THEO2241: Creation and New Creation: Imaging God

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• To develop knowledge of central theological ideas. In particular, to build up conceptual and historical insight into the issues involved in the following doctrinal areas: theories ofsalvation; doctrines of creation, providence, and anthropology; andunderstandings of church, sacrament, and Christian eschatology.
• To strengthen students ability to reason coherently and with some sophistication about complex conceptual schemes, drawing insightfully on both classic formulations of these religious ideas as well as modern andcontemporary contributions to the state of the question.

• The module focuses on a range of essential theologicalquestions: theories of salvation; doctrines of creation, providence, and anthropology; and understandings of church, sacrament, and Christian eschatology. By doing this, the module develops an awareness of some of the essential questions and momentous debates that have shaped thehistory of Christian theology. This module immerses students in these fundamental issues, not only to deepen critical understanding of them but to engage them creatively as case studies in the constructive tasks and methods of theological reflection. Students investigate the theological visions that have resourced chief developments in belief,led to adaptations in theological imagination and language, andengendered the spiritual and theological quest of faith in search of understanding. In order to advance students own skills in theologicalinterpretation, each unit within the module will explore both thelandmark thinkers who have defined the discussion of each topic, as well as key modern and contemporary developments in each question. The module will focus on the particular themes listed above in the work of suchthinkers as Irenaeus of Lyon, Origen and Athanasius of Alexandria, theCappadocian Fathers, Augustine of Hippo, Dionysius, Anselm, Bernard ofClairvaux, Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, Luther,Calvin, Pascal, Kant, Schleiermacher, Newman, Kierkegaard, Barth,Rahner, Balthasar, Gutirrez, and Schssler-Fiorenza.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Knowledge and critical understanding of the following fundamental topics in the development of Christian theology: theories of salvation; doctrines of creation, providence, and anthropology; and understandings of church, sacrament, and Christian eschatology.
• A detailed awareness of the intersection and mutual interaction of these teachings, and the range of approaches to eachquestion that have been adopted by definitive thinkers. Students will also develop a reasonable sophistication in their awareness of the creative vision and interpretive insights at play in the tasks oftheological reflection.

Subject-specific Skills:

• An ability to interpret and critically analyze the majorapproaches in Christian theology, and to evaluate the strengths andliabilities of each. This ability will be developed particularly withreference to the fundamental doctrines of salvation; creation, providence, and anthropology; and understandings of church, sacrament,and Christian eschatology.
• A self-reflective awareness of ones own theoreticalpresuppositions regarding fundamental questions, and a capacity towork constructively with the tools and methods of theologicalreflection.

Key Skills:

• Skills in the acquisition of information through reading andresearch, and in the structured presentation of information in writtenanalysis and argument. Capacity to analyze conceptual complexes andproblems, making fine distinctions regarding the use of image, metaphor, logical argument, and other important rhetorical features inproposing large-scale theoretical claims. The ability to work creatively with multiple traditions and culturalassumptions.

• Lectures convey information and exemplify an approach to the subject-matter, enabling students to develop a clear understanding of the material and to improve their skills in interpreting and evaluating information.
• Seminars enhance subject-specific knowledge and understanding both through preparation and through interaction with students and staff, promoting awareness of different viewpoints and approaches, and enhancing skills in the analysis of texts, concepts and arguments.
• Formative essays develop subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the acquisition ofinformation through reading and research, and in the structuredpresentation of information in written form.
• Examinations assess subject-specific knowledge andunderstanding, along with student skills in the structured presentation of information in written form under time constraints.
• Summative essays assess subject-specific knowledge andunderstanding, along with student skills in the acquisition ofinformation through reading and research, and in the structuredpresentation of information in written form.

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