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DR251A: THEOLOGY FROM JESUS TO CALVIN: THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT (2024-2025)

Last modified: 11 Oct 2024 10:46


Course Overview

How did the Jesus movement turn into the church? At what point did the church decide Jesus was God? How can God be one and three? What is heresy and why did it matter? How did Christianity relate to surrounding philosophy? Did theology develop and change? What were the sources for Christian thought and doctrine? The course introduces students to these questions through the rich history of Christian thought by considering a number of representative theological thinkers, such as Origen, Athanasius, Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Luther and Calvin. Assessment is through weekly discussion boards, a short essay, and a final essay.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 2
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Sara Mannen
  • Professor John Behr

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of () or Certificate in Christian Studies or Diploma in Christian Studies
  • Any Undergraduate Programme
  • Programme Level 2

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course will introduce students to the rich history of Christian thought by considering a number of representative theological thinkers. Students will be introduced to important developments in Christian thought and to formative theological controversies by close consideration of significant figures from the tradition. In previous years, theologians such as Irenaeus, Origen, Athanasius, Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Luther and Calvin have featured on the course.


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Weekly Discussion Board Entries

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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250-350 words each

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
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Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback Word Count 2500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
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Text Analysis

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Length: 1,250 words

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback Word Count 3000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandTo grasp the lineaments of the history of Christian thought as represented by the work of selected leading thinkers
ProceduralAnalyseTo gain familiarity with different theological methodologies; and to acquire a measure of precision in writing through evaluating a specific theological problem.
ConceptualApplyTo deepen appreciation of the distinctiveness of Christian belief and its relation to other philosophies and religious traditions.
ProceduralAnalyseTo explore and to communicate intellectual problems through collaboration and interaction with other students.
ReflectionAnalyseTo continue to reflect upon the nature and stakes of contemporary debates regarding central Christian teaching in view of the longer history of the tradition.
ReflectionEvaluateTo reflect critically upon the doctrines of Christian faith in their historical formulation; to acquire the capacity to engage theological positions different from one’s own with sympathy & integrity

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