Theology and Religion
Theology, Sexuality and Gender
- Overview
- Module description
Theology, Sexuality and Gender (THE1108)
| Staff | Professor Susannah Cornwall - Convenor |
|---|---|
| Credit Value | 15 |
| ECTS Value | 7.5 |
| NQF Level | 4 |
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Co-requisites | None |
| Duration of Module | Term 2: 11 weeks; |
Module aims
The module aims to introduce you to:
- The exhilaration of thinking theologically about sexuality, sexual relationships, gender, and love;
- A comprehensive and consistent theological understanding of sexuality and gender which is broad, contemporary, undogmatic, questioning, and inclusive
- Problems of method in theological thinking, biblical interpretation and Christian ethics
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge and understanding of key concepts and issues within the theological study of sexuality and gender
- 2. Understand why issues of sexuality and gender are contentious in all the churches, and begin to be able to make your own judgements about these
- 3. Begin to appreciate how and why theological understandings of the sexed body and relations between the sexes have changed over time, and are changing now
- 4. Begin to make theological judgements about sex and gender issues inside and outside the churches
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 5. Demonstrate an appreciation of the contribution of basic Christian doctrine to the understanding of sexuality and gender
- 6. Begin to appreciate the variety and complexity of the sources of theological thinking and their use
- 7. Begin to appreciate the importance of historical and social contexts in understanding contemporary religious beliefs and practices
- 8. Begin to appreciate the imaginative possibilities in re-reading historical texts and re-visioning basic Christian doctrines
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 9. Undertake guided work within clear guidelines
- 10. Make use of selected written sources, with guidance
- 11. Communicate clearly in written form
- 12. Use/learn skills of empathy and sensitivity in discussion of contested issues
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Concepts and sources of theological knowledge
- Desire and love
- Sex inside and outside marriage
- Human and divine gender
- Celibacy and virginity
- Contested sex (e.g. BDSM, porn, sex work, polyamory)
- Same-sex relationships and biblical interpretation
- Inclusive sexual theologies
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 11 | Lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 11 | Seminars |
| Guided independent study | 128 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay outline | 1 side of A4 | 1-12 | Written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 40 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 60 | 2000 words | 1-12 | Written feedback |
| Examination | 40 | 1 x 1 hour examination | 1-12 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 1-12 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Examination | Examination | 1-12 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Brownson, James V., Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church’s Debate on Same-Sex Relationships (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Cambridge, UK: Eerdmans, 2013)
- Cornwall, Susannah, Theology and Sexuality (London: SCM Press, 2013)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1994)
- Farley, Margaret A., Just Love: A Framework for Christian Ethics (New York and London: Continuum 2006)
- Rogers, Eugene F., Jr. (ed.), Theology and Sexuality: Classic and Contemporary Readings (Oxford, UK / Malden, Mass.: Blackwell, 2002)
- Thatcher, Adrian, God, Sex, and Gender: An Introduction (Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011)
- Thatcher, Adrian (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Theology, Sexuality and Gender (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015)
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
09/03/2016
Last revision date
12/02/2019
Key words search
homosexuality, marriage, theology and gender, theology and sexuality
