| THEO5002/5003/5004 Graduate Thesis I/II/III |
| The purpose of this course is to prepare Master’s degree (M.Div.) students for their graduate thesis writing under the supervision of their individual supervisors. |
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| THEO5005/5006/5007/5008 Faculty Student Seminar I/II/III/IV |
| A course of study in which topics relating either to the context or work of ministering in the modern world will be present and discussed by faculty members and students together. Students will be encouraged to deal with topics that integrate an area of non-theological studies with their theological viewpoint. They will be evaluated on their ability to think theological, that is, to reflect upon major theological and social issues, to define current issues in theological terms and theological issuses in contemporary “secular” terms. |
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| RELS5131 Biblical Hermeneutics in Asian Perspectives |
| The course will focus on the recent development in biblical interpretation in Asia in the larger context of theological endeavours and religious studies of Asian scholars in their coming to terms with the diversity of Asian realities. Adequate attention will be paid to methodological issues in relation to the pluralistic religio-cultural traditions and the complex socio-political experiences of the Asian peoples. Biblical interpretation developed in various Asian countries will also be studied. |
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| RELS5132/5133 Advanced Biblical Exegesis I/II |
| This course will focus on exegesis of selected passages from the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament. It would be an advantage if students have gone through either Hebrew Exegesis or New Testament Greek Exegesis. |
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| RELS5134 Feminist Interpretation of the Bible |
| This course will review various approaches to biblical interpretation in contemporary feminist scholarship, and hence examine closely various biblical traditions and passages in the light of contemporary discussion of gender politics. |
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| RELS5135 Religion and Literature of the Bible |
| This course is an advanced study of the biblical text (the Hebrew Bible and/or the New Testament) in the light of the contemporary critical biblical scholarship. The religious and cultural issues of ancient Israel and/or the early Christian church are to be tackled. |
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| THEO5210 Selected Reading of the Hebrew Bible |
| This course selects one major script or some minor scripts of the Hebrew Bible for studies. Issues including textual criticism, authorship and readership, sources, themes and theology will be discussed. The interpretations of these issues by scholars will also be incorporated. |
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| THEO5211 Selected Reading of the New Testament |
| This course selects one major script or some minor scripts of the New Testament for studies. Issues including textual criticism, authorship and readership, sources, themes and theology will be discussed. The interpretations of these issues by scholars will also be incorporated. |
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| THEO5212 Development of Early Christian Communities |
| This course deals with the situation of Early Christian Communities mainly in the 1st century CE. The reconstruction of this situation is mainly based on the critical studies of the scripts of the New Testament. The social situation and religious thought in the time of Jesus Christ, St. Paul, and the texts of the canonical Gospels are the main foci of this course.. |
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| THEO5213 Extracanonical Literature |
| This course deals with the ancient texts ranging from about 3rd BCE to about 3rd CE and including the Old Testament, Pseudepigraphies as well as the New Testament Apocrypha. Introductory issues, such as authorship, language and manuscripts are included. The theologies of the literature, which represented different stages of the development of different sects or schools and contributed to the development of Early Christianity, will be studied. |
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| THEO5214 Hebrew Exegesis |
| A continuation of the study of Hebrew grammar and the reading of selected passages from the Old Testament in Hebrew. |
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| THEO5215 New Testament Greek Exegesis |
| A continuation of the study of THEO1215/1216 and the reading of selected passages from the New Testament in Greek. |
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| THEO5224 God, Creation and Eschatology |
| A study of various ways of understanding of God, both traditional and contemporary; the doctrines of creation in their biblical, patristic and modern perspectives; and the doctrines of Eschatology. All with special emphasis on contemporary issues. |
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| THEO5225 Christ, Church and Spirit |
| A survey of the formation of christological doctrines in the ancient church and modern interpretations; basic ideas of the church and the sacraments; and the Holy Spirit and the Christian life. |
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| THEO5226 Theology and Feminism |
| This course will survey feminist theory, its use in feminist theologies, and implications of selected issues in feminist theory for theology in general. |
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| THEO5230 Hermeneutics and Theology |
| This course will examine the impact of contemporary hermeneutical theories on the doing of theology. A survey of the development from classical to modern and contemporary hermeneutics will be given. The influence of hermeneutical theories upon theological method, the rethinking of the nature of theology, the interpretation of bible, the explication of some theological categories such as revelation, will be introduced. Several thinkers, such as David Tracy and Helmut Peukert will be introduced for illustration purpose. |
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| THEO5231 Modernity and Theology |
| This course examines the relation and interaction between modernity and theology, with particular focus on the challenges of modernity to Christian theology as well as the diverse theological responses to modernity in various historical and cultural contexts. Related issues, such as the contested interpretations of modernity, claims about the theological roots of Western modernity, and the prospect of constructive theology in global modernity, will be discussed. |
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| THEO5232 Theological Systems and Methods |
| This course examines and evaluates selected works of modern systematic theologians, such as Friedrich Schleiermacher, Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Wolfhart Pannenberg, and Gordon Kaufman. It will investigate the structure and content of each theological system as well as the method used in constructing it. Special attention will be paid to the interdependence of method and system. While the course focuses on modern and contemporary theology, it will briefly survey a few classical examples of systematic theology, such as the works of John of Damascus, Thomas Aquinas, and John Calvin.. |
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| THEO5233 Political and Liberation Theologies |
| Both political and liberation theologies attempt to provide a theological reflection of the interaction between the Christian faith and the socio-political order, with reference to their particular context. They keep an active and critical dialogue with contemporary social theories. Issues like church-state relation, Christianity and human rights, Christianity and economic justice are their concern. The course not only introduces the historical development and the theological significance of political and liberation theologies, but also explores to construct a political and liberation theology that is relevant to the contemporary context. |
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| THEO5234 Chinese Christian Thinkers |
