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Postgraduate Subject Details All postgraduate coursework awards are offered as full fee paying options, currently at $325 per unit. Fees for international students are $5,800 per semester. The fees are payable in advance.
CREDIT FOR A COURSE
Workloads
Assessments
RELN7000 GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES ON THEOLOGY
Symbols & conceptions of ultimate reality in world religions. Notions of otherness; finite & infinite, temporal & eternal, conditioned & unconditioned. RELN7001 MYSTICISM IN RELIGION
Examination of mysticism in Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism & Islam, with particular reference to its philosophical & psychological components.
Aims: To enable students to develop a framework for analysing various traditions of mystical discourse and to acquaint them with issues and debates in modern studies of mysticism.
Assessment: One 2000 word essay, two 2000 word seminar papers (each 30%), seminar participation (10%).
Texts: HAPPOLD, F.C. Mysticism: A Study & An Anthology (Penguin). RELN7002 IS RELIGION A SIGNIFICANT FORCE IN HISTORY? A/Prof. R. Hutch Study of recent world events in which religious belief & practice have exerted major social, economic & political influence. Christianity, Buddhism, Islam & Primal Religion will claim most attention.
Aims: To consider how religions place on the Australian national agenda their various visions of the future, from idealistically utopian to grimly dystopian, with realistic spiritual challenges somewhere in the middle.
Assessment: One 2000 word essay (40%), one 3000 word research assignment (60%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN7003 RELIGIONS IN ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIA & MELANESIA Dr. L. Hume & Dr. R. Strelan Examination of aboriginal and Melanesian world-views & spiritualities, pre-contact and post-contact.
Aims: To give insight into Aboriginal and Melanesian spirituality and to develop a broad understanding of current issues in both societies.
Assessment: Three short essays (40%), one 4-5000 word assignment (60%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN7004 THE FEMININE IN RELIGION Dr. L. Hume Exploration of perceptions of the place & role of women in world religions, with attention to implications for traditional religion of the rise of feminism & the rebirth of goddess religions.
Aims: To enhance students’ ability to discuss and debate controversial topics in relation to women and religion.
Assessment: Group presentation (20%), summary (20%), 4-5000 word essay (50%), participation (10%).
Texts: No set text. RELN7100 BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES & RELIGION A/Prof. R. Hutch Examination of biography & autobiography from the perspective of its religious nature.
Aims: To engage students with recent literature in the field, to train them in the use of psychobiographical approaches for studying lives and to help them create an individual spiritual narrative in workshop sessions.
Assessment: One 2000 word essay (40%), one 4-5000 word research paper (60%), journal workshops.
Texts: To be advised. RELN7101 PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION A/Prof. R. Hutch Use of psychology & its languages in the construction of "modernity". A view of differing uses made of psychological theory by modern and post-modern thinkers.
Aims: To familiarise students with the lived experience of religious belief and practice in the life of the individual.
Assessment: In-class quiz (40%), one 3-4000 word essay (60%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN7102 LEADERSHIP IN WORLD RELIGIONS A/Prof. R. Hutch Case studies of leaders of mainline, sectarian & cultic religions as constructive/destructive influences in the lives of their followers.
Aims: To gain insight into how religious leaders emerge and their affect on religious organisations, including so-called “cults”.
Assessment: One 3-4000 word seminar presentation (40%), one 4-5000 word research paper (60%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN7103 DYING & DEATH A/Prof. R. Hutch Responses to death & dying; psychological stages of dying & grief; existential structure of death; death & techniques of denial.
Aims: To engage students with recent literature in the field, to introduce them to medical, legal, hospice, religious and funeral professions as these address human issues of death, and to help students create a personal stance towards their own mortality.
Assessment: One 2000 word assignment (40%), one 4000 word research report (60%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN7104 HEALTH & RELIGION A/Prof. R. Hutch Critical survey of popular literature from the "health & healing" movement in contemporary Australia.
Aims: To engage students with recent literature in the field, introduce them to complementary and alternative medicine in contemporary Australia and help them create a personal stance toward holistic health.
Assessment: Exercise on reading material (40%), research report (60%).
Texts: To be advised.
RELN7105 DEPTH PSYCHOLOGY & RELIGION A/Prof. R. Hutch Historical study of depth psychology with emphasis on neo-Freudian & neo-Jungian approaches to understanding religions. (A third hour will be available following on from the second hour, at the discretion of the lecturer.)
Aims: To introduce students to classic works in depth psychology and bring the application of recent neo-Freudian and neo-Jungian works to the study of world religions.
Assessment: One 4000 word essay (35%), one 3-4000 word research assignment (65%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN7106 PSYCHOTHERAPY & PASTORAL PRACTICE A/Prof. R. Hutch Personal change & soteriological process in contemporary psychotherapies & spiritualities. Whether individual experiences of religion affect social & institutional power relationships.
Aims: To show that whether one draws from the languages of religion or psychotherapy, facing up to the human condition is what counts, and making the most out of it!
Assessment: One 3-4000 word autobiographical declaration (40%), one4-5000 word research assignment (60%).
