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Reception of Christian and Jewish Traditions

Module description

During its initial weeks this module offers the opportunity to consider a range of approaches to the study of how Christian and Jewish traditions have been received and interpreted in varying historical contexts. Particular attention will be given to an extended case study example chosen by the convenor. You will be introduced to the diverse modes of research in this area with an eye to then formulating your own in-depth project that engages with cutting-edge scholarship in the field. This project, pursued during later weeks of the module, might include reception of Christian and Jewish thought in varying historical contexts, and may involve interaction with numerous modes of expression, including art, architecture or written texts.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to:

• provide you with a methodology for research into the reception of Christian and Jewish traditions initially focused around an extended case study example chosen by the convenor
• facilitate an individual in-depth project supervised by a member of staff working on the reception of Christian and/or Jewish traditions
• enable you to develop in-depth work with supervision by a leading expert in the field

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Engage with recent scholarship concerned with the reception of Christian and Jewish traditions
• 2. Critically assess, in depth, one case study example related to the reception of Christian and Jewish traditions

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Appreciate the role of historical context in shaping the reception of religious ideas and/or practice
• 4. Critically evaluate the evolution of religious traditions in response to changing conditions

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Develop a project that engages contemporary scholarship
• 6. Shape detailed information into a clear written account
• 7. Show significant originality and rigour in argument
• 8. Demonstrate independent and critical research skills
• 9. Convey ideas to your peers through oral presentation
• 10. Demonstrate an awareness of the module as a learning community by listening to the viewpoints of others, contributing sensitively to discussion, and critically reflecting on the learning process

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• introduction
• extended analysis of a case study example chosen by the convenor (i.e. the reception history of a particular Jewish and Christian tradition over varied contexts)
• discussion of project proposals
• oral presentation of project focus
• directed research with supervisor

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Morwenna Ludlow and Scott Douglass (eds.), Reading the Church Fathers (T & T Clark, 2011)
• Emma Loosley and Anthony Mahony (eds.), Eastern Christianity in the Modern Middle East (Routledge, 2013)
• Jonathan Hill and Anna Marmodoro, The Metaphysics of Incarnation (Oxford University Press, 2011)
• Siam Bhayro, Aramaic Bowl Spells (Magical and Religious Literature of Late Antiquity) (Brill, 2013)
• David Tollerton, The Book of Job in Post-Holocaust Thought (Sheffield Phoenix, 2012)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=4513 

Key words search

Jewish, Christian, Reception