise of the idea that God suffers, with reference to its Trinitarian implications; issues about universal salvation; Christian salvation and human liberation.

Attention should be given to:

• how Christian thought on these three topics developed during the early Christian centuries
• the connections between doctrines and their socio-cultural settings
• the interrelationships between the three different topics
• the methods and criteria deployed in the development of theological positions.

A study of the main problems in the philosophy of religion, including such topics as: the proofs of God's existence; the justification of religious belief; religious diversity; the divine attributes; miracle; prayer; eternal life; the problem of evil.

An examination of attempts at religious reform in Europe during the 16th century, which includes both reform of the Church and religious life, as well as reforms of society inspired by religious belief. The term ‘Reformation’ is understood as applying to both Protestant and Catholic movements of reform.

Topics covered will include: later 15th century desire for reform; late medieval popular belief, and links between reform of social and religious life, Christian humanism and its influence; evangelical movements precipitated by Luther, Zwingli, the Anabaptists and Calvin; the magisterial and radical Reformations, their religious and social implications and the response of different social strata to them; the Papacy and Papal authority, Catholic evangelism, Catholic Reformation and Counter-Reformation; Church, state and politics, including the Reformation in England.

Translation, grammar (including parsing of words and phrases), and exegesis of a set portion of the Hebrew text of the Old Testament.

New Testament Greek
Translation, grammar (including parsing of verbs and nouns), and syntax of set portions of the Greek New Testament.

Prerequisite: New Testament Greek

The whole epistle should be studied in English, with chapters 1-11 and chapter 13 (verses 1-7) to be studied in Greek.

Prerequisite: New Testament Greek

A study of the Fourth Gospel and the Johannine Epistles in English, with special reference to the Greek text of John 1- 12, and 1, 2 and 3 John.

(i) The philosophical background in relation to:
(a) The Nature of Humankind: the Christian account of human nature compared with other theories; the worth of persons and the value of human life; the nature of conscience; the freedom of the will;
(b) The Nature of Human Acts: the relation of acts to consequences; acts and omissions; the principle of double effect; deontological and teleological accounts of right action.
(ii) The characteristics of Christian ethics in relation to the basic Christian doctrines concerning God, humankind and society.
(iii) A consideration of selected contemporary moral problems in the light of the foregoing.

A mainly historical study considering both traditional and radically novel views on the origins of Islam; the beginnings of Islamic theology and law; the doctrines of the sects, especially those of Shi’ism; the development of philosophy, and, in particular, mysticism; the rise of Islamic modernism and reformism; and contemporary practices.

A survey of the main features of Buddhism as a world religion, with the emphasis on Indian Buddhism: early Buddhist doctrinal teachings in their religious context, the Buddhist community and monasticism, the scholastic Abhidhamma tradition, and sectarian developments. Mahayana Buddhism as a later form of Buddhism: the changing emphases on the teachings, especially the role of the bodhisattva. Key features of Buddhism in Tibet (including Vajrayana), China and Japan; and modern developments in Sri Lanka.

Course level: FHEQ level 6

Religion and science
(i) The history of the relationship between religion and science in the Medieval period (including Ptolemy), the Renaissance period (including Copernicus and Galileo), the Enlightenment period (including Newton), and the nineteenth century (including Darwin).
(ii) Contemporary and philosophical issues. Cosmology and the Anthropic Principle, quantum physics, Chaos Theory, Neo-Darwinism, genetic engineering, and cloning. The aims and processes of religion and science (including Popper and Kuhn), and the relationship between religion and science.

Perhaps for the first time since the First Century CE, Christians have begun to develop a positive relationship to Jews that replaces the ‘theology of contempt’ which treated Judaism as part of the pre-history of Christianity. The Holocaust (Shoah) prompted Christian self-examination, and some Jewish scholars have begun to develop a reciprocal, positive approach to the Christian Church. This course will examine central questions in this theological dialogue: issues in the parting of the ways in the first century; Rabbinic Judaism and Torah-centred life; how to handle the presence of anti-Jewish sentiments in the New Testament; issues in the theology of supersessionism and the Christian theological negation of Judaism; recent Christian theological approaches to Jewish identity and corresponding proposals from Jewish scholars; Franz Rosenzweig and the theology of a conjoined mission of Jews and Christians; issues in Jewish self-definition and unfinished issues faced by both traditions.

Course level: FHEQ level 6

A dissertation of 8,000-10,000 words on an agreed topic. Students will receive feedback on a one-page outline (consisting of a working title, a summary of the main sections of the dissertation, and a short bibliography), and comments on two complete drafts if required.

A study of selected texts from the Pentateuch and the Former and Latter Prophets. The texts have been selected to cover the most essential aspects of the geography, history, writing and literature of the Old Testament.

