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Big Questions in Science and Religion

Module description

This module aims to take an innovative approach to a series of major issues on which the natural sciences and Christian thought contribute insights. The issues will be approached via a problem-solving approach. In this module you will work in teams to develop solutions to problems that will in turn illustrate key issues in the interaction of the sciences with Christian theology.

No prior understanding of the sciences or of Christian theology is necessary to participate fully in this module.

As an introduction to interdisciplinary working, it is particularly suitable for those exploring interdisciplinary enquiry.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The four case-studies for group exploration will cover subjects such as interplanetary travel and colonisation, the possibility of extraterrestrial life, the science and theology of COVID-19, the theology and ethics of food, and the challenge of climate change. All students will explore all case-studies (though you will be able to choose which two areas you will be assessed in).

In turn this will permit exploration of theological issues such as paradigm shift, the problem of divine action, symbiosis in ecosystems, and whether Christianity has anything to offer to environmental thinking and lifestyle.

This builds on departmental expertise on divine action, practical theology, ecotheology, and environmental ethics.

The group-working will build key skills for the world of work, including team-working, the ability to reflect on practice, and the ability to communicate effectively through the Web. An awareness of the climate emergency will also become increasingly essential for a whole range of types of employment.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Give a non-technical account of one or more challenges to contemporary human life that are informed by the sciences
• 2. Explain how those challenges interact with specific Christian theological positions

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Demonstrate understanding of the ways in which Christian theology tends to interact with the sciences
• 4. Give an account of how that interaction affects classic Christian frameworks of thought

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Work in a student team to generate creative solutions to a given task, showing respect for the views of others
• 6. Generate a set of webpages that creatively illustrate the groupwork and the issues it addressed

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:

• Training in the use of entry-level Web design software
• The case-studies, supported by lectures on the issues arising in terms of interactions between the sciences and Christian theology.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

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

• T.S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (Chicago, U Chicago Press, 1961) 

• C. Southgate (ed.), God, Humanity and the Cosmos (London: T&T Clark, 3rd edn 2011)  

• R. Muers and D. Grumett (eds), Eating and Believing (London: T&T Clark, 2011)
  

• M. Hulme, Why we disagree about Climate Change (Cambridge: CUP, 2009edn)