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 12.5 points of first-year history.

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.

• encourage students to think critically and analyse complex issues;

• develop students' ability to research in depth primary materials relating to such issues;

• foster students' ability to present their findings orally to a class, and in effective written prose for assessment.

A comparative exercise of 1000 words 40% (due early in the semester) and a written essay of 3000 words 60% (due in the examination period).