Theology and Religion
Postcolonial Theology
- Overview
- Module description
Postcolonial Theology (THE3026)
| Staff | Professor Susannah Cornwall - Convenor |
|---|---|
| Credit Value | 30 |
| ECTS Value | 15 |
| NQF Level | 6 |
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Co-requisites | None |
| Duration of Module | Term 1: 11 weeks; |
Module aims
In this module you will:
- Be introduced to postcolonial theory
- Learn about the part colonialism and decolonialism have variously played in the Christian tradition, interpretation of the Bible, sexuality, and gender.
- Explore how Christianity’s historical relationship with empire has shaped recent and contemporary understandings of non-western traditions and interpretative frameworks.
- Examine in detail texts from a range of postcolonial and decolonial theologians and biblical interpreters including those living in diaspora.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of some of the major developments, questions and figures in postcolonial theology
- 2. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of postcolonial theology
- 3. Demonstrate awareness of the similarities and differences between postcolonial theology and other postmodern theologies
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 4. Assess the cogency and coherence of the arguments of others
- 5. Develop and present a coherent argument with appropriate use of evidence and awareness of a range of alternative views
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 6. Evaluate, organise and present complex material
- 7. Demonstrate consistency and rigour in method and argument
- 8. Exercise substantial autonomy in the management of your own learning
- 9. Communicate clearly in written and/or oral forms
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 postcolonial theory
- Empire and the Christian Tradition
- Postcolonialism and the Bible
- Postcolonial theology, sex and gender
- Mission and decolonization
- Britain's imperial history and its legacy in church and theology
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | 267 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | 11 x 2 hour lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 11 | 11 x 1 hour seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 267 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-class assessments e.g. 3-2-1 Countdown | Up to 1500 words total | 1-9 | Oral |
| ELE quizzes | 2 x 10 questions | 1-3 | In-quiz feedback |
| Seminar leadership | Introduction to 1-hour seminar for small group | 1-9 | Oral and written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 45 | 4500 words | 1-9 | Written feedback |
| Essay 2 | 45 | 4500 words | 1-9 | Written feedback |
| Participation/engagement | 10 | Continuous engagement with threshold tasks | 1-5, 9 | |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | Essay 4500 words | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Essay 2 | Essay 4500 words | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Participation/engagement | Repeat study/mitigation | 1-5, 9 | N/a |
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
- Brett, Mark (2008), Decolonizing God: The Bible in Tides of Empire, Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press
- Choy, Renie Chow (2021), Ancestral Feeling: Postcolonial Thoughts on Western Christian Heritage, London: SCM Press
- Kwok Pui-lan (2005), Postcolonial Imagination and Feminist Theology, Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press
- Kwok Pui-lan, Don H. Compier and Joerg Rieger (eds.) (2007), Empire and the Christian Tradition: New Readings of Classical Theologians, Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press
- Kwok Pui-lan (2021), Postcolonial Politics and Theology: Unraveling Empire for a Global World, Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press
- Liew, Tat-siong Benny and Fernando F. Segovia (2018), Colonialism and the Bible: Contemporary Reflections from the Global South, Lanham, MD: Lexington Books
- Reddie, Anthony G. (2019), Theologising Brexit: A Liberationist and Postcolonial Critique, Abingdon: Routledge
- Reddie, Anthony G. and Carol Troupe (eds.) (2023), Deconstructing Whiteness, Empire and Mission, London: SCM Press
- Rieger, Joerg (2007), Christ and Empire: From Paul to Postcolonial Times, Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press
- Sugirtharajah, R.S. (ed.) (2018), The Oxford Handbook of Postcolonial Biblical Criticism, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
01/03/2017
Last revision date
15/03/2021
Key words search
Colonialism; decolonialism; Bible; sexuality; gender