| This course consists of an in-depth study of the theological thought of several Christian thinkers in modern and contemporary China. Examples may include T.C. Chao, Watchman Nee, Y.T Wu, John Sung and K. H. Ting, etc. Special reference will be made on the distinctive characteristics of their theological concerns and their impact on Chinese Protestantism. The contribution of such thinkers toward indigenization and contextualization will also be discussed. |
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| THEO5235 Cinema and Theology |
| This course considers the various religious and theological dimensions of contemporary cinema, and examines a range of approaches to such endeavours. Since the inception of motion picture in 1895, cinema and institutional religions (including Christianity) have always been interested in each other - numerous films have used religious themes and motifs as subject matters, while religious communities have been eager to harness the cinema by critiquing, censoring, or making use of films in their ministries. The study of film from serious academic theological perspectives, however, was scarce until the mid 1990s. In this course, we explore a number of approaches by which the theological study of film can take place. These include, for example, the study of explicit representation of religious materials, the ‘uncovering’ of implicit religious motifs, the use of film as resource for theological reflection and construction. In particular, we shall consider how cinematic representations of certain important theological motifs may enrich conventional religious understanding. Films to be viewed and discussed cover a broad range from European art-house classics, popular Hollywood productions, to contemporary East Asian and Chinese language films. |
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| THEO5240 Congregational Studies |
| This course will familiarize students with the recent discourse of congregational studies flourished both in the US and the UK context. Students will be helped to see the significant impact that this discourse has on recent congregational life. Interdisciplinary research methods for understanding the identity, dynamics, and context of a congregation will be introduced. Students will also be equipped with some tools for analyzing the local congregations. |
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| THEO5242 History, Practice, and Theology of Christian Worship |
| The course is designed to provide students with an in depth study of Christian Worship from Biblical, historical, liturgical, theological and contextual perspectives. After laying the foundation for liturgical and theological discussions from Biblical and historical angles, much emphasis will be placed on the development of worship forms from Vatican II to the recent ecumenical and post denominational liturgical revivals that reflect dynamic contemporary cultural and theological dialogues in the post modern era. |
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| THEO5243 Twenty-First Century Hymnology |
| This course aims at the study of hymns and the development of church music in historical perspectives. It will investigate how hymns, as carriers and interpreters of 2000 years of Christian faith, have laid their biblical foundation, and have incorporated historical and cultural elements as well as their respective musical styles to enrich the liturgy and shape our spirituality. It will also examine how the hymn explosion of the latter part of 20th century has opened up a new world of 21st century hymnology, which on the one hand has incorporated new vocabularies to deal with issues of human rights, social, economical and political justice, ecology and integrity of creation, and on the other hand has adapted musical languages of the modern world with diversified ethnic styles that has formed a new world of 21st century global hymns. Emphasis will be placed on the analysis and application of contemporary hymns and praise choruses musically, theologically and liturgically. |
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| THEO5244 Models of Practical Theology |
| This course aims at familiarizing the students with the practical theology movement in the past several decades. It will examine the practical nature of all theologies, and will introduce several models of practical theology. It also aims at helping students to see how the theological theories that they learn through lectures and readings may have bearings on their Christian lives and ministries.. |
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| THEO5245 Sex, Marriage and Family |
| This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the issues and feelings surrounding sex, marriage and family. It is also designed to allow students to develop skill and sensitivity in ministering to individuals and families. |
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| THEO5271 The Reformation Era |
| The purpose of the course is to introduce the students to the developments in church and theology in 16th century Europe. After the course the student shall be able to understand different aspects of the transformations happening during the said period: historical, social, political, spiritual, and others. A special emphasis will be on the shifts in theological thinking and how these shifts change the traditional configuration of society, state, culture, and religion. |
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| THEO5272 Modern Western Christianity |
| The purpose of the course is to introduce the students to the historical and theological developments in the Western Church from the Peace of Westphalia through Enlightenment, history of awakenings and the renewals in the 20th century to the present. This course includes both, the developments of the church in Europe and North America as they are closely linked. |
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| THEO5322 Christianity in Hong Kong |
| This course aims at helping students to gain a comprehensive understanding on the history of Protestant Christianity in Hong Kong. The first section will emphasize on the historical development of Christianity in different stages. The second section will investigate the relationship and interaction between Christianity and Hong Kong society from topical perspectives. |
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| THEO5323 Christianity in China |
| This course aims at giving the students a macro historical picture of Christianity in China from the seventh century to the present. Special attention will be paid to the interaction between Christianity and the Chinese society. |
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| THEO5341 Pastoral Theology |
| This course covers three areas: 1) the historical and theological position of Pastoral Theology in Theological Studies and its uniqueness; 2) different types of Pastoral Theology and their aims; and 3) Ancient and contemporary church models and pastoral emphases. |
| |
| THEO5342 Denominational Tradition and Polity |
| The course is aimed at deepening the students’ understanding of the historical background, the theological basis and the church practice of one of the denominational traditions of the supporting churches of Divinity School of Chung Chi College. The critical reflection of the denominational tradition and polity equips the students to identify patterns of transformation and change in a denominational tradition and guide them in devising strategies for the continuous reform of tradition and polity. |
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| THEO5344 Liturgics |
| The course aims at equipping students with the understanding of the history and theology of the sacred worship, which include the development of the sacred worship, the notion of liturgical time, of ecclesiastical year, of sacred space, of the liturgy of the hours, etc. It also helps students gain a critical understanding on various liturgical terms, liturgical vessels, books and vestments. Contextualization of liturgy in Chinese/HK contexts will also be discussed. |
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| THEO5352 The Church in Mission |
The course guides students to understanding core areas of missiology, to applying their understanding in the analysis of missionary movements and to critically and creatively developing missionary activities. The teaching will focus on following areas:
