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Modern Christian Thought

Module description

In this module you will explore the major developments in, and challenges to, Christian religious thought from roughly 1700 to the present day in Christian East and West. You will look at Christian concepts and teaching in thinkers ranging from the philosophers Kant, Hegel and Kierkegaard to the pillars of modern theology, Barth, Rahner, Balthasar and Bulgakov, and finally closing with contemporary Christian theology. You will examine texts and thinkers in relation to their social and intellectual contexts, and will study theology in the three major Christian traditions (Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy).

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to:

• explore modern Christian thought, philosophy and theology, from roughly 1700 to the present day, in Christian East and West
  
  
• examine key texts and thinkers, from Kant, Hegel and Kierkegaard to Barth, Rahner, Balthasar and Bulgakov, closing with contemporary Christian theology.
  
  
• introduce you to some of the reoccurring themes in modern theological and philosophical texts, including: the "Modern" and the "Pre-Modern"; apophaticism; dialecticism/polarity/antinomism; faith, doubt and history; theology as science vs theology as prayer/worship; divine self-revelation and mystery; systematic theology and first principles; metaphysics; Christocentrism; God, Christ and historicity; freedom: grace, obedience, self-determination and autonomy; subjectivity: historical, self and God consciousness; enlightenment: knowledge of God, self and reality; revelation and experience; tradition and innovation; exile and identity; God and the world: panentheism vs contingency; kenoticism; and the role of the Church in modern society.
  
  
• examine texts and thinkers in relation to their social and intellectual contexts, focusing on the three major Christian traditions (Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy)

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of some of the major developments, debates and figures in Christian religious thought since roughly 1700
• 2. Analyse and critique the differing forms of systematisation in modern Christian philosophies and theologies
• 3. Critically assess the significance of some factors in the social, historical and intellectual context that affect theological change in this period
• 4. Demonstrate critical awareness of the role and significance of theological writing in different Christian traditions
• 5. Demonstrate critical understanding of the role of modern philosophy in modern Christian thought

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 6. Give fair accounts of the positions of others, based on the detailed critical analysis of texts and on awareness of historical, intellectual and religious context
• 7. Use existing knowledge to critically assess the cogency and coherence of the arguments of others
• 8. Develop and present a coherent critical argument with appropriate use of evidence and awareness of a range of alternative views
• 9. Demonstrate assurance in some core methods of study: historical analysis, systematic theological and philosophical reasoning, and philosophical analysis

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 10. Communicate clearly and critically in written and oral forms
• 11. Assimilate in a relatively short span complex and detailed arguments and communicate this knowledge to others
• 12. Participate with sympathy and good humour in class discussions

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:

• What is modern theology?
• Immanuel Kant's reaction to empiricism and rationalism
• Romantic responses to Kant - idealism and romanticism
• Rejection and theological reenvisioning of idealism and romanticism in modern Christian theology
• Modern Christian contextual theologies and theological encounters with world religions
• Modern Christian theologians including Karl Barth, Karl Rahner, Hans Urs von Balthasar and Sergii Bulgakov.

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

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

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

• Nicholas Adams, George Pattison and Graham Ward, eds., The Oxford Handbook of Theology and Modern European Thought (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013).
• David F. Ford and Rachel Muers, eds., The Modern Theologians, 3rd edition (Oxford: Blackwell, 2004).
• Kell M. Kapic and Bruce L. McCormack, eds., Mapping Modern Theology: A Thematic and Historical Introduction (Grand Rapids, MI.: Baker Academic, 2012).
• Fergus Kerr, Twentieth-Century Catholic Theologians: From Neoscholasticism to Nuptial Mysticism (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2007).
• Paul Ladouceur, Modern Orthodox Theology: “Behold, I Make All Things New” (London and New York: T&T Clark, 2019).
• Andrew Louth, Modern Orthodox Thinkers: From Philokalia to the Present (London: SPCK, 2015).

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – Faculty to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

Key words search

Modern, theology, religious, philosophy, Christian