Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Theology, Religion and
Ethics
and
Philosophy, Religion and
Ethics
Module Catalogue
Semester 1 - 2015/2016
Module Code: RT1101
Module Name: Understanding Ethics and Religion
Module Credits: 15
No. of Periods: 1
Level:
Level 4
Module Tutor:
Module Description:
Ethics is concerned with fundamental and practical questions about right and wrong, about
moral duty, virtue and character, and the good of human beings, communities and societies.
This module explores a range of ethical theories and approaches to moral deliberation and
practice. It investigates some of the ethical resources and approaches found in religious and
theological traditions. It explores the interaction between ethical theory and moral practice,
and engages with a range of practical ethical issues drawn from fields such as bio-medical,
environmental, social and political ethics. Students will also engage with study skills in
relation to the discipline of TRS and building effective academic expertise.
Specific to:
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Assessments:
002:
003:
Formative peer reviewed essay
(1000 words)
Literature review (1000 words)
Essay (1500 words)
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
001:
Semester
S1
0%
40%
60%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT1102
Module Name: Understanding Christianity 1: Traditions and Texture
Module Credits: 15
No. of Periods: 1
Level:
Level 4
Module Tutor:
Module Description:
The module will explore the nature of theology by focusing on the discipline of theology (i.e.
reflection upon beliefs and practices from within a specific religious tradition, in this case
Christianity) in relation to contemporary discourse on the study of religion and theology.
Some key events in the development of Christianity will be covered in relation to their
historical context, significance for the development of theological thought. Students will
engage with internal Christian concepts of what theology is and how the tradition is shaped,
while being asked to reflect critically upon this tradition in the light of contemporary
theological thought. The nature of academic theology and the relationship of it to Religious
Studies will also be discussed, with particular reference to notions of commitment and
neutrality. While a focus will be placed upon the Western theological tradition, an
awareness of the global nature of theology and different theological traditions will be
raised, typically addressing Orthodox traditions as well as those beyond the traditional
Western world, especially through the postcolonial critique of theology from Third World
theologians. The way theology is shaped by its sources, and methods will be addresses,
looking at questions of texts, tradition, ritual and art as expressions of theological
understanding.
Specific to:
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Assessments:
002:
Formative essay (introduction,
outline, conclusion) (1500 words)
Summative essay (1500 words)
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
001:
Semester
S1
0%
100%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT1104
Module Name: Understanding Religions 1: Introducing the Traditions
Module Credits: 15
No. of Periods: 1
Level:
Level 4
Module Tutor:
Module Description:
This module introduces students to key topics and critical approaches in the study of
religion as well as introducing some major religious traditions. It uses criteria developed
within the traditions of sociology, psychology, anthropology and the history of religions to
explain belief and practice systems and their development and interactions. In this module,
students will gain an understanding of some key issues in the history, thought and practice
of religion in the context of at least four religious traditions. The module will introduce
students not only to at least four of the world’s major religious traditions, but also to the
various contexts in which they operate and the issues that challenge them, thus providing a
cross-cultural and inter-religious examination of some of the key issues for the study of
religion in the contemporary world. The religions covered in this module and in part 2 will
ensure students have a good grounding in some of the so-called major world religions.
Specific to:
History, Civilisations and Beliefs
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Assessments:
001:
002:
Formative essay (1500 words)
Summative essay (1500 words)
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
Semester
S1
0%
100%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT1106
Module Name: Spirituality and Reason in the West
Module Credits: 15
No. of Periods: 1
Level:
Level 4
Module Tutor:
Module Description:
This module will trace the development of spirituality in the West in the context of
developments in intellectual history, exploring key eras such as the classical ancient world,
the European Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the 19th century, before engaging in an
analysis of contemporary Western spirituality. It will examine various definitions of
spirituality, the relationship between spirituality and religion, and consider the claim that
the West has moved towards replacing religion with spirituality.
Specific to:
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Assessments:
001:
002:
Research project (1500 words)
Essay (2000 words)
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
Semester
S1
50%
50%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT2100A
Module Name: Religions, Spiritualties and Ethics in the UK today
Module Credits: 15
No. of Periods: 1
Level:
Level 5
Module Tutor:
Module Description:
This module examines the changing role of religion in contemporary Britain by analysing the
history and development of the major religious groups that are now part of British pluralist
culture - Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Pagans, New Agers – as well as
humanists and atheists. Secondly it explores some of the issues and challenges that have
accompanied the emergence of religious diversity and the encounter with modernisation,
including the experience of diaspora. It focuses upon questions of religious decline and
revival and the turn to individual experience and analyses changing attitudes to amongst
other things, political action, personal and especially sexual morality, education, the media
and popular culture.
Specific to:
History, Civilisations and Beliefs
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Assessments:
002:
Timed essay/open exam (2000
words)
Dossier (2500 words)
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
001:
Semester
S1
50%
50%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT2105
Module Name: Religion, Nature and Sustainability
Module Credits: 15
No. of Periods: 1
Level:
Level 5
Module Tutor:
Module Description:
The relationship between religions, their theologies and the natural world has been
problematic. For example, the most immediately accessible part of nature, the human body,
has been distinguished sharply from ‘soul’ and ‘spirit’ in the monotheistic religions.