- The biblical basis of the mission of the church
- The historical development of Christian mission
- Contemporary challenges that the mission of the churches faces
- Patterns of mission today
- Mission in the context of Hong Kong and China
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| THEO5501 Independent Research |
| Students are provided an opportunity to conduct a research on a chosen topic within the area of study with the agreement of a faculty member. |
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| THEO5541 The Bible and Worship |
| The course concerns itself with the liturgical study of selected psalms, the investigation of the Sitz im Liben of the church in worship; much attention will be given to the didactic materials bearing on corporate worship in the Bible and their application for todayˇ¦s church. |
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| THEO5929 History of Christian Thought |
| This course consists of a critical survey of the history of the development of Christian (mainly theological) thought. It will concentrate on analysis of several decisive phrases of development and will attempt to show the interaction between Christian thought and its historical circumstances. |
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| RELS5276 Theology of Vatican II |
| The purpose of this course is to introduce the contemporary Catholic theology through the study of Vatican II documents. The course will explore how the Vatican II council reconsiders her faith, with special attention to the relationship between grace and nature, church and world, hierarchy and charism, in the light of Eastern and Western theological tradition. |
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| THEO5910 New Testament in Contexts |
| This course will select some texts of the New Testament with contemporary methods for in-depth study. Texts include selected themes of the Pauline Epistles, Synoptic Gospels and Johannine Literature, e.g., Pauline Epistle Form, Doctrinal and Ethical Teachings; Eucharist, Baptism, Miracles and Teachings of the Synoptics; as well as Revelation structure, “I am saying”, Farewell Discourse of the Gospel of John. |
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| THEO5911 Modern Interpretation of the Bible |
| This course covers the modern development of biblical interpretation in the west, which is affected by contemporary social, political, historical, philosophical and theological contexts. Special emphases are given to different approaches and methods of interpretation which are developed with insights from academic disciplines, as well as to biblical issues which are interpreted from new perspectives. |
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| THEO5912 Biblical Theology |
| Exegetical study of Old Testament and New Testament passages and their implication for contemporary church and society. |
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| THEO5913 Jesus Christ in Asian Context |
| This course investigates the historical and theological understandings of Jesus Christ in modern scholarship, special reference will be given to the significance of these understandings for the Asian context. Since the investigation involves both the historical and theological perspectives, students are expected to have basic training in New Testament Studies and Christian Theology. |
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| THEO5919/RELS5219 The Hebrew Bible in Contexts |
| This course aims at introducing students to the approaches to reading the Hebrew Bible (The Christian Old Testament) in its literary, socio-political and religio-cultural contexts. The literary setting and historical background will be surveyed and explored in order to enhance students’ understanding of the text and the dynamics of the reading process. |
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| THEO5920 Contextual Theologies |
| This course tries to critically examine several features of all theological endeavours: particularity, contextuality and historicity. It also articulates how theologies are spatially and temporally shaped. Accordingly, the relationship between theology and context will not be conceived as a kind of linear application of some ready-made theologies to the contemporary contexts, but a kind of interpretive effort which tries to correlate the Christian traditions with the contemporary cultural, socio-political and economical context. It will also discuss the practical dimension of the “doing” of theologies. It is according to all this that some examples of contextual theology will be introduced. |
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| THEO5921 Modern Christian Thinkers |
| This course consists of an in-depth study of the religious thought of one eminent modern Christian theologian. Special reference will be made to the significance of his or her thought for the Asian context, no matter whether the theologian selected is an Asian theologian (such as Zhao Zi Chen or Wu Lei-chuan) or a Western theologian (such as Karl Barth or Paul Tillich). Since the theologian to be studied will be different from year to year, students may take the course more than once. |
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| THEO5922 Asian Theologies |
| Asia is a large continent with the largest population in the world and a diverse cultural heritage. Though Christianity was born in West Asia, its expansion to South and East Asia happened rather recently. In the last few decades, Asians have begun to utilize their own resources and context in theological endeavour. This course attempts to investigate some of the theologies emerging in Asia. |
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| THEO5930 Public Theology |
| This course helps students perceive doing theology as taking place within the ethical debates of society as a whole. It introduces different ways of how theology has entered or can entered, both historically and methodologically, into debate on shared ground with social sciences, politics and economics, etc. Different theological perspectives, such as those put forward by Reinhold Niebuhr, Max Stackhouse, and Duncan Forrester on the one hand, and Howard Yoder, Stanley Hauerwas, John Milbank and others, on the other hand, will be discussed. Students will also be shown how these perspectives can be applied to the discussion of local public issues. |
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| THEO5940/5949 Theological Studies: Seminar I/II |
| Discussion in seminar setting on specifi c issues related to Theological Studies. Students are allowed to take these courses for more than once, and gain the units each time they pass the course. The specific content will be designed by the teacher who offers the courses. Students are allowed to take these courses for more than once. |
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| THEO5950/5951 Special Topics on Biblical Studies I/II |
| This course will examine topics or problems related to Biblical Studies, such as: Pentateuchal Studies, Prophetic Literature, Wisdom and the Psalms, Synoptic Gospels, Johannine Literature, Pauline Letters, Hermeneutics, sociological approaches and historical background of the biblical studies, etc. |
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| THEO5952/5953 Special Topics on Theological Studies I/II |
| A course of study in issues and topics related to Theological Studies, such as contemporary concepts of God, Holy Spirit and the Church, Christological controversies, Trinity and society, providence and evil, humanity and salvation, eschatology, etc. |
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| RELS5275 Spirituality and Religious Congregations |
| This course offers a textual and thematic survey of developments of the major religious traditions in the Catholic Church, as they reflect the experience of God and its expression in piety, practice and ministry. Common characteristics and representative figures will be studied through lectures, critical reading and discussion of primary texts. The class will also examine modern interpretation of more traditional forms of spirituality. |
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| THEO5941 Pastoral Care in Context |
