T9231 Theology of the Sacraments

Unit code T9231

Unit name Theology of Sacraments

Unit weighting 9cp

Prerequisites T9210 Christology and Soteriology and (T9215 Pneumatology and Ecclesiology or T8128 Ecclesiology)

Exclusions T7231 The Sacraments

Curriculum objective This graduate course unit aims to develop a basic pattern for sacramental life and show its application in the individual sacraments.

Learning Outcomes At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. compare and evaluate two different sacramental/liturgical traditions and their theological basis
2. analyse the biblical and liturgical sources that have given rise to contemporary theology of the sacraments
3. engage critically with a wide range of scholarly theological/liturgical literature on the sacraments
4. apply to individual sacraments, in a critically informed way, the insights of recent proposals for a general sacramental paradigm
5. produce graduate-level research that is focused on the pastoral practice of one Christian sacrament

Content

1. A theological paradigm for all sacraments
2. The historical, liturgical and theological background of selected sacraments
3. The relationship between sacramental theology and ecclesiology
4. Pastoral issues arising from the sacramental practice of the church
5. Ecumenical perspectives on the sacraments

Assessment profile In this unit, the required assessment tasks will enable students to demonstrate how successfully they can:

1. Explain the major theological issues behind the different sacramental traditions and evaluate proposals to overcome division [Outcomes 1, 2]
2. Provide a scholarly critique of recent writing on the sacraments [Outcomes 3, 4]
3. Give a thoroughly researched response to a current question in sacramental theology  [Outcomes 3, 4, 5]