Theology and Philosophy BA (Hons)

Semester 1

Week beginning 22 September 2025

• Monday: 9am to 12pm
• Tuesday: 10am to 12pm
• Wednesday: 10am to 12pm
• Thursday: 12pm to 2pm and 2pm to 3pm

Full details of your individual academic timetable, including Semester 2 timetable which may differ, will be available via your university email calendar after you have completed online enrolment and set up your student login.

Sometimes people like to do some reading and thinking before they join the course. If you’d like to do this, here are some reading suggestions.

Reading suggestions

These are some fictional books that introduce and reflect on key theological and philosophical ideas. Any of these books would be great to read before you start your studies:

• Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
• Holy Cow by David Duchovny
• Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
• Pat Barker, The Silence of the Girls
• Natalie Haynes, A Thousand Ships
• Tom McCarthy, Remainder
• Alice Walker, The Colour Purple (also a film).
• My Heart Hemmed in by Marie NDiaye, translated by Jordan Stump
• The Factory, Hiroko Oyamada, Translated by David Boyd
• Ursula K. Le Guin, The Dispossessed

Here are some non-fiction books you can look at:‎

General reading to prepare you for a Theology degree

• Astley, J, Brown D. and Loades A. (eds.), God in Action: Problems in Theology (T&T Clark 2004)‎
• Corrywright, D. and Morgan, P. Get Set For Religious Studies (Edinburgh University Press 2006)‎
• Morreall, J. and Sonn, T., The Religion Toolkit: A Complete Guide to Religious Studies (Wiley-‎Blackwell 2011)‎

Christian Theology

• Plantinga, R. Thompson, T. and Lundberg, M., An Introduction to Christian Theology. (Oxford 2010)
• Meister, C. and Stump, J.B., Christian Thought: A Historical Introduction (Routledge 2010)‎

Biblical Studies

• Moyise, S., Introduction to Biblical Studies (T&T Clark 2004)‎
• Shillington, V.G., Reading the Sacred Text: An Introduction to Biblical Studies (T&T Clark/Continuum ‎‎2002)‎

Philosophy of Religion

• Davies, B., Philosophy of Religion: A Guide and Anthology (Oxford University Press 2000)‎
• Rea, M.C. and Murray, M.J., An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion (Cambridge University Press ‎‎2008)‎
• Warburton, N., Philosophy: The Classics (Routledge 2000)‎

Study of World Religions

• Chryssides G.D. and Greaves, R., The Study of Religion: An Introduction to Key Ideas and Methods ‎‎(T&T Clark Continuum 2007)‎
• Woodhead, L. and Catto, R., Religion and Change in Modern Britain (Routledge 2012)‎

Introductory Online Resources for Philosophy of Religion

Here are some links to videos and podcasts to get you thinking about philosophical ideas: ‎

• The Philosopher’s Zone
• TED talks on philosophy ‎
• Introduction to philosophy
• Philosophy Bites ‎
• ‎‘A romp through the history of philosophy from the Pre-Socratics to the present day’ (Podcast – 1.5 hours)‎
• What is Justice? – series of recorded lectures by the famous philosopher Michael Sandel

Introductory Online Resources for Biblical Studies

Here are some links to online resources introducing aspects of biblical studies:‎

• Podacre – a series of podcasts by the contemporary biblical scholar Mark ‎Goodacre; especially useful are the ones on the historical Jesus; the synoptic gospels; the synoptic ‎problem; and Paul
• Timeline Theology Videos – a series of short introductory ‎videos on different books of the bible recorded as part of the St John’s Timeline Project
• Other articles and videos can be found on the following two sites:‎
  • Bible Odyssey
  • Biblical Studies Online

• Monday 15 September
• 9:30am to 12pm
• Room HI101

What we’ll cover: 

• Meeting the teaching team and the other people on your course
• Getting your university ID
• Dates in the diary for the next 12 weeks
• Meeting your personal tutors
• Work set for class on 22 September
• Please bring something to take notes with

IMPORTANT: Please bring your photo ID with you to complete the ID verification check for Student Finance confirmation.

• Wednesday 17 September
• 10am to 12pm
• Room DA103

What we’ll cover:

• An ethical dilemma to talk through together
• Specific details about where and how to find classrooms.
• How to manage university systems (IT, communications, attendance registering)
• Practicing finding rooms
• Meeting library and chaplaincy teams.
• Please bring something to take notes with

Teaching on the Theology and Philosophy degree is covered by four members of staff.

• Tom Hunt is Programme Lead and teaches modules on contemporary religion and politics and on Christian Theology. Speak to Tom if you have any issues around your timetable, accessing IT, or general questions about enrolment.
• Louise Hickman specialises in Philosophy of Religion.
• Richard Goode works on the Bible and the ways that it is read in contemporary society.
• Eamonn Elliott is an expert in religious education.

In this degree, teaching and learning is built around group discussion. You’ll be asked to look through some material before each class, make some notes and have a think.

Each class will focus on this material, with discussion and debate to help us understand more.

The first semester runs up to mid-December. During this time, we’ll cover the following modules:

Module: Methods in Theological and Philosophical Study

This module takes you through some key ideas and assumptions in the study of Theology and Philosophy.

Module: Religion and Politics in Britain

This module explores key questions in how we live together, including case studies focussing on religion in contemporary Britain.

Module: Reading Sacred Texts: The Jewish and Christian Bible

This module introduces the approaches used for the study of the Tanakh/Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and New Testament; its creation, content, interpretation(s) and use.

You can find a longer summary of these modules, and all the others which will be available to you ‎throughout your degree course, on our Theology and Philosophy course page.