| This course is designed to equip students with concept and skill necessary for them to engage in pastoral work in contemporary context through worship, preaching, teaching, fellowship and service of the church. |
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| THEO5942 Contemporary Spirituality |
| A study of the history, tradition, practice and various forms of spirituality in contemporary Christian life. |
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| THEO5943 Spirituality and Workplace |
| This course attempts to analyze what everyday spirituality in the workplace is, and how spiritual formation in the workplace is nurtured, with reference to Hong Kong. A study of spirituality and marketplace will take religious, cultural, social and psychological aspects into consideration. |
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| THEO5944 Church Management and Leadership |
| A study of applying contemporary theories of management and leadership in the church contexts and to review the situation of Chinese churches. |
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| THEO5945 Christian Counselling |
| This course will cover the following areas: 1) the similarities and differences between Christian Counselling and General Counselling; 2) the similarities and differences between Pastoral Counselling and Pastoral Care; 3) different approaches to Christian Counselling; and 4) skills, knowledge and practical competence in Christian Counselling. |
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| THEO5946 Counselling and Youth Ministry |
| This course aims at helping students to: 1) acquire a critical and historical understanding on the theorization of youth and adolescent; 2) acquire a general knowledge on various models of youth counselling in Christian settings; 3) enhance their competence in facilitating youth to growth and helping youth in troubles; and 4) reflect on the theological and practical issues behind youth counselling in Christian context. |
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| THEO5947 Counselling and Family Ministry |
| This course aims at helping students to: 1) acquire a general knowledge on various models of systemic family therapy and their application to Christian ministries; 2) enhance their competence in delivering counselling services to couples and families in troubles; 3) reflect on the theological and practical issues behind family counselling in Christian context. |
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| THEO5948 Theology and Counseling Theories |
| This course serves two basic functions: first, to equip students with a basic understanding on the contemporary general counseling theories: second, to enhance students’ competence to read these theories theologically. The methodology adopted will be a kind of mutually critical correlation. Substantively, the course will introduce six to seven contemporary counseling theories, which will be followed by theological critiques on them. |
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| THEO5956/5957 Special Topics on Pastoral Studies and Counseling I/II |
| This course will focus on studying topics related to Pastoral Studies and Counseling such as Congregational Studies, Local Church Growth, Short Term Pastoral Counseling, Theory Practice in Theological Education, Theological Education For Lay People, Psychology for Christian Ministry, and Contemporary Pastoral Theologians, etc. Students are allowed to take these courses for more than once. |
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| THEO6941/6942 Pastoral Studies: Seminar I/II |
| A study in depth of one or more topics and issues arising in pastoral studies and Christian nurture, such as counselling in special occasions, liturgies, local church and community, lay training, church growth, Christian stewardship, etc. |
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| THEO6943/6944/6945/6946 Field Education III/IV/V/VI |
| (a) 2 units per term representing a minimum of eight hours supervised field work per week; or (b) 4 units for full-time supervised field work for at least eight weeks during the summer vacation. |
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| RELS5151 Christian Higher Education in China |
| This course attempts to take Christian higher education in China as a case for the study of Chinese-Western cultural exchange. The study will focus not only on the educational activities of the Western missionaries, but also those of the Chinese Christians, including the faculty and students of Christian colleges in China. Students are encouraged to explore new methodologies in doing research on Christian higher education in the Chinese context. |
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| RELS5273 Catholic Social Ethics |
| This course attempts to examine the principles and ways of Church’s responses to social issues from the Catholic faith tradition. Topics include the relationship between morality and spirituality, the foundation of social ethics, the methods of theological reflection and pastoral actions. Particular attention is given to Catholic Social Teachings and its development, and its perspectives on issues like human rights, economic justice and globalization, work and labour, ecology, political participation, racism, women’s status and so on. Catholic social movements and individuals will also be introduced. |
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| THEO5141 Ecumenics |
| The study of various types of theological thinking including Fundamentalism, Pentecostalism, Evangelicalism, Catholicism, Liberalizm, Orthodoxy, etc.; the history of the ecumenical movement and issues in ecumenical theological thinking. |
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| THEO5142 Issues Facing Church Today |
| Issues facing the Church in relation to the ideologies, religions, and cultural and sociological conditions in the contemporary world with special emphasis on the processes of secularization, modernization and urbanization. |
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| THEO5241 Christian Mission and Glocalization |
| God’s mission (Missio Dei) is the fundamental of mission, and should be understood in context. The history of the Christian mission reveals that its mission is like an ‘Empire’ as well as a servant of the gospel. Apart from a critical review of the theology and practice of Christian mission, the course is to analyze the characteristics of glocalization and its implications for the understanding and practice of Christian mission. |
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| THEO5843/RELS5143 Contemporary Issues in Ethics, Society and Religion |
| This course attempts to explore the complexity of contemporary issues raised by ethics and society through a religious perspective. How religious thinking can be enriched and challenged by issues of bioethical, business, legal and political nature. |
| |
| THEO5845 Religious Education and Chinese Society |
| This course is to study the development of Christian education (including the setting up of seminaries, schools and colleges in China) provided by western missionaries in China between 1850s and 1950s, and relate it to the contemporary social changes in China so as to re-evaluate the significance of Christian education in modern Chinese society. |
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| THEO5846/RELS5146 Human Development and Religious Education |
| This course will attempt to study some of the modern developmental theories such as Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory, Erikson’s socio-psychological theory, Kohlberg’s moral developmental theory and Fowlers’ faith developmental theory. Special attention will be given to the evaluation of their significance to education in a religious context. |
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| THEO5847 Culture, Religion and Ethics |
| This course attempts to articulate the creative inquiry into and conceptual interrelationship among culture, religion and ethics. Particular attention is given to the relevance of theological reflection for cultural analysis in public life, the advance of technology, the movement of economic order, the ambiguous of sexual issue and the pressing demands for dialogue between the world’s religions. |
