Course Catalogue

View Specification Document | Reading List

Through the study of a selection of key texts, from the patristic, medieval, Reformation and modern eras, the course identifies and debates central features of the Christian understanding of God.

1x2hr seminar per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Honours options in TRS and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into Theology and Religious Studies, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

TRS4021 Doctrine of God

None

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Essay (2000 words) - 50%

■ Presentation report (1000 words) - 25%

■ Presentation of 10 minutes - 25%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the essay, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

■ One-to-one presentation / discussion/Q&A with staff (where presentation would normally be in class) as an alternative to the presentation

■ There is no alternative to the presentation report, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ study the central elements of the Christian understanding of God;

■ engage with key ancient, medieval, Reformation, and modern texts;

■ explore how theologians have understood the nature of human knowledge of God;

■ identify the sources, norms, and limits of such knowledge.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ analyse key issues in classical and modern Christian expositions of the doctrine of God;

■ identify differences in approaches of the major Christian confessions;

■ apply critical judgement in evaluating truth-claims relating to the doctrine of God;

■ assess the importance of more recent approaches, including those of political and feminist theologies;

■ present complex arguments in written and oral form.