131-069 God Through History

Formerly available as 131-287/387. Students who have completed 131-287 or 131-387 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually 25 points of first-year history, see Prerequisites.

This subject is a study of the three monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - and their differing conceptions of divinity, faith, revelation, sin and redemption. A focus will be the various ways in which God has been represented and gendered through a study of sacred texts, mysticism, literature and film, from antiquity to the Enlightenment. Students will trace the roots of religious schism, between and within faiths, in their historical context, and discuss these in relation to contemporary theological debates. At the completion of this subject students should be able to understand key concepts in religious sociology; appreciate the way images of God have changed through history; and explain the commonalities and differences between Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Class participation, and written work totalling 4000 words.

A subject reader will be available.