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| THEO5849/RELS5149 Religion and Ecological Crisis |
| This course aims at introducing the students to the issues related to religion and environmental ethics. The course will cover the following aspects: the basic approaches in environmental ethics; how religions are related to the environmental problems; the worldview and ethics of the major religious traditions; and how contemporary religions respond to the environmental question. |
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| THEO5852 Theories of Religious Education |
| This course examines various theories of religious education. It begins with an historical overview of different approaches to religious education. It then examines some influential theories of religious education, particularly James Fowler’s comprehensive theory of faith development, Paulo Freire’s praxis approach to education, and Thomas Groome’s theory of Christian religious education. Students will explore contributions, as well as limitations, of these theories to religious education classroom of contemporary Hong Kong. |
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| THEO5853 Christian Education in the Postmodern World |
| This course explores the dynamics of living in a postmodern world and its impact on Christian education. It will first describe the emergence and meaning of postmodernity. It will then explore its impact on religion in general and Christian education in particular. Issues like religious convictions, moral decisions, and character and spiritual formation will be of particular interest. Lastly, students are expected to rediscover the meanings of Christian education in the postmodern world. |
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| THEO5854 Teaching/Learning Theories in Christian Education |
| This course explores theories of teaching and learning in an effort to enhance teaching effectiveness in the field of Christian Education. Attention will be given to the examination of historical and contemporary models of teaching/learning and, the development of personal pedagogies for Christian Education in schools and churches. |
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| THEO5855 Christian Education and Character Formation |
| This course is designed to equip educators with vision and accompanying skills for aligning Christian education to character formation. Students will be guided in developing a general understanding of how character is formed in childhood and throughout the lifespan. Different psychological and philosophical theories of moral/character development, including Maslow, Erikson, Kohlberg, Gilligan, and McIntyre will be examined. Also, students will be assisted in developing practical strategies and methodologies for supporting character development in the context of Christian Education. |
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| THEO5924 Christianity and Social Change |
| In the absence of any social theory that is uniquely “Christian”, this course will seek to study the positions of the Christian churches on various political and social issues as they seek to define for themselves their role in a rapidly changing world. Asian models and the more traditional Western approaches to similar issues will be compared in order to highlight the strength and weaknesses of each in the common attempt to balance the Christian ideal and social realities. |
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| THEO5931 Professions and Christian Faith |
| This course consists of a theological critique of the so-called “professionalism” and its phenomenon. It aims to retrieve the meaning and calling of profession in the modern world, on the one hand, and enhance the students’ ability to develop a theological and relevant response to their own professions, on the other. Themes like culture, knowledge, power, professions, and economics will be employed in dialogue with theology. |
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| THEO5932 Theology and Work |
| Work can be a creative expression of the way one professes commitment, service and personal gift to a community. This course is to provide a Christian critique of the contemporary practice of work and retrieve the dignity of work. Concepts related to work like vocation, leisure, play and Sabbath would be discussed. |
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| THEO5933 Media, Popular Culture and Christianity |
| This course is a critical exploration of the intricate relationships between popular media culture and Christianity. While popular culture and the media have long become a daily reality for many in the world, these have seldom been taken seriously by theologians and scholars of religion. Also, the relationship between popular media and religion (including Christianity) is often overlooked in academic studies until relatively recent time. We shall re-examine various manifestations of popular culture from Christian theological perspectives, and also probes into the subtle interrelatedness between media culture and Christianity as an organised religion. As its wider academic context, this course engages with the interdisciplinary field of media, religion, and culture (MRC) which has been under vigorous development since the mid-1990s; as its immediate socio-cultural-religious context of discussions, it attends particularly to the Chinese language popular media and Chinese Christianity in Hong Kong. |
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| THEO5954/5955 Special Topics on Christianity and Society I/II |
| This course will focus on topics and issues related to Christianity and Society, such as Christian Ethics and Liberation Theologies. |
| |
| THEO5960/5961 Special Topics on Christian Education I/II |
| This course covers the study of topics and issues related to Christian Education, such as Church Schools’ Administration, Religious Education and Christian Education, etc. |
| |
| THEO5220/RELS5325 Christianity in Chinese Literature |
| Religion has close relations with literature. This course is a study of the interactions between Christianity and Chinese literature in the 20th century. It attempts to investigate the impact of Christianity on modern and contemporary Chinese writers and explores the religious themes in selected literary works. It will also examine the practices of Christian literature by the Christian church in China. |
| |
| THEO5221 Protestantism in Reform China |
| The aim of this course is to help the students to understand the development of Protestant Christianity in the Reform era, with emphasis on its interactions with the political, social and intellectual changes in China. Topics to be studied will cover church-state relations, Three-self Patriotic Movement, denominations and theological reflections, etc. |
| |
| THEO5222 Studies in Hong Kong Christianity |
| This course examines the significant changes of Hong Kong society and its impacts on the development of Christianity since 1950s. Emphasis will be placed on social movement, political changes, 1997 issues, educational reform, cultural and intellectual transformation. It will also explore the theological responses of Christian churches to the above challenges. |
| |
| THEO5223 Christianity in the Chinese Diaspora |
| This course examines the development of Christianity in Chinese Diaspora. Special emphasis would be given to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao, Southeast Asia and N. America, etc. Students should explore and reflect on the trends of globalization and localization by comparing the experiences of different contexts. |
| |
| THEO5923 Christianity in Chinese Religious Context |
| This course aims at studying Chinese Christianity in the Chinese religious context. Special emphasis will be given to the question as to how Christianity has been viewed in and shaped by the Chinese religious context. Comparison between some of the Chinese Christian phenomena and their counterparts in the traditional Chinese religions will be made, e.g., the Taiping Christianity vis-a-vis the Buddhist or Taoist Messianic movements. Issues on Christianity faces in the Chinese religious context will also be iscussed, e.g., syncretism and dual religious citizenship. |
| |
| THEO5925 Chinese Christianity |
