Unit information: Essentials of Christian Belief (Trinity & Baptist College) in 2014/15

Unit name	Essentials of Christian Belief (Trinity & Baptist College)
Unit code	THRS11040
Credit points	10
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Professor. D'Costa
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	basic linguistic abilities.
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The unit provides the groundwork for the use of the Old Testament in Hebrew. Beginning with script and phonology, the students move on to morphology and syntax, illustrated by the reading of selected narrative texts.

Aims:

The unit aims to provide a clear, comprehensive and concise overview of the main areas of Christian doctrine that will both serve them in their church and missional contexts, as well as providing a good foundation for further study.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of the unit, students should have:

1. developed a critical awareness and appreciation of the key areas of Christian doctrine;
2. become aware of the creative appropriation of biblical philosophical, historical and social insights in the development of doctrine and the creeds;
3. begun to reflect on the relationship of key Christian doctrines to the contemporary world and the implications of this for faith and practice;
4. developed a wide-ranging grasp of the sources of our knowledge of God and the criteria and norms used in theological and doctrinal formulation.

Teaching Information

The unit consists of 18 lectures and 2 seminars. Visual materials and class interaction will play an important part in ensuring students' assimilation and understanding of key concepts.

Assessment Information

Formative assessment will be through preparatory reading for, and participation in, seminars.

Summative assessment will be through one essay of 2,000 words.

Reading and References

1. Dulles, A., Models of Revelation (Orbis, 2005)
2. Grenz, S., Theology for the Community of God (Paternoster, 1994)
3. McGrath, A.E., Christian Theology: an Introduction (Blackwell, 2006)
4. McGrath, A.E., The Christian Theology Reader (Blackwell, 2006)
5. Schwarz, H., Eschatology: Complete Introduction to the Christian View of the Future (Eerdmans, 2000)
6. Studer, B., Trinity and Incarnation (T&T Clark, 1993)