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Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title Theology: Sources, Themes, Debates
Module Code RET1009 (ITS: TP106)
Faculty Theology, Philosophy & Music School Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Description

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to: the complementarity of theology and religious studies; sources and key themes in Christian theology; interfaith theology; and to conversations between theology and politics, culture, science and the arts. In this module, students develop knowledge of key theological concepts and texts. Students develop skills of critical engagement with questions in historical, philosophical and systematic theology. Students are expected to attend and contribute to lectures, and to engage with the recommended texts – including discussion of weekly readings – as they progress through the module

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the purposes and responsibilities of Theology and Religious Studies
2. Describe and interpret the key sources of Theology
3. Critically and sensitively engage with primary sources
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the debates surrounding central theological themes
5. Outline select interfaith dimensions of the sources and themes
6. Discuss key dimensions of the current dialogue between theology and politics, theology and culture, theology and science, and theology and the arts
7. Construct their own arguments in discussion, and present arguments and ideas in written form


WorkloadFull time hours per semester
TypeHoursDescription
Lecture24No Description
Independent Study101No Description
Total Workload: 125
Section Breakdown
CRN11507Part of TermSemester 1
Coursework0%Examination Weight0%
Grade Scale40PASSPass Both ElementsY
Resit CategoryRC1Best MarkN
Module Co-ordinatorJoseph RiveraModule TeacherKevin Hargaden
Assessment Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
AssignmentBook review and written essay to be decided by the lecturer100%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.

* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite None
Co-requisite None
Compatibles None
Incompatibles None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Perspectives
Religion and the contemporary landscape Theology and Religious Studies: approaches to religious faith and practice

Sources
Revelation Scripture Tradition Reason Experience

Themes
The God Question; Christology; Faith and Reason: theology and philosophy in dialogue Theological Anthropology: Creation, Sin and Redemption

Conversations
Theology and Politics Theology and Culture Theology and Science Theology and the Arts

Indicative Reading List

Books:
  • Aquinas, Thomas Summa Theologicae (Benziger Bros. ed: 1947, translated by the Fathers of the English Dominican Province) http://dhspriory.org/thomas/summa/,
  • trans. Mary T. Clark: 1984, Augustine of Hippo Selected Writings,, Paulist Press, New York,
  • Charry, Ellen T., ed.: 2000, Inquiring After God: Classic and Contemporary Readings, Blackwell, Oxford,
  • Ford, David with Ben Quash and Janet Martin Soskice, eds.: 2005, Fields of Faith: Theology and Religious Studies for the Twenty-First Century, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.,
  • Gunton, Colin E.: 1997, The Cambridge Companion to Christian Doctrine, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.,
  • Jeanrond, Werner: 0, Theological Hermeneutics: Development and Significance, Crossroad, New York,
  • Johnson, Elizabeth A: 1992, She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse, Crossroad, New York,
  • Johnston Largen , Kristin: 2013, Finding God Among Our Neighbours: An Interfaith Systematic Theology, Fortress Press, Minneapolis MN,
  • Lane, Dermot.: 2003, The Experience of God: an invitation to do theology, Veritas, Dublin,
  • Niebuhr, H. Richard: 1956, Christ and Culture, HarperCollins, New York,
  • Pelikan, Jaroslav: 1989, The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, 5 Vols, Chicago University Press, Chicago,
  • Peters, F.E: 1999, Judaism, Christianity and Islam: The Classical Texts and their Interpretation, Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ,
  • Rahner, Karl.: 1986, Karl Rahner in Dialogue: Conversations and Interviews 1965-1982 trans. and ed., H. Biallowons, H.D. Egan, and P. Imhof, Crossroad, New York,
  • Viladesau, Richard R: 2000, Theology and the Arts: Encountering God through Music, Art and Rhetoric, Paulist, Mahwah, NJ,
  • Volf, Miroslav, ed: 2012, Do We Worship the Same God? Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Dialogue, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids,
  • Webster, John, Tanner, Kathryn, Iain Torrance, eds: 2009, The Oxford Handbook of Systematic Theology, Oxford University Press, Oxford,


Articles:
None
Other Resources

None

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