Selected texts:

Genesis 1-11; Exodus 1-15; Deuteronomy; 1 and 2 Kings; either Amos or Hosea; either Ezekiel or Deutero-Isaiah; either Haggai or Zechariah 1-8.

(i) The purpose and theology of each of the Synoptic Gospels, with particular reference to the prescribed texts;
(ii) Paul's theology, with particular reference to the prescribed texts;
(iii) 1 Peter, James, Hebrews.

Attention should be given to:

• careful exegetical study of the texts, using at least one major commentary per text
• study of relevant texts other than those prescribed
• evaluation of modern scholarly discussion of the texts and principal topics relevant to the syllabus.

Set texts to be studied in English:
Mark 3:22-30. Matthew 12:24-32. Luke 11:14-23.
Matthew 6:7-15. Luke 11:1-4.
I Corinthians Chapters 1 and 15. Romans Chapter 8.

A systematic study of three central themes in contemporary Christian theology:
(i) Christology - such issues as: the relationship between theological claims regarding Christ and Jesus of Nazareth as a historical figure; the consciousness of Jesus and its theological significance; the normativity or otherwise of the Chalcedonian definition; the designation of Jesus as sinless; claims about the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ; Spirit Christology.
(ii) Trinity - such issues as: how the doctrine of God as three-in-one can be elucidated and grounded; the connections between a Trinitarian understanding of God and the concept of Christian revelation; psychological and social analogies for the Trinity; the proper use of the term 'person' in Trinitarian theology; the doctrine of the Holy Spirit; the filioque controversy; the ongoing significance of early Church debates regarding the nature of God.
(iii) Atonement- such issues as: the strengths and weaknesses of such metaphors as ‘sacrifice’, ‘satisfaction’, ‘victory’; the truth status of metaphorical language in soteriology; the coherence or otherwise of the idea that God suffers, with reference to its Trinitarian implications; issues about universal salvation; Christian salvation and human liberation.

Attention should be given to:

• how Christian thought on these three topics developed during the early Christian centuries
• the connections between doctrines and their socio-cultural settings
• the interrelationships between the three different topics
• the methods and criteria deployed in the development of theological positions.

Philosophy of religion is not a course that is easily demarcated in respect of its scope and point. That said, philosophy of religion is commonly understood to be the philosophical scrutiny of the claims of religious believers and those made on behalf of religious traditions. The focus of study is principally on the three monotheistic traditions of the West: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Those coming to the subject for the first time need to be aware that it demands competence in many of the central areas of philosophy: metaphysics, philosophical logic, epistemology and ethics. In this respect, the course provides a student with an opportunity to apply their general philosophical acumen to a body of important questions concerning theism. Among the questions raised are: the existence of God; the coherence of theism; the compatibility of divine omniscience and human freedom; the problem of evil; and immortality.

An examination of attempts at religious reform in Europe during the 16th century, which includes both reform of the Church and religious life, as well as reforms of society inspired by religious belief. The term ‘Reformation’ is understood as applying to both Protestant and Catholic movements of reform.

Topics covered will include: later 15th century desire for reform; late medieval popular belief, and links between reform of social and religious life, Christian humanism and its influence; evangelical movements precipitated by Luther, Zwingli, the Anabaptists and Calvin; the magisterial and radical Reformations, their religious and social implications and the response of different social strata to them; the Papacy and Papal authority, Catholic evangelism, Catholic Reformation and Counter-Reformation; Church, state and politics, including the Reformation in England.

Translation, grammar (including parsing of words and phrases), and exegesis of a set portion of the Hebrew text of the Old Testament.

New Testament Greek
Translation, grammar (including parsing of verbs and nouns), and syntax of set portions of the Greek New Testament.

Prerequisite: New Testament Greek

The whole epistle should be studied in English, with chapters 1-11 and chapter 13 (verses 1-7) to be studied in Greek.

Prerequisite: New Testament Greek

A study of the Fourth Gospel and the Johannine Epistles in English, with special reference to the Greek text of John 1- 12, and 1, 2 and 3 John.

(i) The philosophical background in relation to:
(a) The Nature of Humankind: the Christian account of human nature compared with other theories; the worth of persons and the value of human life; the nature of conscience; the freedom of the will;
(b) The Nature of Human Acts: the relation of acts to consequences; acts and omissions; the principle of double effect; deontological and teleological accounts of right action.
(ii) The characteristics of Christian ethics in relation to the basic Christian doctrines concerning God, humankind and society.
(iii) A consideration of selected contemporary moral problems in the light of the foregoing.

A mainly historical study considering both traditional and radically novel views on the origins of Islam; the beginnings of Islamic theology and law; the doctrines of the sects, especially those of Shi’ism; the development of philosophy, and, in particular, mysticism; the rise of Islamic modernism and reformism; and contemporary practices.

