MPhil in Christian Theology Module Offerings Core Modules

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1 MPhil in Christian Theology Module Offerings Students must take six taught modules (10 ECTS each) comprising three core and three elective modules, and write a 15,000 word dissertation (30 ECTS). The taught modules are made up of three core modules and three optional modules. Core Modules Method & Theory in the Study of Theology Module Co-ordinator: Dr. Michael Kirwan The student will be taught to critically engage with methodologies and hermeneutics that have arisen in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century approaches within European philosophy. Particular focus is placed on the social movement approach, such as that evinced in work of Marxist and post-colonialist theorists (Foucault, Derrida, Spivak, Said, Judith Butler, Giorgio Agamben, Frantz Fanon, Jean-Luc Nancy) and demonstrated in theological interpretation of the arts, music, ritual, liturgy and politics as well as texts. Mode of Assessment Students submit a 400-word book review; a 1,500-word essay (on a question set by the lecturer); and a 2,500-word paper of personal research on a topic agreed (6 weeks in advance) with the lecturer. The assignments are worth 10%, 35% and 55% respectively and must be passed independently. Indicative bibliography Elaine Graham, Heather Walton, and Frances Ward, Theological Reflection: Methods. London: SCM, David Jasper, A Short Introduction to Hermeneutics. Louisville: WJK, Ben Quash & Michael Ward (eds.), Heresies and How to Avoid Them: Why it Matters What Christian Believe. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, Violence and Grace in the Human Narrative Module Co-ordinator: Dr Cornelius J. Casey This module studies Jewish and Christian thought on the themes of deep seated human alienation as evidenced in the persistence of human violence. The module studies ways in which, through history, structures of human creativity and communication seem persistently to veer towards being structures of exploitation and domination. The module will study key texts in Jewish and Christian scriptures wherein the narrative of human violence and alienation is articulated within a context of grace, gift and redemption. 1

2 4,000 word essay (100%) Terry Eagleton, On Evil. Yale: Yale University Press, Serene Jones, Paul Lakeland (eds), Constructive Theology: A Contemporary Approach to Classical Themes, Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, D. H. Kelsey, Eccentric Existence: A Theological Anthropology. 2 Vol. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, Herbert McCabe, God Matters. London: Continuum, The First Words: Theology/ies of the Bible Module Co-ordinator: Dr David Shepherd Students will be introduced to the interpretation of Scripture with particular attention being paid to the hermeneutical challenges and opportunities of reading the texts of the Old/First and New/Second Testaments theologically. In the process, students will be invited to critically scrutinize notions of thematic unity and diversity within the Christian Scriptures and evaluate claims for a centre or thematic core. The module will assess contemporary efforts at constructing biblical theologies by analysing a variety of texts drawn from both Testaments. Hafeman, S. and P. House, Central Themes in Biblical Theology: Mapping Unity in Diversity. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, Köstenberger, A.J. and R.D. Patterson, Invitation to Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature and Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, Moberley, R.W.L, The Bible, Theology, and Faith: A Study of Abraham and Jesus. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000 Walsh, C., Chasing the Mystery: A Catholic Biblical Theology. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, Elective Modules Theology and the Arts Module Co-ordinator: Professor Fáinche Ryan Other Teaching Staff: Dr Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Amanda Dillon This module will introduce students to some of the key ways in which theology shapes and is shaped by the arts. Taking into account a wide range of artistic practice -- including music, literature, film, theatre and the visual arts the module explores how 2

