| Unit name | Vatican II and post-conciliar Roman Catholic debates in theology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | THRS30086 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. D'Costa |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit will first explore the documents of the Second Vatican Council to introduce students to some of the key areas in Catholic theology after the second world war: teachings on religious freedom, ecumenism, other religions, the role and nature of the pope’s authority, and the nature of liturgy. In the second half of the unit the student will be introduced to key Catholic theologians who have developed the above issue. Students will thus engage with major debates within the largest Christian denomination in the world and have a grasp of contemporary Catholic history and thought. The aims of the unit are to introduce students to:
a) the key texts of Vatican II and critical commentaries on those texts; b) to examine some debates subsequent to the Council regarding the critical issues in the Vatican II texts; c) to develop an understanding of different theological paradigms operating with contemporary Catholicism.
On successful completion of this unit student will have a sound knowledge and critical understanding of the documents of and issues relating to the Second Vatican Council. Students will have further refined their skills in assessing, presenting, analysing and evaluating complex ideas and arguments, and in researching and writing essays.
Seminars - 3 hours per week
One summative coursework essay of 3000 words (50%) and one unseen examination of two hours comprising 2 questions out of 6 (50%).
The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council :a counterpoint for the history of the Council, Marchetto, Agostino, Chicago : University of Scranton Press, 2010 History of Vatican II edited by Giuseppe Alberigo, Maryknoll, N.Y. : Orbis ; Leuven : Peeters, 1996-2006. 5 volumes. Vatican II : Renewal within tradition edited by Matthew L. Lamb and Matthew Levering,. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2008 The nature and mission of theology: Essays to orient theology in today's debates , Joseph Ratzinger , San Francisco, Ignatius Press, 1995 Toward Vatican III: The work that needs to be done edited by David Tracy with Hans Küng, SCM, London, 1998
