Module: Eastern & Western Christianity in Dialogue

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Eastern & Western Christianity in Dialogue
Module Code	RET1049 (ITS: TP324)
Faculty	Theology, Philosophy & Music	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module focuses on the relationship between Eastern and Western Christianity, with special attention given to ecumenical and intercultural dialogue and discourse. In particular, this module provides an introduction to the key events and teachings that have shaped the thought and development of Eastern Christianity, including its art, spirituality, key figures, doctrines, and liturgical life. Students will develop knowledge and analytical skills necessary to understand and appreciate the interrelationship of East and West in Christianity. Students will also have the opportunity to compare and contrast Orthodox and Catholic perspectives in relation to a number of issues, including the use of images in worship, approaches to prayer and meditation, and key theological concepts. Finally, students will explore how Eastern and Western traditions approach the study of theology and religious education.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a general knowledge of the key beliefs, practices, and figures of the Orthodox Tradition.
2. Compare and contrast Western and Eastern Christianity, identifying key differences and similarities in these traditions of Christianity.
3. Engage in intercultural dialogue, understanding and respecting divergent viewpoints from different traditions.
4. Appreciate the ways in which Eastern and Western traditions approach religious education and the study of theology.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Directed learning	61	No Description
Assignment Completion	40	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	21012	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	John Murray	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	n/a	100%	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

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Indicative Reading List

Books:

Andreopoulos, Andreas: 2013, Gazing on God: Trinity, Church and Salvation in Orthodox Thought and Iconography, James Clark and Co., Cambridge,
Campenhausen, Hans F. von: 1963, The Fathers of the Greek Church, A & C Black, London,
Chadwick, Henry: 2009, East and West: The Making of a Rift in the Church: From Apostolic Times until the Council of Florence, OUP, Oxford,
Congar, Yves: 1998, After Nine Hundred Years: The Background of the Schism between the Eastern and Western Churches, Fordham University Press, New York,
Demacopoulos, George E. and Aristotle Papanikolaou: 2013, Orthodox Constructions of the West, Fordham University Press, New York,
Elias, John L.: 2002, A History of Christian Education: Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Perspectives, Krieger Publishing, Malabar, Florida,
George, K. M.: 1994, The Silent Roots: Orthodox Perspectives on Christian Spirituality, WCC Publications, Geneva,
Louth, Andrew: 2007, Greek East and Latin West: The Church, AD 681-1071, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, Crestwood, New York,
Hagan, Kenneth: 1994, The Bible in the Churches: How Various Christians Interpret the Scriptures, Paulist Press, New York, 29-60,
Michael J. Gorman (ed.): 2017, Scripture and Its Interpretation: A Global, Ecumenical Introduction to the Bible, Baker Academic, Michigan, 256-69,
Kilmartin, Edward J.: 1979, Toward Reunion: The Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Churches, Paulist Press, New York,
Lossky, Vladimir: 2017, Dogmatic Theology: Creation, God’s Image in Man, and the Redeeming Work of the Trinity, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, New York,
McGuckin, John Anthony: 2011, The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to its History, Doctrine, and Spiritual Culture, Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester,
John Paul II: 1995, That They may be One: Ut Unum Sint; on Commitment to Ecumenism, Encyclical Letter, United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, Washington, D.C.,
Sagovsky, Nicholas: 2000, Ecumenism, Christian Origins, and the Practice of Communion, Cambridge U. Press, Cambridge,
Sherrard, Philip: 1959, The Greek East and the Latin West: A Study in the Christian Tradition, OUP, New York,
Thomas L. Humphries, Lewis Ayres, and Medi Ann Volpe (eds.): 2019, The Oxford Handbook of Catholic Theology, OUP, New York, 919-30,
Thompson, Norma H.: 1988, Religious Pluralism and Religious Education, Religious Education Press, Birmingham, AL,
Wilkerson, Barbara: 1997, Multicultural Religious Education, Religious Education Press, Birmingham, AL,
Wogaman, J. Philip: 2011, Christian Ethics: A Historical Introduction, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, 270-81,
Ρεράκης, Ηρακλής [Rerakis, Hercules]: 2010, Σύγχρονη Διδακτική των Θρησκευτικών [Modern Didactics of Religious Education], Pournoras, Thessaloniki, Greece,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

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