THE1106 - Philosophy of Religion and Christian Ethics
2022/3 Module description
| Staff | Dr Esther Reed - Convenor Dr Jonathan Hill - Convenor |
|---|---|
| Credit Value | 15 |
| ECTS Value | 7.5 |
| NQF Level | 4 |
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Co-requisites | None |
| Duration of Module | Term 2: 11 weeks; |
Module description
In this module you will engage with some of the key questions raised by religious belief and by Christian teachings about about ethical living.
Part A will focus on Christian moral teaching and how major texts may be read in dialogue with issues of urgent present-day concern.. Part B will focus on philosophical issues such as the nature of religion and whether religious faith can be rational.
This is an introductory course that assumes no previous knowledge of the subject and is thus suitable for students from other disciplines.
Module aims
Part A will introduce you to the sources and history of Christian ethics, and to selected questions for Christian ethics today. Major texts will be selected from George W. Forell, Ed, Christian Social Teachings: A Reader in Christian Social Ethics from the Bible to the Present (Fortress Press, 2013) E-Resource
Part B will introduce you to one of the basic methods of theology: the philosophical method and its role in thinking about religion. You will consider key questions about the nature of religion in a philosophical way, notably the nature of religion and the relation between faith and reason, as well as the relation between religion and ethics.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Offer an informed answer to the question: What is Christian ethics?, giving examples of Christian moral reasoning and practice
- 2. Understand different philosophical approaches to the nature of religion and religious faith
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 3. Begin, with guidance, to employ a core method of study: philosophical analysis
- 4. Make guided use of a diversity of primary and secondary sources
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 5. Undertake directed work within clear guidelines
- 6. Collect and categorise information relevant to a particular project, with guidance
- 7. Demonstrate the ability to summarise information accurately and fairly
- 8. Make use of selected written sources, with clear guidance
- 9. Communicate clearly in a written form
- 10. Demonstrate meaningful and consistent participation in the module
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
Part A
- Reading the Bible in Christian Ethics
- Augustine and Thomas Aquinas
- Martin Luther and the Quakers
- Roman Catholic Social Teaching
- Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Feminist and Liberationist Voices
Part B
- What is Philosophy of Religion and Why Does it Matter?
- Faith and Reason
- God, Religion, and Morality
- Worship and Prayer
- Heaven
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | 115 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 11 | Seminars |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 2 | Two small group tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | 115 | Private study or team work |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written essay (Pt 1) | 1000 words | 1-9 | Written and oral |
| Written essay (Pt 2) | 1000 words | 1-9 | Written and oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 45 | 1500 words | 1-9 | Written |
| Examination | 45 | 1.5 hours | 1-9 | Written |
| Participation | 10 | 2 x 100 words self-reflection statements | 10 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Examination | Examination | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Participation | Self-reflection statements | 10 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Long, D.S. (2010) Christian Ethics: A Very Short Introduction Oxford: Oxford University Press
- George W. Forell, Ed, Christian Social Teachings: A Reader in Christian Social Ethics from the Bible to the Present Fortress Press E-Resource
- Long, D. Stephen (2010) Christian Ethics: A Very Short Introduction Oxford: Oxford University Press E-Resource
- De La Torre, Miguel A. (2014) Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis E-Resource
- Claassens, L Juliana M, 'Towards a Feminist Public Theology: on Wounds, Scars and Healing in the Book of Jeremiah and Beyond', International Journal of Public Theology, 13 no 2 2019, p 185-202 E-Resource
- Bayne, T. (2018) Philosophy of Religion: A Very Short Introduction Oxford: Oxford University Press
- Clack, B. and Clack, B. (2019) The Philosophy of Religion: A Critical Introduction Cambridge: Polity
- Wainwright, W., ed. (2005) The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Religion Oxford: Oxford University Press
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=4909
- Muelhauser, L. “What Is Philosophy Of Religion?” – http://commonsenseatheism.com/?p=1092
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
2015
Last revision date
20/07/2020
Key words search
Theology, religion, philosophy, fashion, Christian ethics
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