A survey of the main features of Buddhism as a world religion, with the emphasis on Indian Buddhism: early Buddhist doctrinal teachings in their religious context, the Buddhist community and monasticism, the scholastic Abhidhamma tradition, and sectarian developments. Mahayana Buddhism as a later form of Buddhism: the changing emphases on the teachings, especially the role of the bodhisattva. Key features of Buddhism in Tibet (including Vajrayana), China and Japan; and modern developments in Sri Lanka.

Course level: FHEQ level 6

Religion and science
(i) The history of the relationship between religion and science in the Medieval period (including Ptolemy), the Renaissance period (including Copernicus and Galileo), the Enlightenment period (including Newton), and the nineteenth century (including Darwin).
(ii) Contemporary and philosophical issues. Cosmology and the Anthropic Principle, quantum physics, Chaos Theory, Neo-Darwinism, genetic engineering, and cloning. The aims and processes of religion and science (including Popper and Kuhn), and the relationship between religion and science.

Perhaps for the first time since the First Century CE, Christians have begun to develop a positive relationship to Jews that replaces the ‘theology of contempt’ which treated Judaism as part of the pre-history of Christianity. The Holocaust (Shoah) prompted Christian self-examination, and some Jewish scholars have begun to develop a reciprocal, positive approach to the Christian Church. This course will examine central questions in this theological dialogue: issues in the parting of the ways in the first century; Rabbinic Judaism and Torah-centred life; how to handle the presence of anti-Jewish sentiments in the New Testament; issues in the theology of supersessionism and the Christian theological negation of Judaism; recent Christian theological approaches to Jewish identity and corresponding proposals from Jewish scholars; Franz Rosenzweig and the theology of a conjoined mission of Jews and Christians; issues in Jewish self-definition and unfinished issues faced by both traditions.

Course level: FHEQ level 6

A study of selected texts from the Pentateuch and the Former and Latter Prophets. The texts have been selected to cover the most essential aspects of the geography, history, writing and literature of the Old Testament.

Selected texts:

Genesis 1-11; Exodus 1-15; Deuteronomy; 1 and 2 Kings; either Amos or Hosea; either Ezekiel or Deutero-Isaiah; either Haggai or Zechariah 1-8.

(i) The purpose and theology of each of the Synoptic Gospels, with particular reference to the prescribed texts;
(ii) Paul's theology, with particular reference to the prescribed texts;
(iii) 1 Peter, James, Hebrews.

Attention should be given to:

• careful exegetical study of the texts, using at least one major commentary per text
• study of relevant texts other than those prescribed
• evaluation of modern scholarly discussion of the texts and principal topics relevant to the syllabus.

Set texts to be studied in English:
Mark 3:22-30. Matthew 12:24-32. Luke 11:14-23.
Matthew 6:7-15. Luke 11:1-4.
I Corinthians Chapters 1 and 15. Romans Chapter 8.

A systematic study of three central themes in contemporary Christian theology:
(i) Christology - such issues as: the relationship between theological claims regarding Christ and Jesus of Nazareth as a historical figure; the consciousness of Jesus and its theological significance; the normativity or otherwise of the Chalcedonian definition; the designation of Jesus as sinless; claims about the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ; Spirit Christology.
(ii) Trinity - such issues as: how the doctrine of God as three-in-one can be elucidated and grounded; the connections between a Trinitarian understanding of God and the concept of Christian revelation; psychological and social analogies for the Trinity; the proper use of the term 'person' in Trinitarian theology; the doctrine of the Holy Spirit; the filioque controversy; the ongoing significance of early Church debates regarding the nature of God.
(iii) Atonement- such issues as: the strengths and weaknesses of such metaphors as ‘sacrifice’, ‘satisfaction’, ‘victory’; the truth status of metaphorical language in soteriology; the coherence or otherwise of the idea that God suffers, with reference to its Trinitarian implications; issues about universal salvation; Christian salvation and human liberation.

Attention should be given to:

• how Christian thought on these three topics developed during the early Christian centuries
• the connections between doctrines and their socio-cultural settings
• the interrelationships between the three different topics
• the methods and criteria deployed in the development of theological positions.

Philosophy of religion is not a course that is easily demarcated in respect of its scope and point. That said, philosophy of religion is commonly understood to be the philosophical scrutiny of the claims of religious believers and those made on behalf of religious traditions. The focus of study is principally on the three monotheistic traditions of the West: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Those coming to the subject for the first time need to be aware that it demands competence in many of the central areas of philosophy: metaphysics, philosophical logic, epistemology and ethics. In this respect, the course provides a student with an opportunity to apply their general philosophical acumen to a body of important questions concerning theism. Among the questions raised are: the existence of God; the coherence of theism; the compatibility of divine omniscience and human freedom; the problem of evil; and immortality.