Liberal Arts
Liberal ArtsModules

Heaven and Hell throughout the Ages (THE2142)

StaffProfessor Morwenna Ludlow - Convenor
Credit Value30
ECTS Value15.00
NQF Level5
Pre-requisitesNone
Co-requisitesNone
Duration of Module Term 1: 11 weeks;

Module aims

This module will examine:

  • the development of Christian doctrines of heaven, hell and related concepts such as purgatory, focusing on five key periods: the early Church; the Medieval period; the Reformation; the late 18th and 19th centuries
  • how specific questions on the nature of heaven and hell have been related to the Christian eschatological hope and to Christian theology in general
  • social and political factors affecting belief in or the denial of hell
  • the variety of beliefs on these themes, in particular looking at the relationship between mainstream Christianity and fringe groups

ILO: Module-specific skills

  • 1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of the variety of Christian beliefs about heaven, hell and purgatory and their development through time.
  • 2. Describe and assess the relation of Christian eschatological beliefs to other theological doctrines and to social and political factors

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

  • 3. Use the methods of critical historical investigation to analyse the relationship between specifically Christian beliefs, texts, practices and institutions, and wider social and cultural structures and norms
  • 4. Demonstrate detailed understanding of how personal and communal identities and motivations are shaped by religion, how this has both constructive and destructive effects, and the importance of these identities

ILO: Personal and key skills

  • 5. Undertake guided work within broad guidelines
  • 6. Shape detailed information into a coherent account demonstrating consistency and rigour in method and argument, with some guidance
  • 7. Evaluate and analyse selected written primary and secondary sources and material sources, with some guidance
  • 8. Demonstrate sensitive understanding of the differences between the practices and traditions of various groups
  • 9. Communicate clearly in written and oral forms
  • 10. Participate appropriately in a learning group

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:

  • Introduction to themes and issues [Homeric Hymn to Demeter and Virgil Aeneid VI]
  • The early church I [The Passion of Perpetua; Irenaeus Against Heresies V]
  • The early church II [Origen On First Principles, Augustine City of God]
  • The Medieval period: Hell and Purgatory [Dies Irae; Dante Purgatorio]
  • The Medieval period: resurrection [Dante Paradiso and Aquinas]
  • Radical eschatology [Pseudo-Dionysius, Joachim of Fiore, Jan Hus]
  • The Reformation: purgatory, indulgences [Luther 95 Theses; Babylonian Captivity]
  • Responses to the Reformation: [Council of Trent; Johannes Denck] 
  • Seventeenth and eighteenth century England: pietism, Platonism and radicalism [Anne Conway, Jane Lead, George Rust, and Jeremiah White] 
  • The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries: USA [Jonathan Edwards and H. Ballou]
  • The nineteenth century: UK [F. W. Farrar; E. Pusey; John Colenso]

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
332670

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching22Lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching11Seminars
Guided Independent Study267Private study

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Written essay plan1 side of A41-9Written or 1:1 spoken
Chair seminar discussion + complete self-reflection questionnaire20 minutes + 200 words1-5, 7-10Spoken feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
504010

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Written open book exam401500 words1-9Written feedback
Essay504500 words1-9Written feedback
Participation10n/a1-5, 7-10Cumulative spoken feedback in synchronous teaching sessions

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

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Written examWritten exam1-9Referral/deferral period
EssayEssay1-9Referral/deferral period
ParticipationComments on 6 asynchronous learning sessions1-6, 7-10Referral/Deferral period

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

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Available as distance learning?

No

Last revision date

19/08/2020