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An examination of public theology’s contribution to social justice, through case studies of contemporary public issues, such as poverty, family violence, human trafficking, and environmental stewardship.
Why does social justice matter for Christian faith? What does public theology have
to contribute on social issues, and how should it address public debates?
This
paper develops a critical and constructive public theology approach to a variety of
contemporary social justice issues, with attention to the local, national and global
context in which they arise.
| Paper title | Public Theology and Social Justice (Advanced) |
|---|---|
| Paper code | CHTH420 |
| Subject | Christian Thought and History |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2021 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $1,154.90 |
| International Tuition Fees (NZD) | $4,801.79 |
- Restriction
- CHTH 320
- Limited to
- BA(Hons), PGDipArts, PGCertChap, PGDipChap, MChap,, PGDipFBLM, MFBLM, BTheol(Hons), PGDipTheol, MTheol, PGDipMin, MMin
- Eligibility
- Any student can study Theology, whether they are of the Christian faith, another faith or of no religious faith at all. Theology is an examination of the scriptures, history, content and relevance of the Christian faith, but it presupposes or requires no Christian commitment from students. All it requires is an inquiring mind and an interest in those skills that can be gained through the study of any subject in the Humanities.
- Contact
Dr Andrew Shepherd – Andrew.shepherd@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
View more information on the Theology Programme’s website
- Teaching staff
- Paper Structure
- Assessment:
- Two essays (2,500 words) - 30% each
- One essay (4,000 words) - 40%
- Teaching Arrangements
Thirteen 2-hour lectures. Recordings will be available on Blackboard for students who cannot attend live.
- Textbooks
- No textbook required. A course book has been developed for this paper, and other resources will be provided electronically.
- Course outline
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Ethics, Research,
Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
- Students who successfully complete the paper at 400-level will be able to
- Display knowledge for understanding a selection of contemporary social justice issues
- Explore the principles and process of an effective and academically robust approach to public theology
- Construct evidence-based arguments to apply a creative public theology approach to selected social justice issues
- Demonstrate an informed and critical understanding of academic literature for both social analysis and theological reflection on social justice themes
- Interpret contemporary social issues in the light of relevant biblical material and vice-versa
- Research and present an investigation on a social justice issue as an in-depth case study in public theology
Timetable
An examination of public theology’s contribution to social justice, through case studies of contemporary public issues, such as poverty, family violence, human trafficking, and environmental stewardship.
What is 'social justice' and how is this term understood within the Christian theological tradition? How does Christian theology understand and respond to the concerns of the 'Other'? This paper employs the metaphor of hospitality to offer a critical and constructive theological ethic which responds to local, national and global justice issues. Topics addressed include: antisemitism and Islamophobia; racism and civil rights; global refugees and asylum-seekers; human-trafficking and slavery; the criminal justice system.
| Paper title | Public Theology and Social Justice (Advanced) |
|---|---|
| Paper code | CHTH420 |
| Subject | Christian Thought and History |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1
(On campus)
Semester 1 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2022 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Restriction
- CHTH 320
- Limited to
- BA(Hons), PGDipArts, PGCertChap, PGDipChap, MChap,, PGDipFBLM, MFBLM, BTheol(Hons), PGDipTheol, MTheol, PGDipMin, MMin
- Eligibility
- Any student can study Theology, whether they are of the Christian faith, another faith or of no religious faith at all. Theology is an examination of the scriptures, history, content and relevance of the Christian faith, but it presupposes or requires no Christian commitment from students. All it requires is an inquiring mind and an interest in those skills that can be gained through the study of any subject in the Humanities.
- Contact
Dr Andrew Shepherd - andrew.shepherd@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
View more information on the Theology Programme’s website
- Teaching staff
- Paper Structure
The paper is comprised of three modules:
- Encountering the Other: Social Justice & Theologies of Hospitality
- Historical Threads
- Contemporary Themes
Assessment:
- Two essays (2,500 words) - 30% each
- One essay (4,000 words) - 40%
- Teaching Arrangements
Thirteen 2-hour videoconferences throughout the semester.
- Textbooks
No textbook required.
- Course outline
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Ethics, Research,
Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper at 400-level will be able to
- Offer a theological account of the concept of 'social justice'
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of a selection of justice issues within contemporary society
- Describe how a theological ethic of hospitality frames contemporary justice issues
- Describe how a theological ethic of hospitality may shape the actions of the Church in response to a contemporary justice issue
- Outline how the principles of a theological ethic of hospitality may be applied to public policy in response to a contemporary justice issue
- Offer a critical evaluation of a theological ethic of hospitality and outline other ethical models that might be employed to address contemporary justice issues