| Following a brief survey of the history of Christianity in China, specific movements, such as the Five Year Movement and Rural Reconstruction, and personalities, such as T. C. Chao and Y. T. Wu, will be studied in an attempt to identify features that are uniquely “Chinese” within both the institutional and theological contexts, and how the Chinese experience may contribute to the enrichment of the church universal. |
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| THEO5926 Christianity and Chinese Culture |
| Starting from the traditional understanding of indigenization whereby culture are often looked upon as static entities, Christianity and Chinese culture will also be compared as they moved through the recent history of China as two living forces competing to shape the China that was to be. This is an open-ended course which will continuously be informed by recent trends and developments. |
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| THEO5928 Christianity in Twentieth Century China |
| This course will examine the development of Christian thought and institutions in China from early twentieth century to the present. |
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| THEO5958/5959 Special Topics on Christianity in China I/II |
| This course will examine topics and issues related to Christianity in China, such as mission methods and strategies, the development of missionary enterprises, church-state relationship, mission-church relationship, the adaptation of Christian faith with Chinese culture, Christianity and social reconstruction in China, independent Christian movement etc. |
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| RELS5001 Method and History of Religious Studies |
| This course will be built around readings concerning methodology and history of the discipline of the “History of Religions”. Study of selected figures and methodological approaches to religions, including phenomenological, psychological, structural, hermeneutical and sociological methods, will also be covered. The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with a sophisticated knowledge of the theories and methods in research on different forms of religious manifestations. |
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| RELS5005 Theories of Religious Studies |
| This course aims at introducing major theories of studying religious phenomenon, including the schools of history of religions, sociology of religions, psychology of religions, anthropology of religion and theology. It will concentrate on the method of how these theories can be applied in studying contemporary religions in local contexts. |
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| RELS5115 Readings on Chinese Religious Texts |
| This course centres on the study of the literature of the Han Dynasty which is formative of the chief religious concepts such as cosmology, anthropology and soteriology, with the aim of understanding of the principles of religious theory construction in traditional China. |
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| RELS5118 Studies on Chinese Buddhism |
| This course studies major traditions in Chinese Buddhism including Chan, Pure Land, Huayen and Tiantai Buddhism. We also seek to understand the Chinese Buddhist tradition by utilizing some recent researches in the field. Some examples are the research on northern school of Chan Buddhism by John McRae and Bernard Faure, on Pure Land Buddhism by Luis Gomez and Richard Payne, on Buddhism in the Song especially Tiantai Buddhism by Peter Gregory and Daniel Getz. Secondary sources will be used together with selected primary sources to stimulate discussion in class. |
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| RELS5121 Popular Religions in China |
| Recent researches on Chinese religion show that the term ˇ§three religionsˇ¨ or sanjiao - monastic Buddhism, priestly Daoism, and Confucian philosophy - is not adequate to describe Chinese religiosity. To subsume several thousand years of Chinese religious experience under the term of ˇ§three religionsˇ¨, in effect, is to exclude the vast majority of Chinese religious behaviour. In reality, only a few elite orient their lifestyles to the Buddhist or Taoist concepts of transcendence. Over emphasis on the intellectual and spiritual world of the scholarly official, the gentry and the literate elite, overlooks religious practices and beliefs of ordinary people, the peasants and the labourers who are the majority of the Chinese population. This course studies Chinese religion from the perspective of local society in South China. By making use of recent ethnographical studies on China, we examine Chinese religion from a holistic approach involving the analysis of lineage, traditional economy and village temples of various local societies in China. |
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| RELS5123 Taoist Thought |
| This course aims to introduce the thought and doctrine of religious Taoism. Topics that constitute the essences of Taoist doctrine such as the idea of Tao, Taoist gods, Taoist cosmology, Taoist philosophy of life and nature, the value and meaning of life, the function of ritual and self-cultivation, and ethics will be surveyed. Selected issues in modern scholarship on Taoist doctrine will also be touched on. |
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| RELS5125 Taoist Ritual |
| This course will focus on the study of the liturgical tradition of Taoism. Special reference will be made to the structure and significance of the death ritual of fast (zhai) and the festival of offering (jiao). Through fieldwork studies, students will be shown how Hong Kong Taoists perform these two kinds of ritual services to the public nowadays. |
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| RELS5129 Taoism and Chinese Culture |
| This course aims at a general study of Taoism in Chinese cultural context. The focus is on Taoist elements and values in Chinese art, music, drama, and literature. This will allow students not only to study Taoism as one of Chinese religious traditions, but also to understand the intersections of Taoism and various aspects of Chinese culture. No prior knowledge of Taoism is assumed. |
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| RELS5144 Women in Chinese Religions |
| Women have played an active role in most Chinese religious traditions for many hundreds of years, but there are relatively few records of their activities and beliefs. Yet without knowledge of those activities the history of Chinese religions cannot be properly understood. This course is a comprehensive introduction to the role of women in popular or common religion, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and Christianity. All of these will be discussed in relation to the place of women in traditional Chinese society. The emphasis will be on the activities of living women, not on goddesses or philosophical theory. As far as time and sources allow, these topics will be discussed both for the traditional and modern periods. |
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| RELS5300 The Study of Islam |
| This course will introduce the basic concepts of Islam to the students i.e. fundamentals of faith, rituals of worship, Seerah of the Prophet of Islam, Islamic Civilization and Muslim contribution to different cultures. It will help the students to understand the contemporary issues in the light of Islamic teachings and the methodogical issues in Islamic Studies. The course has been designed for such students who have never studied Islamic Studies so far. |
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| THEO5542 Theology of Worship |
| Worship is styled as theologia prima, and doctrine as theologia secunda; not a few hymnic and confessional materials are found in the New Testament. The course will discuss various theologies of worship, the pastoral therapeutic efficacy of the sacraments, the functions of signs and symbols bearing on worship. |
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| THEO5543 Congregational Hymns and Pastoral Care |
| The course concerns itself with the criteria and evaluation of congregational hymns and their liturgical function in corporate worship; the selection of congregational hymns for the church calendar and theme of worship; their dual function of expression and impression for pastoral care. |
