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DR2599: THEOLOGY FROM JESUS TO CALVIN: THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT (2022-2023)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:26


Course Overview

How did the Jesus movement turn into the church? At what point did the church decide Jesus was God? How can God be one and three? What is heresy and why did it matter? How did Christianity relate to surrounding philosophy? Did theology develop and change? What were the sources for Christian thought and doctrine? The course introduces students to these questions through the rich history of Christian thought by considering a number of representative theological thinkers, such as Origen, Athanasius, Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Luther and Calvin. Assessment is through two short essays and a final essay.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 2
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Professor Eric Saak

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Programme Level 2
  • Any Undergraduate Programme

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course will introduce students to the rich history of Christian thought by considering a number of representative theological thinkers. Students will be introduced to important developments in Christian thought and to formative theological controversies by close consideration of significant figures from the tradition. In previous years, theologians such as Irenaeus, Origen, Athanasius, Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Luther and Calvin have featured on the course.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Weekly Discussion Board Entries (250/350 words) 25%

1250 word text analysis 25%

2500 word essay 50%

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandTo grasp the lineaments of the history of Christian thought as represented by the work of selected leading thinkers
ConceptualApplyTo deepen appreciation of the distinctiveness of Christian belief and its relation to other philosophies and religious traditions.
ReflectionAnalyseTo continue to reflect upon the nature and stakes of contemporary debates regarding central Christian teaching in view of the longer history of the tradition.
ProceduralAnalyseTo gain familiarity with different theological methodologies; and to acquire a measure of precision in writing through evaluating a specific theological problem.
ReflectionEvaluateTo reflect critically upon the doctrines of Christian faith in their historical formulation; to acquire the capacity to engage theological positions different from one’s own with sympathy & integrity
ProceduralAnalyseTo explore and to communicate intellectual problems through collaboration and interaction with other students.

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