Courses - Faculty of Arts
Theological and Religious Studies
Stage I
The Bible and Popular Culture
An exploration of biblical themes, images, and metaphors in contemporary film, music and cultural arts through which religion and culture intersect. It develops tools appropriate for analysing popular culture, as it moves from the local to the national to the global.
Thinking about Religion
What is religion? What are the core beliefs of different religious communities? How have religions responded to the challenges of the modern world? This course explores fundamental questions about meaning, community and identity. It introduces students to central issues and debates in the contemporary study of religion.
Islam and the Contemporary World
Since the religion of Islam has become a very significant aspect of contemporary global and local societies, this course seeks to introduce students to an understanding of key aspects of Islam and an analysis of its significant contribution to New Zealand society as well as to societies and cultures across the world.
Stage II
A Major Religious Thinker
In-depth study of a figure whose thought has had a major impact on the development of one or more religious traditions. It includes the critical study of selected texts by the chosen thinker (where these have survived), and of texts and traditions related to the thinker. The figure chosen reflects the research interests of current staff.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I
Restriction: THEOREL 300
Religions in New Zealand
An exploration of living religions in contemporary New Zealand, surveying the beliefs, traditions and practices that are central to religious groups in New Zealand and their interactions with contemporary culture both locally and globally. The course will introduce students to the comparative study of religion, engaging in such topics as religion and ritual, exploring belief, and interfaith dialogue.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I from the BA Schedule
Restriction: THEOREL 320
A History of the Apocalypse
An 'apocalypse' is a divine revelation about the shape of history. It is written for a society in crisis, often describing that society’s collapse before the coming of a better world. This course traces the development of apocalyptic thought in the religions of the West, from the ancient Middle East through to apocalyptic themes in modern cultures.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I
Restriction: THEOREL 302
Religion in Film and Television
Explores the ways that religious themes, myths, and imagery are expressed within the narratives of some classic and contemporary films and television dramas. Students will learn skills to identify the articulation of religious beliefs, narratives, and the sacred or transcendent within the medium of film and television, and to discuss critically this cultural engagement with religion.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I
Restriction: THEOREL 306
Special Topic: Judaism: Identity and Practice
An exploration of the diverse beliefs and practices found in modern Judaism against the backdrop of wider Jewish history. Students will learn about cultural systems, institutions, and collective and personal rituals. In addition, the course examines the emergence of religious fundamentalism, feminism, and humanism in Judaism.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I from BA Schedule
Restriction: THEOREL 308
Religious Texts of Terror
Explores the ways that various forms of violence are evoked and discussed within religious texts and traditions. Students will learn about the origins of these ‘texts of terror’, and then trace their ongoing influence throughout history and up to the present day across a range of socio-cultural contexts, both global and local.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I from the BA Schedule
Restriction: THEOREL 301
Religion, Trauma and Suffering
An exploration of how recent insights into trauma and suffering intersect with theology and religion. Students will learn about ways in which religious narratives and practices have contributed to trauma and suffering, as well as possibilities for resistance and relief. The course will include engagements with trauma and suffering across a range of contexts.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I
Restriction: THEOREL 318
Early Christianity
Examines the history of Christianity from its origins in Palestinian and diaspora Judaism through to its official endorsement by the Roman Empire at the end of the fourth century. Explores how various traditions about Jesus evolved, how Christians both accommodated and resisted the wider culture, and how norms for “orthodoxy” (correct teaching) gradually took shape.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I from the BA Schedule
Restriction: THEOREL 316
Comparative Religion and Society
Provides an introduction to social theories of religion. An empirical approach to the study of religion, which constructs theories and arguments about its social forms and significance through the collection and analysis of data. Global case studies will be used to consider the power of religion both as a force for social cohesion as well as disruption and social change.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I
Restriction: THEOREL 321
Religion, Climate Change and Justice
An exploration of the influence of religion on how we understand and relate to the natural world. Students will learn about some religious ideas that have contributed to the current climate crisis, as well as the role that religion and spirituality are playing in responses to this crisis.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I
Restriction: THEOREL 322
How People Became Things: Christianity, Colonisation and Race
An exploration of theological and religious ideas that supported colonisation and contributed to a wider transformation of identity, land and economics. Students will learn about some of the ideas and beliefs that were integral to the progression of colonialism, as well as the role of religion in various forms of resistance.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I
Restriction: THEOREL 323