Similarly, the Earth is distinguished from Heaven and Hell, and ‘earthiness’, the mundane
and the physical are often seen as opposed to spirituality and sacrality or ‘the sacred’.
Conversely, some religions honour certain rocks, trees or animals as more alive, more
sacred or more powerful than humanity. This module explores these varying perceptions. It
also focuses attention on the ‘Greening’ of all religions in recent decades. Creation
Spirituality, EcoKosher, EcoBuddhism, Paganism, and a new prominence of indigenous and
shamanic religions are all significant and will be explored in discrete sessions and/or in
dialogue with one another.
Specific to:
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Assessments:
001:
Project with annotated bibliography
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
Semester
S1
100%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT2120
Module Name: Buddhism in Global Contexts
Module Credits: 15
No. of Periods: 1
Level:
Level 5
Module Tutor:
Module Description:
The module will begin with an examination of the life of the Buddha in his historical context,
it will also explore and examine the main Buddhist teachings common to most Buddhist
schools in their scriptural contexts. An overview and understanding of the main divisions
within Buddhism will be given with an awareness of the spread of these traditions. Emphasis
will be placed on exploring Buddhist schools that developed in new contexts, such as the
Pure Land and Zen traditions, as well as understanding how modernity and contact with the
West has both shaped the study of Buddhism and the form of Buddhist movements.
Buddhism in its Western manifestations will be explored. The use of art and other nonwritten media will be used to understand and interpret Buddhism, while attention will also
be given to key scriptural passages and texts. Where possible visits from practicing
Buddhists and visits to Buddhist communities will be integrated into the course.
Specific to:
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Assessments:
001:
002:
Essay (2000 words)
Website (2000 word equivalent)
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
Semester
S1
50%
50%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT2121
Module Name: Contemporary Christian Theology
Module Credits: 15
No. of Periods: 1
Level:
Level 5
Module Tutor:
Module Description:
This module will explore the main currents of late twentieth-century and early twenty-first
century Christian theology through analysis of prominent theologians and theological
movements. It is possible to analyse the development of recent theology in a number of
ways some scholars, for example, characterise it as a movement which has swung between
the two poles of transcendence and immanence, others chart four turns to the self, Other,
others and text. The first half of the module will focus on the triumph of Christian liberalism
in the west and in the second half of the module will focus on intellectual disenchantment
with liberalism and experience-based theologies and the emergence of post-modern
theologies.
Specific to:
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Assessments:
001:
002:
003:
Abstract (500 words)
Literature review (1000 words)
Essay (3000 words)
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
Semester
S1
10%
20%
70%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT2124
Module Name: Philosophy and Religion in Global Perspectives
Module Credits: 15
No. of Periods: 1
Level:
Level 5
Module Tutor:
Module Description:
This module explores a variety of approaches to the issue of philosophy and its relationship
to religion, including contemporary critiques of philosophy, especially in its Western analytic
tradition. The focus will be on contemporary philosophers, philosophies and debates,
although historical studies of selected non-Western philosophies may form part of the
analysis of alternative approaches. Typically, sessions will consists of a close analysis of a
particular philosopher or philosophical school and selected texts. The module will also seek
to build student’s skills in philosophical reasoning and analysis.
Specific to:
Assessments:
001:
002:
Availability:
Occ.
A
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
Timed assignment (2000 words)
Website with presentation (2000
words)
Year
15/16
Semester
S1
50%
50%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT2128
Module Name: Atheism and its Critics
Module Credits:
No. of Periods:
Level:
Module Tutor:
15
1
Level 5
Timothy Secret
Module Description:
This module will track the chronological unfolding of atheist thought from ancient atomism
to the contemporary new atheist movement. We will investigate both the independent
quality of arguments against the existence of a deity, whether they are found in
philosophical, scientific, literary or political works, and how religious thinkers have
responded to those arguments, paying particular attention to how these debates have
transformed religion, religions, society and our self-understanding. Particular attention will
be devoted to Spinoza and his works contribution to the French Revolution and the
Pantheism controversy at the heart of romanticism. We will also look at the role of atheism
in the works of the three “masters of suspicion” – Nietzsche, Marx and Freud – and whether
the quality of their arguments is maintained by the new atheists.
Specific to:
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
Assessments:
001:
002:
Timed essay (1500 words)
Essay (3000 words)
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
Semester
S1
30%
70%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT3008
Module Name: Indigenous Religions
Module Credits: 15
No. of Periods: 1
Level:
Level 6
Module Tutor:
Module Description:
The living religions of the indigenous peoples of the world are often ignored in the study of
religion. Sometimes they are left to anthropologists to study. Although this module assumes
little or no prior knowledge of indigenous religions it will build rapidly on an introductory
overview to develop critical consideration of the place of indigenous religions within both
societies or cultures and individual experience. Rooted in approaches to lifeways and
worldviews, it allows discussion of themes to arise from a focus on particular people's
understandings, experiences and expressions. Such themes might include the world of
other-than-human people, deities and spirit(s), kinship and ancestors, magic and witchcraft,
religious specialists and ceremonies, mana and tabu. As the module focuses on living
traditions rather than their history (or the history of destroyed communities) it will be
interested in the ways in which indigenous peoples adapt and respond to the changed
situation of the contemporary world. Particular attention will be paid to the importance of
place(s) and land(s).