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| THEO5544 Planning and Leading Worship Service |
| This course explores the practical ways of planning and leading public worship service of our time applying the reflections of biblical and historical perspectives of worship. Special attention will be given to diverse expressions of worship elements, creative ways of leading corporate worship, and evaluation of current worship practices. Students collaborate to plan and lead worship service. |
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| THEO5545 Organ Playing for Church Service |
| The course discusses the skills and techniques of hymn playing and anthem accompanying on the organ. Students will explore different styles of service playing from the Baroque period to the modern time. Pianists are welcomed to register for the course but an audition will be required. |
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| THEO5546 Preaching According to the Lectionary |
| Preaching according to the lectionary is a time-honored tradition of the church. The four lessons of Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle and the Gospel for the Sunday are carefully arranged to be read and preached according to the liturgical year. The course concerns itself with the liturgical, spiritual import as well as the pastoral application of the lectionary for todayˇ¦s church alongside the understanding of the basics and recent discussions of homiletics. |
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| THEO5962, 5963 Special Topics on Worship and Sacred Music I, II |
| Pertinent topics of worship and sacred music are selected for investigation and studied in a seminar setting in which students also contribute to the discussion under instructor’s guidance. Examples of topics include: Study and Writing of Corporate Prayers, Liturgy and Pastoral Care, J.S. Bach and the Lutheran Chorales, etc. |
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| THEO5343 Homiletics |
| This course will cover: 1) the principles, construction and technique in preaching; and 2) the content and message of a sermon in contemporary world. This course will include videotaping students’ preaching. Tutorials after preaching will be conducted for the improvement of technique and content. |
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| THEO5345 Preaching |
| Through lectures, reading and self-studies, students learn how to compose and deliver sermon. Special emphasis will be given to Biblical exposition, progression of thoughts, flow of feelings, use of illustrations, relevancy, and deliver styles. Critiques, suggestions, or comments by the instructor and interaction in a small group will be facilitated. Each student is expected to deliver a full-length sermon in front of other students two to three times a semester and hand in the relevant scripts at the same time. Students need to hand in the revised scripts in two weeks’ time. |
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| THEO5346 Death and Dying |
| This course explores the meaning of death and its related issues from different perspectives, namely, religious, pastoral, philosophical and sociological in order that students can develop sensitivity and skill in meeting and serving the dying as well as the bereaved. |
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| THEO6947 Clinical Pastoral Education |
| Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is a mode of theological education that has a history of several decades. It facilitates pastoral growth through action-reflection mode of learning in clinical settings. This course requires students to complete one unit of CPE programme at a training center recognized by the Divinity School. |
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| THEO5354 Christian Ethics |
| This course examines the context, nature, method and principles of Christian ethics. Emphasis is given to contemporary challenges to and of Christian ethics. |
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| THEO5964, 5965 Special Topics on Mission I, II |
| The course examines topics that arise in the broader field of mission studies, such as the history of mission, presentday mission movements, theology of mission, mission and evangelism among special people groups, intercultural theology, or theology of religions. |
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| THEO5351 Foundation of Religious Education |
This course aims at providing opportunities for students:
- To look at the foundational theories of Religious Education;
- To deepen their knowledge and understanding of such theories from the perspective of the Christian religion;
- To apply such theories in assessing exercises of assessing courses/programs of Christian Education currently used in denominations and local churches;
- To apply such theories by developing a model of Christian Education with a new approach entitled “Praxis in Dimensions”.
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| THEO5551 Life Education in Hong Kong |
| The course is to explore ideas, practices and pedagogies of life education in Hong Kong, and its relation to new issues emerging from value education, such as national identity and service learning. Apart from lectures, this course will arrange workshops, local and/or overseas field trips. |
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| THEO5511 Preaching Bible in Contexts |
| The course encourages and equips contextual interpretation and contextual proclamation of the Bible. “Contexts” are existential, life-oriented and multifaceted, e.g. political, economic, cultural, geographical, religious, personal growth, etc. “Context” could also be determined by liturgical demands such as Sunday sermon, baptism, Eucharist, festival, funeral, wedding ceremony and so forth. Students are expected to bridge the ancient biblical context(s) with the contemporary life context(s). |
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| THEO5512 Homiletics and Selected Reading of the Bible |
| The course encourages dialogue between pastors and biblical scholar(s) concerning theory and praxis. Both parties are engaged to build up a constructive relationship between critical exegesis and ecclesiastical preaching. Sermon topic related to specific area of biblical studies (such as Wisdom Literature, Pauline Letters, the Apocalypse of John, etc.) will be selected. Instead of motivational speaking, students are expected to prepare and deliver sermons in light of scholarly consensus, updated biblical studies and accountable exposition of the Bible. |
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| THEO5513 Teaching Bible in Church and School |
| The course investigates the history, current situation and new trends of educational ministry within the Church and schools with church background (including local churches, denominations, kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools). Implementation experiences of “Sunday” school, Bible study group and religious studies subjects at school are consolidated and evaluated. Strategies for better implementation of Bible teaching are formulated. Students are expected to manage and plan the Bible ministries in their church or school setting effectively. |
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| THEO5301 Hebrew I |
| This course, and the sequel Hebrew II in the next semester, are designed to enable the students to read Biblical Hebrew. In this course, Hebrew I, students learn starting from the alphabets to the basic forms of Hebrew sentences. Students not only learn how to read simple sentences from the Hebrew bible, but also pronounce the words. Students will also learn some Hebrew songs which accompany the lessons. This course follows closely to its text book, Learn Biblical Hebrew by John H. Dobson (2005). Hebrew I will cover Lessons 1-13. |
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| THEO5302 Hebrew II |
| This course, a sequel to Hebrew I, will continue to follow the textbook, Learn Biblical Hebrew by John H. Dobson (2005), covering Lessons 14-25. It will cover all the binyanim of Hebrew as well as understanding concepts of Hebrew syntax, function of prepositions and the principles of translating narratives and poetry. In particular, we shall read the Hebrew text of Jonah (a narrative with a poem) with the help of the Lexicon. |
