Online Divinity 2021-2022

This course will explore religions of Ancient Greece and Rome.

Located in the sub discipline of Practical Theology, this course will explore the theology and practice of Pastoral Care. 

The course will introduce you to the first five centuries of Christian life and belief. It traces the rise of Christianity from its origins as a Jewish sect to a position of cultural and religious dominance in the Roman Empire. It also looks at the development of central themes in early Christian theology and spirituality. The course consists of a series of lectures on key topics, and tutorial seminars on researching and presenting your work, and on various early Christian texts. The course also requires your own reading and research.

The course will introduce students to the form of Greek found in the New Testament and help students to begin to read the New Testament in Greek. The programme will follow the textbook by J. Duff, Elements of New Testament Greek (Cambridge University Press, 2005). This is not to be confused with the textbook with the same title by John Wenham. 

This course will look at magic in the ancient Greek, Roman and Ancient Near Eastern World. The course will explore the concept of magic and key themes associated with magical rituals and practitioners. 

This course contains a survey of the biblical literature of the Hebrew Bible and of the critical methods involved in its study. The course surveys the content, theology, and history of formation of key books within the Hebrew Bible. It also presents and critically evaluates source-critical, redaction-critical, form-critical, and canonical approaches to the biblical texts.

This course will explore how the ancient Greek, Roman and Ancient Near Eastern world has influenced and shaped the world in which we live.

This course, which builds on the foundations laid in DR1039, introduces further study of the grammar and vocabulary of New Testament Greek. 

What do Christians believe? Why do they believe it? Can it (despite everything!) possibly be true? And if so, what difference does it make? Taking an 'insider's view' of Christian belief, this course asks what it means to think and to speak Christianly--about God, Jesus, creation, religion, human community and responsibility, death, life and other little things.

This course will explore religions of Ancient Greece and Rome.

The course will introduce you to the first five centuries of Christian life and belief. It traces the rise of Christianity from its origins as a Jewish sect to a position of cultural and religious dominance in the Roman Empire. It also looks at the development of central themes in early Christian theology and spirituality. The course consists of a series of lectures on key topics, and tutorial seminars on researching and presenting your work, and on various early Christian texts. The course also requires your own reading and research.

This course will explore the history and the theology of the church in Scotland from the Reformation to the present day.

Located in the sub discipline of Practical Theology, this course will explore the theology and practice of Pastoral Care.

What do Christians believe? Why do they believe it? Can it (despite everything!) possibly be true? And if so, what difference does it make? Taking an 'insider's view' of Christian belief, this course asks what it means to think and to speak Christianly about God, Jesus, creation, religion, human community and responsibility, death, life and other little things.

This course will look at magic in the ancient Greek, Roman and Ancient Near Eastern World. The course will explore the concept of magic and key themes associated with magical rituals and practitioners. 

This course contains a survey of the biblical literature of the Hebrew Bible and of the critical methods involved in its study. The course surveys the content, theology, and history of formation of key books within the Hebrew Bible. It also presents and critically evaluates source-critical, redaction-critical, form-critical, and canonical approaches to the biblical texts.

This course offers a survey of various theological approaches. These approaches include but are not limited to the classic subdisciplines of Biblical Studies, Historical Theology, Systematic Theology, Practical Theology and Christian Ethics. The approaches are presented through interviews with Aberdeen scholars, as well as through key readings. Students learn to compare and contrast various approaches, and will be trained in critical reading and writing at honours level.

This course will explore the role of animals and monsters in the Ancient Near East, ancient Greek, Roman Worlds.

 

St Francis’ life and spirituality did not only deeply impress his contemporaries but still inspire people nearly 800 years later: voluntary poverty and rejection of consumerism, care for fellow humans and the environment are topics which are decisive for Francis’ interpretation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and modern-day citizens. The course will explore both the historical context of St Francis and his life and pursuits and the lasting questions he asks – in 1979 he was made Patron Saint of Ecology.

This course offers a survey of various theological approaches. These approaches include but are not limited to the classic subdisciplines of Biblical Studies, Historical Theology, Systematic Theology, Practical Theology and Christian Ethics. The approaches are presented through interviews with Aberdeen scholars, as well as through key readings. Students learn to compare and contrast various approaches, and will be trained in critical reading and writing at honours level.

This course will explore the role of animals and monsters in the Ancient Near East, ancient Greek, Roman Worlds.

St Francis’ life and spirituality did not only deeply impress his contemporaries but still inspire people nearly 800 years later: voluntary poverty and rejection of consumerism, care for fellow humans and the environment are topics which are decisive for Francis’ interpretation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and modern-day citizens. The course will explore both the historical context of St Francis and his life and pursuits and the lasting questions he asks – in 1979 he was made Patron Saint of Ecology.

This course engages students in a sustained exploration of theology and practice of preaching in the context of Christian worship with a view to the wider horizon of public communication. Initial investigation of traditional and contemporary theologies of the Word prepares us to focus upon the theological and rhetorical analysis of actual sermons considered in video, audio and textual forms. We will critically examine the theological frameworks within which preaching is understood, various possibilities for understanding the relation of biblical text, contemporary context, preached sermon, as well questions concerning the interplay of form and content in the act of preaching.

Christian practices are not activities as such, and neither are they religious duties. They are, rather, patterns of communal life within the Christian tradition that address fundamental human needs by revealing the presence and power of God. Practices point beyond the individualism of our present culture and disclose the social qualities of the Christian life. This course will explore the role and the effect which a number of Christian practices have played in the lives of local congregations. Students will have the opportunity to reflect upon the potential role of these practices in their own areas of ministry

20,000 word dissertation written on a topic related to the student's taught Master's programme and agreed to by the supervisor and the programme co-ordinator.

Case studies and practical experience drive the approach of this course. Students will familiarise themselves with an organisation, faith community or movement that focuses on disability. They will study the organisation’s views on disability and how it translates these views into practice. Students will learn to reflect critically, ethically, and constructively on the practices they encounter. Students will learn a specific theological model to help them to reflect on the practices they study. Furthermore, students will be introduced to the art of policy writing.