Open Day 2012

Department of Religions & Theology

School of Religions, Theology & Ecumenics

Trinity College, Dublin

• Study of Bible, Theology and Hebrew since the first decades of Trinity College founded in 1592, as Arts & Humanities Subject for more than 30 years.

• Ben Wold, Head of Undergraduate Teaching and Learning – Biblical Studies

• Maureen Junker-Kenny, Head of School – Theology and Ethics

Welcome to TCD

• Single Honor (6 courses) and TSM options (3)

• JF (Year 1): 6 introductory courses, exams (60%) and essays (40%)

• SF (Year 2): Language options: Hebrew, Greek, Arabic possibility of Schol exam

• JS (Year 3): exams (70%) and essays (30%)

• SS (Year 4): Dissertation (12,000 words) and 2 courses per term

Structure of 4 year BA course

Important Point About Applying!• Single Honor: Entry CAO points 380 to 340

• TSM: Entry CAO from about 450 (depending on second subject)

• APPLY BOTH FOR SINGLE HONOR & TSM!

• Business, e.g. Willis Corporation, London

• Dept. of Education, National Council for Curriculum Assessment

• Law at King’s Inns, Dublin

• Publishing• Media/Journalism

• Museums, cultural enterprises

• Human resources• Teaching Religious

Education at secondary school

• Third level teaching• Health sector

Competence in intercultural and

interreligious encounters over 3 millenia

Careers:

What are recent graduates saying?

Almost everyone has an opinion on religion whilst very few actually understand it in any depth.…Depending on your interests , you can tailor your degree to lean towards history (ancient and recent), philosophy, languages, sociology and even social psychology. There are not too many degrees which can offer you those choices. [Nick Haythornthwaite]

“Not only will your studies interest you, they will make you a more interesting person in the eyes of other people. Trinity is known globally as a centre of excellence. You’ll get a great degree, from a great university and you’ll have a whale of a time getting there.” [Nick Haythornthwaite]

A recent TSM graduate comments:

“I specifically chose Religions and Theology at Trinity College Dublin because of the breadth of the curriculum and the freedom of choice that the Department offers.

After four years in the Department, I can say that they’re all very friendly and helpful, also! Studying

Religions and Theology introduced me to philosophical and theological concepts that were new to me, as well

as challenging my pre-existing thoughts - all while encouraging me to see the practical uses of such big

ideas in the world today.”

“As a TSM student, also studying English, I was surprised by how much my subjects overlapped, and how things learned in one could always be useful for the other. Both departments were very helpful when it came to managing deadlines, too! I feel that I graduated with a broad degree, which I really enjoyed, and which covered a wide variety of disciplines essential for the workplace and for further study. I would highly recommend Religions and Theology as a TSM subject!” [Anna Williams]

Biblical Studies:

Chester Beatty Library, Dublin

Papyrus 47

Ancient Texts: Literary Studies, Methodologies, Languages

Discoveries alongside the Dead Sea

Contexts: Religious traditions at the time of

the text; e.g. Greco-Roman World, Jewish

World, etc.

Theology & Ethics

1) It treats historical and intellectual development of Christianity and its interaction with cultures it encountered and created

What is Theological Studies?

2) It studies major controversies and turning points between antiquity and modernity in the reception of biblical texts

4) It discusses philosophical and theological positions on current ethical challenges (e.g. genetic engineering)

3) It explores the origins of European values in the encounter of monotheism with Greek philosophy

Non-Denominational

Religious Studies1) Explores religion as a cultural force that shaped political history, worldviews, practices, and institutions

2) Disciplines: Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, History, Cultural Studies, and Anthropology

3) Classical texts (e.g. Max Weber, Mircea Eliade) and key contemporary authors (e.g. on religion and democracy)

Examples of Recent Dissertations Topics:

• Science and Theology: Separate Realms or Mutual Dialogue Partners?

• James Joyce and Theology

• Theology in Public Discourse

Theology

Examples of Recent Dissertations Topics:

• A Comparative Study of the Responses of Christianity, Islam and Buddhism to the Environmental Crisis.

• ‘You Are Worth More Than Your Acts’: Cultural, Philosophical and Theological Perspectives on the Ethics of Criminal Justice.

• The Burden of the Past: Philosophical, Ethical and Literary Approaches to the Concepts of Memory and Guilt.

Ethics:

Examples of Recent Dissertations Topics:

• An Assessment of the Synoptic Gospels' Teaching on Pacificism and War: Four Test Cases (2010).

• Division and Unification: A Study of Logion 114 in the Gospel of Thomas (2012).

• The Woman Jezebel: The Presentation and Portrayal of the Female in the book of Revelation (2009).

New Testament

Thank you

Enjoy your visit!