Module: Theological Anthropology

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Theological Anthropology
Module Code	RET1048 (ITS: TP322)
Faculty	Theology, Philosophy & Music	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The aim of this module is to explore a Christian understanding of human existence. Taking up standard themes in theological anthropology (e.g., grace, creation eschatology, sin, free-will, human knowledge, finitude, desire, embodiment, etc.), this module enables students to develop knowledge and skills in an important area of theology, in both its historical context and contemporary setting. Special features of the module shall include study of patristic and medieval notions of nature, grace, sin, creation and the imago Dei, attending principally to the Latin tradition. Other aims of the module are to study some of the Great books, notably, Augustine's Confessions and City of God. Consideration of contemporary challenges will appeal to 20th-century debates, framed in ecumenical perspective (nouvelle théologie, retrievals of Kant’s transcendental philosophy, narrative theology, Liberation theology, science and religion). Students will participate in learning activities such as attending lectures, keeping up with weekly reading assignments, writing a long research essay. The module attempts to formulate a vision for a renewed Christian humanism.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and reflect upon the sources and traditions which have contributed to Christian anthropology;
2. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the themes of Grace, Creation and Eschatology, in addition to important philosophical categories, as they pertain to the question of theological anthropology;
3. Engage in effective written and oral communication through essay work and participation in classroom discussions;
4. Make a theologically informed response to the question 'Who am I?';
5. Communicate a vision of the human person which celebrates diversity and overcomes insularity and sectarianism.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lecture Presentations
Report	10	Book Review or Report on an item viewed from List of Sources 500 words
Assignment Completion	25	Long Essay 1500-2000 words
Independent Study	66	Reading/ Online Research/ Library Acquisitions/ Study of Items on Module Loop page
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11530	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Marika Rose	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Report(s)	CA 1 Book Review 500 Words	20%	Week 6
Essay	CA 2: Long Essay 1500 words	80%	Week 12

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

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Augustine, Saint: 2008, Confessions, trans. Henry Chadwick, Revised, OUP, Oxford,
Augustine, Saint: 1984, The City of God: Against the Pagans, 5th, Penguin Books, London,
Brown, Peter: 1967, Augustine of Hippo: A Biography, Faber and Faber, London,
Boeve, Boeve and others: 2014, Questioning the Human: Toward a Theological Anthropology for the Twenty-first Century, 1st, Fordham University Press, New York,
Bouyer, Louis: 1958, Christian Humanism, Trans. A.V. Littledale, Geoffrey Chapman, London,
Davies, Douglas J.: 2002, Theological Anthropology, Berg, Oxford,
Duffy, Stephen 1993,: 1993, Dynamics of Grace: Perspectives in Theological Anthropology,, Liturgical Press, Collegeville MN,
Fry, Timothy, Ed.: 1982, The Rule of St Benedict in English, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN,
Irenaeus, Saint: 0, Against the Heresies online, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103.htm,
King, Peter: 2010, Augustine: On the Free Choice of the Will, on Grace and Free Choice and Other Writings, 1st, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
Maritain, Jacques: 1996, Integral Humanism, Catholic University of America Press, Washington, DC,
Mackey, James P.: 2006, Christianity and Creation: The Essence of Christian Faith and its Future among Religions, Continium, New York,
Mackey, J.P.: 1966, Life and Grace: An Essay in Basic Theology, Gill, Dublin,
Ouellet, Marc: 2006, Divine Likeness: Toward a Trinitarian Anthropology of the Family, Eerdmans,, Grand Rapids, Michigan,
Rahner, Karl: 1963, Mission and Grace: Essays in Pastoral Theology, Sheed and Ward, London,
Ratzinger, Joseph: 1988, Eschatology: Death and Eternal Life, Catholic University of America Press, Washington, DC,
Wetzel, James: 2012, Augustine's City of God, 1st, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
Williams, Rowan: 2016, On Augustine, 1st, Bloomsbury, 2016,
Zimmermann, Jens, Ed.: 2017, Re-envisioning Christian Humanism: Education and the Restoration of Humanity, 1st, OUP, Oxford,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None