Texts: To be advised.
RELN7109 NEW EXPRESSIONS OF RELIGION Dr. L. Hume Examination of the beliefs, practices & historical background of new religious movements, with an emphasis on the experiential.
Aims: To enable students to extend their knowledge of new religious movements in general and to promote a broad understanding of the issues involved in researching these movements.
Assessment: Two 1000 word essays (20% and 30%), one 3,500 word essay (40%), in-class presentation (10%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN7110 PAGANISM IN ANCIENT & MODERN CONTEXTS Dr. L. Hume Myths & ritual pertaining to ancient Paganism, their relationship to Neo-Paganism & the development & spread of beliefs in the 20th century, using a phenomenological approach.
Aims: To examine diverse ways in which people in contemporary cultures are re-examining traditional concepts of religion and reviving what they see as ancient forms of spirituality.
Assessment: Two essays (40% and 50%), one short response (10%).
Texts: To be advised.
RELN7200 ATHEISM & MODERN SECULARISM Prof. P. Almond Study of the development of atheism in the West from the Enlightenment to the present day. Particular attention is paid to the thought of Kant, Marx, Freud, Durkheim, 20th century English empiricism & existentialism. RELN7201 INCARNATION IN MODERN CHRISTIAN THOUGHT Prof. P. Almond Subject examines the discussion of the nature of Jesus in modern theology. Particular attention is paid to historical, philosophical & logical issues inherent in the discussion.
Aims: To examine sources & methods used in the study of Jesus; to introduce students to the classic doctrinal understanding of the person & work of Jesus & to present contemporary interpretation of these doctrines with the problems surrounding them.
Assessment: Three seminar papers of 1500-2000 words (90%) seminar participation (10%).
Texts: To be advised.
RELN7202 UNITY & DIVERSITY IN CHRISTIAN BELIEF Prof. P. Almond Expressions of fundamental belief found within forms of Christianity, and the historical reasons for agreement & divergence.
Aims: To introduce students to a series of central conceptual issues in Christianity and provide them with a framework within which they can locate various aspects of the Christian tradition.
Assessment: One 2000 word essay (40%), one 1500 word essay (30%), one take-home exam (30%).
Text: No set text. RELN7203 LIFE AFTER DEATH IN WESTERN THOUGHT Prof. P. Almond The course examines the interplay in Western thought between concepts of heaven, hell & the afterlife along with perennial Western accounts of the end of the world.
Assessment: Two 1500 word essays (25% each), one 2500 word essay (40%), seminar participation (10%). RELN7300 THE HINDU TRADITION Ms. T. Ditrich The philosophical & religious thought of the Hindu tradition is examined from its beginning in ancient Vedic times to more recent reform movements.
Aims: To explore Hinduism as one of the old living traditions, as a religion and world view and as a comprehensive way of life.
Assessment: One 4-5000 word essay (50%), one 2-3000 word seminar paper (50%).
Texts: HOPKINS, T. The Hindu Religious Tradition RELN7301 BUDDHISM IN INDIA & EAST ASIA Ms. T. Ditrich Examination of the spread of Buddhism through India, East & Southeast Asia, concentrating on influence of indigenous cultures & religions.
Aims: To provide a comprehensive survey of Buddhism from its beginnings to the present day.
Assessment: One essay 3-4000 words (50%), one seminar paper (50%).
Texts: HARVEY, P. An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings History & Practice RELN7302 THE BUDDHIST MEDITATIVE TRADITION Dr. R. Bucknell An examination of meditation in Buddhism from both the doctrinal & practical perspectives.
Aims: To enable students to gain an intellectual understanding of meditation and an ability to give critical consideration to the issues raised.
Assessment: One 2000 word essay (30%], one 2500 word essay 40%), discussion paper (20%), participation (10%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN7303 ASIAN SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY A/Prof. R. Reat Consideration of humankind's first recorded discovery of the five empirical senses & the mind as their common receptacle, followed by study of theoretical & practical approaches to consciousness in Hinduism & Buddhism. RELN7304 RELIGION IN CHINA A/Prof. R. Bucknell Study of major religious traditions in China since early historical times. Particular attention is paid to Taoism, Confucianism & the Chinese schools of Buddhism. Islam & Christianity in China are also discussed. The social & political significance of religion in China is examined including its status under Communism.
Aims: To develop an understanding of the religious life of the Chinese people in all its variety, its historical development & present-day practice.
Assessment: One 1500 word essay (20%), one 2000 word essay (30%), one take-home exam (50%).
Texts: DEBARY, R. Sources of Chinese Tradition, Vol. 1
THOMPSON, L.G. Chinese Relgiion: An Introduction, 4th ed. RELN7305 RELIGION IN JAPAN Dr. R. Bucknell A study of religion in Japan, especially Buddhism, Shinto & the new religions from early historical times to the present.
Aims: To give students an appreciation of the nature and role of religion in contemporary Japan and an adequate knowledge of the doctrinal features and historical background of the more important traditions.
Assessment: Two essays (20% and 30%), one take-home exam (50%).