Specific to:
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Assessments:
001:
Project with annotated bibliography
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
Semester
S1
100%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT3114
Module Name: Theology and Bioethics
Module Credits:
No. of Periods:
Level:
Module Tutor:
15
1
Level 6
Neil Messer
Module Description:
Some of the most perplexing ethical issues in contemporary Western societies are raised by
the biosciences, biotechnology and health care. Human genetics, embryo research,
abortion, clinical research, health care resource allocation, the professional-patient
relationship, end-of-life care and animal and plant biotechnology all raise complex ethical
issues for individuals, communities, societies and policymakers. This module investigates
some of these issues in depth and explores the ways in which they might be addressed by
Christian theological traditions. Throughout the module there will be a focus on the
fundamental theological and ethical issues underlying particular practical problems, and the
relationship between theological approaches and public ethical and policy debates will be
kept in view.
Specific to:
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Assessments:
001:
Website
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
100%
Semester
S1
Day
Time
Module Code: RT3116
Module Name: Religion and Culture
Module Credits:
No. of Periods:
Level:
Module Tutor:
15
1
Level 6
Chris Meredith
Module Description:
Many of the contemporary world’s religions increasingly offer worship not just in a physical
space but in cyberspace. The internet offers the seeker a form of religious experience and
self-expression which does not require a building or a minister, though it does provide a
congregation, albeit of a new and very different kind. At the same time the internet
abounds with misinformation and bigotry about (and also from) religions. This module
explores how world religions are responding to both the opportunities and the challenges of
the virtual world. Students will also explore the use of film as a means of studying religions,
whilst reflecting on these representations theologically. A variety of different film genres
will be used to enable analysis of the use of religion and religious themes in film, whilst also
exploring and applying the different methodologies developed in the discipline of theology
and film. In addition this module will allow for an exploration of a range of visual
representations of religion in contemporary and historical popular culture outside film and
cyber-space; television, newspapers, photography and art all give us ways of exploring
representations of religions through the medium of culture, and allow us to culturally
contextualise popular cultural representations of religions.
Specific to:
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Assessments:
001:
002:
Dossier/project 2000 words
Essay 2500 words
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
Semester
S1
40%
60%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT3117
Module Name: Theology and Scripture
Module Credits:
No. of Periods:
Level:
Module Tutor:
15
1
Level 6
Neil Messer
Module Description:
This advanced module grounds students in one specific area that has been the subject of
much interest in contemporary theology: the relationship between theology and the Bible,
or the theological interpretation of Scripture. Through close reading of relevant texts
students will be guided through this field, allowing them both to see the contours of the
debate and to articulate their own position. As an advanced module the approach is interdisciplinary, bringing together topics looked at in previous Levels of the programme
including history, doctrine, ethics, politics, public life, and the University. Wherever
appropriate there will be an attention shown to relevant biblical texts themselves. Topics
covered could include doctrines of Scripture, models of theological interpretation in the
early church, Scripture and ethics, Scripture and doctrine, the place of the Old Testament in
Christian theology, the church and Scripture, and the role of the Bible in a context of
religious diversity.
Specific to:
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Assessments:
001:
002:
003:
004:
Presentation
Short essay (1000 words)
Formative assessment
Essay (2500 words)
Availability:
Occ.
A
Year
15/16
Semester
S1
20%
20%
0%
60%
Day
Time
Module Code: RT3125
Module Name: Buddhism in Global Contexts
Module Credits:
No. of Periods:
Level:
Module Tutor:
15
1
Level 6
Paul Hedges
Module Description:
The module will begin with an examination of the life of the Buddha in his historical context,
it will also explore and examine the main Buddhist teachings common to most Buddhist
schools in their scriptural contexts. An overview and understanding of the main divisions
within Buddhism will be given with an awareness of the spread of these traditions. Emphasis
will be placed on exploring Buddhist schools that developed in new contexts, such as the
Pure Land and Zen traditions, as well as understanding how modernity and contact with the
West has both shaped the study of Buddhism and the form of Buddhist movements.
Buddhism in its Western manifestations will be explored. The use of art and other nonwritten media will be used to understand and interpret Buddhism, while attention will also
be given to key scriptural passages and texts. Where possible visits from practicing
Buddhists and visits to Buddhist communities will be integrated into the course.
Specific to:
Assessments:
001:
002:
003:
Availability:
Occ.
A
Theology, Religion and Ethics
Theology, Religion and Ethics Joint
Essay (2000 words)
Website (2000 words equivalent)
Presentation with PowerPoint (15
mins)
Year
15/16
Semester
S1
40%
40%
20%
Day
Time