Reasoning and God: an introduction to theology

What is the course about?

In the first part of the course, the central Christian doctrines of the Trinity, Creation, Fall, Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Last Judgment will be introduced along with the Christian understanding of divine attributes such as omnipotence, omnibenevolence and omniscience.

In the second part of the course, we will explore how the central Christian doctrines impact Christians’ understanding of the world, private and public life, morality, and the relationship between science and religion.

This course may be of interest to Christians without theological education or to those who are exploring Christianity for both personal or academic reasons.

Please note this is not a philosophy of religion course, and therefore we will not be engaging in critique or defence of Christian religious claims. For the purposes of this course, Christian doctrines will be assumed as a starting point from which discourse follows.

The course tutor, Edgar ter Danielyan holds a First in Philosophy and Theology from Heythrop College, University of London, a research MA in Philosophy from the University of Buckingham (where he studied under the late Prof. Sir Roger Scruton), a Chartered Fellowship in Computing, and the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies with Distinction from the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales. He is a member of the Royal Institute of Philosophy, the British Society for the Philosophy of Religion, and the British Philosophical Association. His work in the philosophy of religion has been published in the Analysis and Heythrop journals, and he has delivered papers on topics in the philosophy of religion at the universities of Oxford and Birmingham.

What will we cover?

The following topics will be covered at an introductory level focusing on the history and reasons of Christian doctrines; what is believed, and why it is believed.

Creation and Humanity: Christian understanding of the origin of the universe, the nature of the world, and the nature and purpose of human beings.
The Nature of God: God's attributes, such as omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and God as the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Christology: The study of the person, nature, and role of Jesus Christ.
Soteriology: The study of salvation and how it is achieved.
Eschatology: The study of the end times and what the Bible prophecies about it.
Theology of the Sacraments: The understanding and interpretation of the sacraments such as Baptism and the Eucharist (Communion).
Ethics: how Christian faith impacts personal actions and attitudes.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

Engage in an informed discussion about the central doctrines of Christianity, their relationships with Greek philosophy and the Hebrew Scriptures, and their implications in the modern world.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is an introductory course and does not require any prior study. An open mind and a willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The course will be taught in person and no work outside the class is required.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

No; you may want to take notes for future reference. A list of recommended reading for further study will be provided at the end of the course.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Please see citylit.ac.uk for full details of forthcoming courses in religion and belief. You may be interested in HRS50 Introduction to Islam: historical emergence, current issues.