Texts: EARHART, H.B. Japanese Religion: Unity & Diversity, 3rd ed. RELN7400 READING PROPHETIC LITERATURE A/Prof. E. Conrad Focusing primarily on the book of Isaiah, the subject critically assesses the attempts of scholarship to locate the prophet & to reconstruct the historical development of the book. It also considers how reader-oriented analysis has offered new approaches for interpreting the book.
Aims: To introduce students to prophets in Ancient Israel & relate that to comparative studies of seers in other religious traditions.
Assessment: One discussion paper (30%), one assignment (30%), one take-home exam (30%), participation (10%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN7401 NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGIES Dr. R. Strelan Examination of different christological, theological & soteriological interpretations of Jesus of Nazareth, with emphasis on Paul. It will also look at ecclesiological & ethical implications & consequences of early Christianity. Students will be taught to understand New Testament theologies in a diachronical way.
Aims: to pursue the question of how we can account for the early worship of Jesus, looking at ways in which some early Christians thought of Jesus.
Assesssment: Three essays of 2000 words each (25%, 25%, 35%) and one seminar paper (15%). RELN7402 JESUS & THE GOSPELS Dr. R. Strelan Examination of the problem of the historical Jesus in the four Gospels. Apocryphal gospels are also considered. The problem of the historical Jesus will play a major role.
Aims: To identify issues in the study of the Gospels and follow the history of scholarly approaches to the Gospels.
Assessment: Three essays c. 2000 word each (25%, 25%, 35%) and a 30 minute oral exam (15%).
Texts: The Bible - New Standard Revised Version. RELN7403 QUMRAN & THE ESSENES Dr. R. Strelan Subject deals with the Essenes, an early Jewish group, and with the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in caves near the ruins of Qumran in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Aims: To stimulate interest in reading translated texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls; to explore their context and become familiar with the issues of scholarship involved with the Scrolls.
Assessment: Three essays (25%, 25%, 40%) participation (10%).
Texts: VERMES, G. The Dead Sea Scrolls in English, 1995 (Penguin). RELN7404 JEWISH & CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVES ON OCCULTIC ARTS IN THE GRAECO-ROMAN WORLD Dr. R. Strelan Considers the literature dealing with Jewish & Christian understandings of and attitudes to magic & astrology in the Graeco-Roman world.
Aims: To determine the extent of magical & astrological beliefs & practices among Jews & Christians of the Second Temple period
Assessment: Either three 2000 word essays (30%, 30%, 40%) or two 3000 word essays (50% each).
Texts: The Bible (other texts photocopied & distributed). RELN7405 REVEALERS & REVELATION IN ANCIENT JEWISH & CHRISTIAN LITERATURE Dr. R. Strelan Examines the literature (primary & secondary) from Jewish & Christian authors in the Graeco-Roman world dealing with modes & content of revelation & the person of the revealers.
Aims: To examine the significance of various forms of revelatory experiences as indicated in ancient Jewish & Christian texts.
Assessment: Three essays of 1750-2000 words each (30%, 30%, 40%).
Texts: The Bible (RSV with apocrypha or Jerusalem Bible).
RE7406 RELIGION IN THE GRAECO-ROMAN EMPIRE Dr. R. Strelan This subject examines Manichaeism, Mandaeism, Gnosticism, the Corpus Hermeticum & Mystery religions, as well as various aspects of Platonism, Hellenistic Judaism & Roman religion. The interrelation of philosophies & religious movements will be studied. There will be considerable reliance on Greek, Latin & Oriental sources in English translations. RELN7407 INTERPRETING THE BIBLE IN THE MODERN WORLD Dr. L. Moores (English) and Exploration of contemporary claims about how the Bible should be interpreted e.g. creationism, Barbara Thiering's Pesher method, the historical-critical method and others.
Aims: The subject is designed to acquaint students with the variety of readings of the biblical literature as they are applied to current contentious political, intellectual & cultural issues.
Assessment: One discussion paper (30%), one assignment (30%), one take-home exam (30%), participation (10%).
Texts: To be advised. RELN7408 FEMINIST APPROACHES TO THE BIBLE Dr. L. Moores (English) and Feminist criticism has offered a significant critique of prevailing literary theory & practice. This subject examines a variety of feminist approaches to reading the Bible. It also deals with issues of canon and authority raised by feminist readings.
Aims: to acquaint students with current discussion at the intersection of feminist theory, literary theory and biblical scholarship.
Assessment One 2-3000 word essay (50%), one 1000 word response paper (30%), one summary report of 500 words (10%), participation (10%).
Texts: The Bible - New Revised Standard Version RELN7600 THESIS Sem II Supervised work on a 25-30,000 word thesis arising from courses in Parts A & B of the Master of Arts (Studies in Theology) program and Parts A,B,C,D & E of the Master of Arts (Studies in Religion). RELN7601 THESIS Year Supervised work on a 25-30,000 word thesis arising from courses in Parts A & B of the Master of Arts (Studies in Theology) program and Parts A,B,C,D & E of the Master of Arts (Studies in Religion).
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