DR202E: JESUS IN HISTORY AND CULTURE (2020-2021)

Last modified: 24 Jun 2020 14:40

Course Overview

This module will examine the representations of Jesus that are found in the four canonical gospels as well as in a selection of non-canonical (apocryphal) gospels. By evaluating the evidence of such witnesses and reading this against the social and cultural backdrop of first century Palestine, the module will consider the question of what "the Historical Jesus" was really like and how this figure relates both to the theological traditions of the church and to popular reworkings of the gospel stories through the centuries. It will be of interest both to Theology and Religion students

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	2
Term	First Term	Credit Points	15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus	Aberdeen	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Dr Katherine Hockey

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

Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
Programme Level 2

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

DR109A Jesus in History and Culture (Studied)
DR109E Jesus in History and Culture (Studied)
DR209A Jesus in History and Culture (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

This course will examine in detail the representations of Jesus that are found in the four canonical gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), as well as in a selection of non-canonical (apocryphal) gospels. By evaluating the evidence of such witnesses and reading this against the social and cultural backdrop of first century Palestine, the module will consider the question of what "the Historical Jesus" was really like and how this figure relates both to the theological traditions of the church and to popular reworkings of the gospel stories through the centuries. As well as involving careful study of the gospel material and Historical Jesus theories, the module will therefore consider representations of Jesus in visual art, in novels and in films. The module will provide important foundations for advanced Honours study in New Testament, but will also be of interest to students who want to learn more about the impact of the figure of Jesus on societies and cultures for the last two millennia.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

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

Open Book Online Test (25%)

750 word critical summary (25%)

1750 word essay (50%)

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome
Factual	Understand	Developed knowledge of the content of the gospel writings that constitute the principal witnesses to the historical traditions about Jesus.
Conceptual	Apply	An understanding of the character of these writings and their relationship to the earliest Christian communities.
Procedural	Analyse	Practical competency in the reading and analysis of the gospel writings as appropriate to a range of tasks (historical reconstruction; literary analysis; theological analysis).
Conceptual	Evaluate	A critical understanding of the various theories of "the Historical Jesus," and their methodological foundations and a capacity to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of such theories, based on both
Conceptual	Analyse	Developed knowledge of select examples of the cultural reception and reworking of the Jesus tradition, such as modern Jesus novels or the use of Christ-figure imagery in popular novels or films.