Honour School of Theology and Religion

A

• 1. The examination in the Honour School of Theology and Religion shall include:

  • (1) Biblical Studies

  • (2) Systematic Theology and Ethics

  • (3) History of Religions

  • (4) Religion and Religions

  • (5) Such other subjects as the Board of the Faculty of Theology and Religion shall from time to time prescribe by regulation.

• 2. No candidate shall be admitted to examination in this school unless he or she has either passed or been exempted from the First Public Examination.

• 3. The Examination in this school shall be under the supervision of the Board of the Faculty of Theology and Religion, which shall prescribe the necessary regulations.

B

• 1. All candidates will be required to offer eight papers:  from the lists below. All Candidates will be required to submit a thesis (Paper 3000) at the end of Hilary Term of their final year in the Honour School as one of the eight papers in the Final Honour School.

  2. All candidates must offer four papers chosen from the list below, with the exception of Senior Status students who may offer up to five papers from the list below.

  • (1)i. Biblical Studies

    Paper (2101) The Narrative World of the Hebrew Bible

    Paper (2102) The Poetic World of the Hebrew Bible

    Paper (2103) The Gospels

    (2) Systematic Theology and Ethics

    Paper (2201) History of Doctrine

    Paper (2202) Ethics I: Christian Moral Reasoning

    Paper (2203) Themes in Nineteenth-Century Theology and Religion

    Paper (2204) Key Themes in Systematic Theology

    (3) History of Religions

    Paper (2301) History and Theology of the Early Church (64-337AD)

    Paper (2302) Medieval Religions

    Paper (2303) Early Modern Christianity 1500-1648

    Paper (2304) Formation of Rabbinic Judaism

    Paper (2305) Islam in the Classical Period

    Paper (2306) Foundations of Buddhism

    Paper (2307) Hinduism: Sources and Formations

    (4) Religion and Religions

    Paper (2401) Modern Judaism

    Paper (2402) Islam in Contemporary Society

    Paper (2403) Buddhism in Space and Time

    Paper (2404) Modern Hinduism

    Paper (2405) Science and Religion

  3. All candidates must offer threeSeven papers chosento be taken from thea list below,published with the exception of Senior Status students who may offer up to two papers from the list below if they are offering five papers from 2101 to 2405.

  • (1) Biblical Studies

  • Paper (3101) Hebrew of the Hebrew Bible;

  • Paper (3102) Paul and the Pauline Tradition;

  • Paper (3103) Biblical Interpretation: Perspectives from the Social Sciences;

  • Paper (3104) Gender and Power in Biblical Texts;

  • Paper (3105) Worship and Liturgy in the Hebrew Bible;

  • Paper (3106) Prophecy and Revelation in the Hebrew Bible and Beyond;

  • Paper (3107) Law, Teaching and Wisdom in Biblical Tradition;

  • Paper (3108) Early Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism;

  • Paper (3109) New Testament Theology;

  • Paper (3110) Study of a New Testament Book;

  • Paper (3111) The Afterlife of the New Testament;

  • Paper (3112) The Old Testament in Early Christianity

  • (2) Systematic Theology and Ethics

  • Paper (3201) Contemporary Theology and Culture;

  • Paper (3203) Analytic Philosophy and Christian Theology;

  • Paper (3204) Ethics II: Religious Ethics;

  • Paper (3208) Origen;

  • Paper (3209) Augustine;

  • Paper (3210) Anselm;

  • Paper (3211) Aquinas;

  • Paper (3212) Luther;

  • Paper (3213) Calvin;

  • Paper (3214) Kierkegaard;

  • Paper (3215) Newman;

  • Paper (3217) Barth;

  • Paper (3218) Tillich;

  • Paper (3219) Bonhoeffer;

  • Paper (3220) Rahner;

  • Paper (3221) Cone;

  • Paper (3222) Liberation Theology and its Legacy;

  • Paper (3223) Postliberal Theology;

  • Paper (3224) Radical Orthodoxy;

  • Paper (3225) Modern Debates concerning the Trinity;

  • Paper (3226) Modern Debates concerning Christology;

  • Philosophy Paper 107 Philosophy of Religion (as specified in the Regulations for Philosophy in all Honour Schools including Philosophy)
    

  • (3) History of Religions

  • Paper (3301) From Nicaea to Chalcedon;

  • Paper (3302) Saints and Sanctity in the Age of Bede;

  • Paper (3303) Faith, Reason, and Religion from the Enlightenment to the Romantic Age;

  • Paper (3304) Eastern Christianities from Constantinople to Baghdad;

  • Paper (3305) Further Studies in Judaism;

  • Paper (3306) Further Studies in Islam;

  • Paper (3307) Further Studies in Buddhism;

  • Paper (3308) Further Studies in Hinduism;

  • Paper (3309) Studies in the Abrahamic Religions;

  • Paper (3310) Varieties of Judaism 100BCE - 100CE

  • (4) Religion and Religions

  • Paper (3401) The Nature of Religion;

  • Paper (3402) Psychology of Religion;

  • Paper (3403) Sociology of Religion;

  • Paper (3404) Further Studies in Science and Religion;

  • Paper (3405) Mysticism;

  • Paper (3406) Feminist Approaches to Theology and Religion.

• 4. Not all papers will be available every year.

  5. Papers (2101) The Narrative World of the Hebrew Bible; (2102) The Poetic World of the Hebrew Bible; (2103) The Gospels; (2204) Key Themes in Systematic Theology; (2301) History and Theology of the Early Church (64-337AD); (2303) Early Modern Christianity 1500-1648; (3101) Hebrew of the Hebrew Bible; (3102) Paul and the Pauline Tradition, and (3301) From Nicaea to Chalcedon will be available every year.