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| THEO5303 New Testament Greek I |
| This course provides students with an introduction to the basic grammar and vocabulary of New Testament Greek, in order to enable students to read the original New Testament texts. |
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| THEO5304 New Testament Greek II |
| This course is a continuation of New Testament Greek I. It provides students with an introduction to the essential elements to New Testament Greek. Students will master different aspects of Greek morphology and syntax and acquire a substantial reading vocabulary. In order to enhance learning, the course employs both deductive and inductive methods. |
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| THEO5311 Introduction to the Hebrew Scripture |
| This course orientates students to the diverse scholarship which encompasses the study of the Hebrew Scripture: from archaeology, historical-critical, grammatico-historical, sociohistorical methodologies to the history of composition of the biblical books, languages, religions and literature of the period before the common era. Inevitably, it also introduces the world of the ancient Near East ˇV its history, religions and literature, which the Hebrew Scripture belonged and related to. This course traces the challenges confronted by the nation of Israel from its beginning up until the period of the Second Temple. |
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| THEO5312 Introduction to the New Testament |
| The main purpose of this course is to give students a general understanding the text of the New Testament, its methods of studies, its background and the issues involved. To achieve this purpose, it is necessary for students to know how the NT is interpreted in the light of modern thoughts. This involves firstly a good knowledge of the meaning of the basic text of the NT - this is in fact the prerequisite condition for students who are going to take this course; those do not know the text of the NT have to read through it twice (both Chinese and English version) at least. Besides, students are also required to read some basic works of modern interpretation of the NT. |
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| THEO5313 Wisdom and the Psalms |
| This course studies the “wisdom” genre of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, namely Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus and the Wisdom of Solomon, and some wisdom passages in the prophetic genre, as well as the book of Psalms. It studies the concept of “wisdom” in these books, and their distinction from, and relation to the other books of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. At the same time, it also considers its relationship to the ancient Near East genre of instruction literature. |
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| THEO5314 Synoptic Gospels |
| This course comprises a study of the purpose and theology of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), comparing their distinct characteristics and looking at their similarities and differences. The course begins with a critical survey of the history of the Synoptic problem (how to explain the relationship between Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and proposed solutions. Exegesis of selected passages will be carried out to understand the original setting of individual gospel. |
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| THEO5315 Johannine Literature |
| This course will include a study of the authorship, purpose and main themes of the Johannine literature. Special attention will be given to some selected passages from the Gospel according to John, the Epistles of John and Revelation (Apocalypse). |
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| THEO5316 Pauline Letters |
| This course is a selected study of Pauline Letters. The course will explore the historical contexts and contents of the letters, and the development of Pauline theology. |
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| THEO5317 Pentateuchal Studies |
| This course covers the major scholarship pertaining to the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It not only examines the themes and historical purposes for these books, but also orientates the students to the complexities of the contents and purposes for these books as evidenced by the prominent scholarship throughout the 19th to the 21st century. It tracks the recent development of the debates pertaining to the source theories of J, E, D and P; and also recent alternative theories and methodologies to the study of the Pentateuch. |
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| THEO5318 Prophetic Literature |
| This course covers selected readings from the second portion of the Hebrew bible, the Prophets, in particular the latter prophets, which includes Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the book of the Twelve (Minor Prophets). Historical studies aided with contextual interpretations will be the approach taken in engaging the biblical text, while theological and exegetical studies of the text will interact vigorously with contemporary social, political, economic and cultural dimensions of the public life. Insights and influences from modern literary and critical theories, social sciences and humanities, and various inter-disciplinary approaches will also be introduced and applied in the course of interpretation. |
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| THEO5321 Early and Medieval Church |
| The purpose of the course is to introduce the students to the historical and theological developments in the early and medieval church, from Jesus to the dawn of the Reformation and to engage them in a critical dialogue with earlier forms of contextualization of the Christian faith. |
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| THEO5331 Humanity and Salvation |
| This course introduces both the historical and theological development of Christian doctrine of humanity and salvation. |
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| THEO5335 Systematic Theology I |
| Systematic theology can be understood as the theological discipline that constructively articulates the meaning, coherence, and implications of Christian beliefs. This course aims at providing students with a solid methodological foundation for the study of systematic theology by investigating various issues that belong to the “prolegomena” of systematic theology, including the formative factors of theology (such as revelation, Bible, tradition, experience, reason, and culture), theological language, and theological methods. |
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| THEO5336 Systematic Theology II |
| After completing this course, the student is expected (a) to a solid understanding of major Christian doctrines, including the diversity of views, major historical developments, and significant issues involved, and their interrelations; (b) to be able to read and understand the writings of some important theologians, especially those in the patristic era, the Reformation era, and the twentieth century; (c) to be able to critically articulate the relevance of systematic theology for Christian life and churches. |
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| THEO5340 Local Church Study |
| This course aims at helping students gain a systematic and critical understanding of Hong Kong (mainly Protestant) churches. Students will also be introduced to the field of congregational studies. |
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| THEO5856 Church Schools in Hong Kong |
| This course explores the history, mission and strategy of church schools in Hong Kong, and their impact on Hong Kong’s system of education. Besides, an in-depth case study of different traditions of church schools (such as, Anglican, Church of Christ in China, Methodist, Catholic, Baptist and others) will be introduced as well as examined. Theories from Pierre Bourdieu on field of forces, habitus and cultural capital, and Basil Bernstein on knowledge and the secular market curriculum will be drawn into discussion. |
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