3 theological doctrines can transform how we perceive and make art, and vice versa. It concentrates initially on the arts as used in liturgies down the centuries, then focusing on modern secular arts. William Dyrness, Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue. Grand Rapids, MI; Baker Academic, 2001 Trevor Hart, Between the Image and the Word. London: Ashgate, Gesa Thiessen ed., Theological Aethetics: A Reader. London: SCM Press, Richard Viledesau, Theology and the Arts: Encountering God through Music, Art and Rhetoric. New York: Paulist Press, Christianity of the Celtic World (600-1,000 AD) Module Co-ordinator: Dr Fáinche Ryan Other Module Teaching Staff Dr Cornelius J. Casey In this module the student is introduced to the historical, ecclesial and political context of the theological art in the Church of the Celtic World. The theological art of the Book of Kells will be a major component of the module. The students will be introduced to the iconography of the High Crosses in their distinctive schools. Peter Harbison, The High Crosses of Ireland: An iconographical and photographic survey, 3 Vols. Bonn, Bernard Meehan, The Book of Kells. London: Thames & Hudson, Rachel Moss, Medieval c. 400 c. 1600: Art and Architecture of Ireland. Yale University Press, Ministry and Church in a Challenging Era Module Co-ordinator: Dr Fáinche Ryan The student will be introduced to the historical developments that lie behind the structuring of contemporary ministry in the main Christian traditions. The module will study contemporary debates that often challenge elements of these structures. There will be particular emphasis on the flourishing of lay ecclesial ministry and debates about authority and ordination in the contemporary Roman Catholic Church. 3

4 Mode of Delivery: Lectures, seminars, class room presentation. Owen F. Cummings, William T. Ditewig and Richard R. Gaillardetz eds, Theology of the Diaconate. The State of the Question. New York/Mahway, N.J.: Paulist Press, Kenan B. Osborne, Ministry: Lay Ministry in the Roman Catholic Church, Its History and Theology. New York/Mahway, N.J.: Paulist Press, Susan Woods, ed., Ordering the Baptismal Priesthood: Theologies of Lay and Ordained Ministry. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, In addition, Loyola Institute students may choose from the following modules offered by the Irish School of Ecumenics. Please note these modules are taught during the day. Authority, Tradition and Experience: Ecumenics as Intercultural Theology Module Co-ordinator: Dr Andrew Pierce Participants attend to the methodological implications of theological ecumenicity, and, in particular; examine the historical emergence of the ecumenical movement and pivotal moments of its developing tradition; reflect on recurrent topoi of divergence (e.g., how unity is to be modelled, the ecclesial status of ecumenical instruments such as the World Council of Churches); evaluate the ecumenical potential of contemporary proposals (e.g., the Princeton Statement, or recent Faith and Order documents on hermeneutics and ecclesiology). Catherine E Clifford, Ed., For the Communion of the Churches: The Contribution of the Groupe des Dombes, Cambridge and Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, G.R. Evans, Method in Ecumenical Theology: The Lessons So Far, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996 Frank Furedi, Authority: A Sociological History, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Linda L. Gaither, To Receive a Text: Literary Reception Theory as a Key to Ecumenical Reception, New York: Peter Lang, Julio de Santa Ana, et al, Beyond Idealism: A Way Ahead for Ecumenical Social Ethics, Cambridge and Grand Rapids, Eerdmans,

5 Nature, Grace and the Triune God Module Co-ordinator: Dr Andrew Pierce This module analyses the contentious relationships in Christian tradition between understanding the mystery of God on the one hand, and the human person on the other. This relationship is pivotal to the experience of ruptured communion amongst Christians; between East and West, between the churches and communities of the Western Reformations, and more recently between North and South. Focusing on the paired theological themes, Nature and Grace, participants interrogate to what extent existing tensions may be addressed in the context of ecumenical convergence, closely focusing on the on-going reception of the paradigmatic Lutheran-Catholic Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (1999). Andrea Bieler and Hans-Martin Gutmann, Embodying Grace: Proclaiming Justification in the Real World, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, Richard L Fern, Nature, God and Humanity: Envisioning an Ethics of Nature, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Philip Hefner, The Human Factor: Evolution, Culture and Religion, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, Anne Primavesi, Exploring Earthiness: The Reality and Perception of Being Human Today, Cambridge: Lutterworth Press,