Stage III
A Major Religious Thinker
In-depth study of a figure whose thought has had a major impact on the development of one or more religious traditions. It includes the critical study of selected texts by the chosen thinker (where these have survived), and of texts and traditions related to the thinker. The figure chosen reflects the research interests of current staff.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II
Restriction: THEOREL 200
Religious Texts of Terror
Explores the ways that various forms of violence are evoked and discussed within religious texts and traditions. Students will learn about the origins of these ‘texts of terror’, and then trace their ongoing influence throughout history and up to the present day across a range of socio-cultural contexts, both global and local.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II from the BA Schedule
Restriction: THEOREL 209
A History of the Apocalypse
An apocalypse is a divine revelation about the shape of history. It is written for a society in crisis, often describing that society’s collapse before the coming of a better world. This course traces the development of apocalyptic thought in the religions of the West, from the ancient Middle East through to apocalyptic themes in modern cultures.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II
Restriction: THEOREL 202
Religion in Film and Television
Explores the ways that religious themes, myths, and imagery are expressed within the narratives of some classic and contemporary films and television dramas. Students will learn skills to identify the articulation of religious beliefs, narratives, and the sacred or transcendent within the medium of film and television, and to discuss critically this cultural engagement with religion.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II
Restriction: THEOREL 206
Special Topic: Judaism: Identity and Practice
An exploration of the diverse beliefs and practices found in modern Judaism against the backdrop of wider Jewish history. Students will learn about cultural systems, institutions, and collective and personal rituals. In addition, the course examines the emergence of religious fundamentalism, feminism, and humanism in Judaism.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II from BA Schedule
Restriction: THEOREL 208
Directed Study 1
Provides students with the possibility of undertaking directed study of a topic in Theological and Religious Studies approved by the Academic Head and directed by a member of academic staff with relevant expertise.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II from the BA Schedule
Directed Study 2
Provides students with the possibility of undertaking directed study of a topic in Theological and Religious Studies approved by the Academic Head and directed by a member of academic staff with relevant expertise.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II from the BA Schedule
Early Christianity
Examines the history of Christianity from its origins in Palestinian and diaspora Judaism through to its official endorsement by the Roman Empire at the end of the fourth century. Explores how various traditions about Jesus evolved, how Christians both accommodated and resisted the wider culture, and how norms for “orthodoxy” (correct teaching) gradually took shape.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in the BA Schedule
Restriction: THEOREL 216
Religion, Trauma and Suffering
An exploration of how recent insights into trauma and suffering intersect with theology and religion. Students will learn about ways in which religious narratives and practices have contributed to trauma and suffering, as well as possibilities for resistance and relief. The course will include engagements with trauma and suffering across a range of contexts.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II
Restriction: THEOREL 210
Theory and Method in Religious Studies
Examines key theories and methods used in the multidisciplinary study of religion. Although dedicated to social-scientific theories of religion, it also covers textual, historical, feminist/queer, and psychological theories. It will provide students with a critical understanding of the diversity of approaches used in the field and raise awareness about the possibilities for framing their own research.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II from the BA Schedule
Religion in New Zealand
An exploration of living religions in contemporary New Zealand, surveying the beliefs, traditions and practices that are central to religious groups in New Zealand and their interactions with contemporary culture both locally and globally. Comparative study of religion in New Zealand, in such topics as religion and ritual, exploring belief, and interfaith dialogue.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II
Restriction: THEOREL 201
Comparative Religion and Society
Examines the social theories of religion. An empirical approach to the study of religion, which constructs theories and arguments about its social forms and significance through the collection and analysis of data. Global case studies will be used to consider the power of religion both as a force for social cohesion as well as disruption and social change.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II
Restriction: THEOREL 221
Religion, Climate Change and Justice
An exploration of the influence of religion on how we understand and relate to the natural world. Students will learn about some religious ideas that have contributed to the current climate crisis, as well as the role that religion and spirituality are playing in responses to this crisis.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II
Restriction: THEOREL 222
How People Became Things: Christianity, Colonisation and Race
An exploration of theological and religious ideas that supported colonisation and contributed to a wider transformation of identity, land and economics. Students will learn about some of the ideas and beliefs that were integral to the progression of colonialism, as well as the role of religion in various forms of resistance.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II
Restriction: THEOREL 223