Aims

This module seeks to understand what theology is and how to do it by learning from five important Christian theologians throughout key turning points in history. Each lecture and seminar will focus on what each thinker has believed and taught about Christianity, but the goal is to discern from each thinker the art of theological reflection itself.

Outline Of Syllabus

Introduction and Overview of Class
Augustine
Aquinas
Luther
Theology after Modernity
Barth
Rahner
Contemporary Theological Questions and Reflections

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures provide background material for assigned texts and guidance for further reading.

Small group teaching allows students to clarify problems and present arguments.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Both formative and summative work will measure your skills in three areas:
1.       engaging with primary sources and relevant secondary literature;
2.       offering nuanced interpretations of key passages in your own words;
3.       constructing convincing arguments that demonstrate a definite claim about how to best understand the issue.