PPR360: Modern Christian Thought

Tutor: Anderson Jeremiah
Term: Michaelmas

Course Description

This course, for the most part, concentrates on (Protestant) Christian thinkers from the German-speaking world. These thinkers have dominated the development of Christian thought in Europe and America until very recent times, when various 'political theologies' (Black, feminist and liberationist) started to erode their influence. Our point of departure on this course must be the Enlightenment and its paradigmatic philosopher - Immanuel Kant. We shall begin, therefore, by looking at the challenges facing early nineteenth century theologians, consider the responses of five major Christian thinkers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and we shall end by exploring the challenges facing Christian thought today.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a thorough and critical understanding of the context and approach of one modern Christian theologian.
• Understand the thought of at least four major theologians.
• Read and analyse at least one major text and foster a critical but sympathetic approach to all the theological approaches encountered.

Assessment

40% coursework and 60% exam.
Coursework: 1 essay of 3000 words. Exam: 2 hours.

Teaching Method

Lecture (2 hours) weekly, and seminar (1 hour) fortnightly.

Introductory Reading

D. Ford (ed.) The Modern Theologians (2nd ed)

J. Macquarrie Twentieth Century Religious Thought

N. Smart et al Nineteenth Century Religious Thought in the West, Vol. 1

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