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    Overview

    The nature, aspirations and theology of sixteenth and seventeenth-century English Puritans in their historical context, including those Puritans who moved to New England to build 'a city on a hill'.

    This paper introduces students to the Puritans - the 'hotter sort of Protestants'. They will see how religious tensions and policies gave rise to Puritan settlement in New England in the 1630s and, in the 1640s, to the English Civil War. They will assess the fruitless effort in the 1650s to implement a permanent religious settlement along Puritan lines. Finally, students will engage directly with the writings of two leading Puritans: Richard Baxter and John Owen.

    About this paper

    Paper title The Puritans: Working out the English Reformation
    Subject Christian Thought and History
    EFTS 0.1667
    Points 20 points
    Teaching period Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2025 (Distance learning)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,240.75
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Limited to
    BTheo(Hons), BA(Hons), PGDipTheol, PGDipArts
    Eligibility

    Papers in Theology examine the scriptures, history, content, and relevance of the Christian faith, but presuppose no Christian commitment from students. All that is required is an inquiring mind and an interest in those skills that can be gained through the study of any subject in the Humanities.

    Contact
    Associate Professor Tim Cooper: tim.cooper@otago.ac.nz
    Teaching staff
    Associate Professor Tim Cooper
    Paper Structure
    Modules:
    • Module 1: What is a Puritan?
    • Module 2: Presbyterians, Congregationalists and Separatists
    • Module 3: Antinomians and Arminians
    • Module 4: The Puritans in New England
    • Module 5: Puritan Revolution
    • Module 6: Godly Rule
    • Module 7: Dissent
    • Module 8: Richard Baxter and John Owen
    • Module 9: Richard Baxter
    • Module 10: John Owen
    Assessment: Three essays worth 15%, 35% and 50% each
    Teaching Arrangements
    The paper will be taught via five 2-hour videoconferences.
    Textbooks

    Textbooks are not required for this paper.

    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Lifelong learning, Communication, Critical thinking, Research.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes

    Students who successfully complete the paper will be able to:

    • Demonstrate a critical awareness of key issues in current historiography of the Puritans
    • Provide a sophisticated account of the historical context of the Puritans
    • Identify and articulate the convictions that brought the Puritans together as well as those convictions that drove them apart
    • Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the life and thought of Richard Baxter and John Owen
    • Undertake more effective independent historical research

    Timetable

    Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2025

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught through Distance Learning
    Learning management system
    Blackboard
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