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Last modified: 04 May 2026 11:46
What is political power? What role does theology play in political discourse? These are vital questions in a world of rising political extremism. This course examines political theology’s claim that modern political concepts are secularised theological concepts by investigating if theological beliefs, especially those about God, justify, cause, or challenge political conceptions of power. We will learn to identify, analyse, and evaluate the influence and use of theology in contemporary politics.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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In the current political climate, it is often argued that the inclusion of religious and theological beliefs in political discourse and concepts of power is inherently dangerous and violent. This course examines this claim and if theological beliefs, especially those about God, justify, cause, or challenge political conceptions of power. By examining how ideas about God and divine authority inform understandings of sovereignty, law, and resistance, students will learn to identify and critically assess the theological roots and uses of political power in contemporary society. After this course, students should be equipped to answer the following questions about contemporary politics: What theological concepts are being used by politicians? To what political ends are they using theological concepts? Is this an appropriate inclusion of theology in political discourse?
An introduction to political theology and the different theories of secularisation serve as the starting point to explore the intersection and relationship between theological concepts and political power. After this introduction, the lectures explore different Christian theological concepts and historical and contemporary examples of their relationship to political conceptions and discourse.
Possible topics include: Omnipotence and Absolute Sovereignty; Monotheism and the Problem of Violence; Kenosis and Liberation; the Katechon and Contemporary Politics; and Christology and Revolution. In tutorials, students will have the opportunity to analyse both historical and contemporary texts and case studies.
Please note, that due to the topic of course, we will be dealing with material that includes discussions and descriptions of political violence.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Two 750-word reports on the reading and lecture material. Written feedback will be provided on my Aberdeen. Each reflective report will have a prompt that clearly ties it to an ILO. Submission in week 11 of the course; feedback within 3 weeks. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | To analyse the impact of and relationship between theological concepts on political concepts of power. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To critically reflect on the claims of political theology and determine its relevance for political conceptions of power. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Two 750-word reflective reports on the reading and lecture material. Written feedback will be provided on my Aberdeen. Each reflective report will have a prompt that clearly ties it to an ILO. Submission in week 6 of the course; feedback within 3 weeks. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | To recognise the influence of and relationship between theological concepts, especially concepts about the nature of God, and political conceptions of power. |
| Factual | Understand | To understand the basics of political theology and theories of secularisation and the implications for the role of theology in political discourses on power. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | To recognise the influence of and relationship between theological concepts, especially concepts about the nature of God, and political conceptions of power. |
| Factual | Understand | To understand the basics of political theology and theories of secularisation and the implications for the role of theology in political discourses on power. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | To analyse the impact of and relationship between theological concepts on political concepts of power. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | To critically reflect on the claims of political theology and determine its relevance for political conceptions of power. |
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