Contemporary Christian identity: heuristic explorations by reference to John's Prologue (CT9006S)

Content

This unit is a heuristic exploration of contemporary Christian identity by reference to John’s Prologue. Major themes encompass human identity and relationality, virtual reality and materiality, language and communication, time and volition. These themes are engaged within heuristic exploration of contemporary challenges to Christian faith and practice through the Prologue’s particular compression of theology, which will form a distinctive formative method for articulating responses.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

45 points in theological study, including a foundational unit in Systematic Theology

Pedagogy

Rotating lecture/discussion/group work

Indicative Bibliography

• Bultmann, R The Gospel of John: A Commentary, trans. G.R. Beasley-Murray, R.W.N. Hoare and J.K. Riches, Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1971.
• Eagleton, T Culture and The Death of God, New Haven: Yale University Press, 2015.
• Harris, E Prologue and Gospel: Theology of the Fourth Evangelist, London & New York: T&T Clark Int., 2004.
• Kolakowski, L Modernity on Endless Trial, trans. Stefan Czerniawski, Wolfgang Fries & Agnieszka Kolakowska, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1997.
• Kolakowski, L Metaphysical Horror, ed. Agnieszka Kolakowska, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001.
• Kojève, A Concept, Time and Discourse, trans. Robert B. Williamson, South Bend IN: St. Augustine’s Press, 2017.
• Kysar, R *John: The Maverick Gospe*l 3rd edn. Louisville, Kentucky: John Knox Press, 2007.
• Marion, J-L Prolegomena to Charity, trans. S. Lewis, New York: Fordham UP, 2002.
• Moloney, FJ The Gospel of John. Sacra Pagina 4, Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1998.
• Nagel, T The Last Word, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
• Scruton, R Modern Culture, London: Bloomsbury, 2007.
• Taylor, C The Language Animal: The Full Shape of the Human Linguistic Capacity, Cambridge Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2016.
• von Balthasar, HU Love Alone is Credible, trans. D.C. Schindler, San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2004.
• Ward, K What do we mean by God?: A Little Book of Guidance, London: SPCK, 2015.
• Žižek, S On Belief, London: Routledge, 2001.

Assessment