Course Catalogue

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This course will survey the main historical and theological developments in the interpretation of Jesus Christ since 1900. Perspectives from major Christian denominations as well as from non-religious positions and other world religions are taken into account.

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.

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Essay 2000 words (50%)

■ Presentation of 10 minutes (25%)

■ Presentation report (1000 words) 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:

■ identify and analyse the main innovations and challenges in interpreting the figure of Jesus of Nazareth and of Christian claims regarding his divine status that have taken place since 1900;

■ engage with perspectives from a range of Christian and non-Christian perspectives;

■ examine the representation of Jesus in the arts;

■ consider radical new approaches within theology, including those of feminist and liberation theology.

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

■ identify key innovations in thinking about Jesus Christ since 1900 and evaluate their relation to traditional Christian views;

■ understand and articulate the relationship between Christian and non-Christian approaches to the figure of Jesus Christ;

■ assess the significance of Jesus Christ for modern and contemporary culture;

■ engage in creative thinking about the figure of Jesus Christ.