  6. Candidates may not offer more than two papers from (3303) Faith, Reason and Religion from the Enlightenment to the Romantic Age; (3305) Further Studies in Judaism; (3306) Further Studies in Islam; (3307) Further Studies in Buddhism; (3308) Further Studies in Hinduism; (3404) Further Studies in Science and Religion and (3405) Mysticism.

  7. All candidates will be required to submit a thesis (Paper 3000) by noon on Monday of Week 9 of Hilary Term in the final year of the Honour School as one of their eight papers.  The thesis must not exceed 12,000 words, inclusive of notes and appendices but excluding bibliography. The subject of the thesis need not fall within the areas covered by the papers listed in the Honour School of Theology and Religion. It may overlap any subject or period on which the candidate offers papers, but the candidate should not reproduce the content of his or her thesis in any answer to a question in the examination. Prior approval of the title and subject of the thesis must be obtained from the Board of the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the beginning of each academic year. SuchThe approvalmode mustof assessment will vary depending on the paper and it will be soughtprescribed notin laterthe thancourse 4pminformation onpublished Fridayby the Faculty , which will also indicate any restrictions relevant to individual papers. Modes of Weekassessment 3include: written examination, submitted written work of Michaelmasspecified Termlength and a combination of these. The length, and deadlines for the submission of written work for individual papers will be specified in the finalofficial yearpaper descriptions.  

•  
• ii. A thesis of the Honour School. The request for approval should be made electronically on a form found in the course handbook which must be signed by the candidate’s tutor stating that this subject has his or her approval. The request must include an abstract of approximately 100 words addressing how the topic will be treated, and an indicative bibliography.

  The Thesis should be uploadedup to the University approved online assessment platform. Each submission will require the candidate to make a declaration indicating that the thesis has the same title as that previously approved by the Faculty Board, and to be his or her own work, and that it has not already been submitted (wholly or substantially) for an Honour School other than one involving Theology and Religion, or another degree of this University, or a degree of any other institution. No thesis shall be ineligible for examination because it has been or is being submitted for any prize of this University.

  8. Candidates who take any of papers (3305) Further Studies in Judaism; (3306) Further Studies in Islam; (3307) Further Studies in Buddhism; (3308) Further Studies in Hinduism; or (3404) Further Studies in Science and Religion will be required to submit an extended essay for each paper by noon on Monday of Week 1 of Trinity Term in the final year of the Honour School. Extended essays should not exceed 1012,000 words, inclusive of notes and appendices but excluding bibliography. Prior approval of the subject of the extended essay must be obtained from the Chair of the Study of Religion Subject Group, acting on behalf of the Undergraduate Studies Committee. Such approval must be sought not later than 4pm on Friday of Week 7 of Michaelmas Term in the final year of the Honour School. The request for approval should be made electronically on a form provided by the Faculty Office which must be signed by the candidate’s tutor stating that this subject has his or her approval. The request must include an abstract of approximately 100 words addressing how the topic will be treated, and an indicative bibliography.

  The extended essay should be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform. Each submission will require the candidate to make a declaration indicating that the extended essay has the same title as that previously approved by the Faculty Board, and to be his or her own work, and that it has not already been submitted (wholly or substantially) for an Honour School other than one involving Theology and Religion, or another degree of this University, or a degree of any other institution. No extended essay shall be ineligible for examination because it has been or is being submitted for any prize of this University.

  9. Candidates who take papers (3303) Faith, Reason, and Religion from the Enlightenment to the Romantic Age or (3405) Mysticism will be required to submit two long essays by noon on Monday Week 1 of Trinity Term in the final year of the Honour School. Essays should not exceed 5,000 words, inclusive of notes and appendices but excluding bibliography. The first of these essays is chosen from a list of prescribed titles; the subject of the second is chosen by the student in consultation with his or her tutor. Prior approval of the title of that essay must be obtained from the Board of the Faculty of Theology and Religion. Such approval must be sought not later than 4p.m. on Friday of Week 4 of Hilary Term of the final year. The request should be made electronically on a form found in the course handbook which must be signed by the candidate’s tutor stating that this subject has his or her approval. The request must include an abstract of approximately 100 words addressing how the topic will be treated, and an indicative bibliography.

  Each essay should be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform. Each submission will require the candidate to make a declaration indicating that the essay has the same title as that previously approved by the Faculty Board, and to be his or her own work, and that it has not already been submitted (wholly or substantially) for an Honour School other than one involving Theology and Religion, or another degree of this University, or a degree of any other institution. No extended essay shall be ineligible for examination because it has been or is being submitted for any prize of this University.

  10. Candidates who take papers (3109) New Testament Theology; (3110) Study of a New Testament Book; (3111) The Afterlife of the New Testament; (3112) The Old Testament in Early Christianity; (3201) Contemporary Theology and Culture; or (3406) Feminist Approaches to Theology and Religion will be required both to sit a two hour written examination and to submit an essay for each paper offered. Essays must be submitted by noon on Monday of Week 9 of Hilary Term in the final year of the Honour School. Essays should not exceed 2,500 words, inclusive of notes and appendices but excluding bibliography. The subject of the essay will be decided in consultation with their subject tutor. 

•  

  The essay should be uploaded to the University approved online assessment platform. Each submission will require the candidate to make a declaration indicating that the essay is his or her own work, and that it has not already been submitted (wholly or substantially) for an Honour School other than one involving Theology and Religion, or another degree of this University, or a degree of any other institution. No essay shall be ineligible for examination because it has been or is being submitted for any prize of this University. 

  11. All papers not listed in paragraphs 7-10 will be examined by three hour written examination.