Welcome

Theology and Philosophy BA (Hons)

Meet the Team

Professor Susan Docherty

Susan Docherty

The Theology and Philosophy courses at Newman University are taught by a team of five academics, with specialisms in different areas of the subject, including Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, Contemporary Theology, Biblical Studies, and Religious Education.

Susan Docherty studied Theology at the University of Cambridge, gaining a BA, MA and MPhil there, before completing her PhD at the University of Manchester. She has taught at Newman University since 2000, and was appointed Reader in Biblical Studies in 2013 and then Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism in 2015. She specialises in early Jewish and early Christian biblical interpretation. Susan is the current convenor of the Annual Seminar on the Jewish Scriptures in Earliest Christianity and jointly guest edited a special edition (published in September 2015) of the Journal of New Testament Studies devoted to the re-use of Israel’s Scriptures in the New Testament. In 2016 she was awarded the William Barclay Distinguished Research Fellowship in Biblical Studies at Trinity College, University of Glasgow, and in 2020 the Mary Ward Visiting Fellowship at Margaret Beaufort Institute Cambridge. Susan is an associate member of the Irish Institute for Catholic Studies and a member of the International Advisory Board of the journal, Irish Theological Quarterly.

Eamonn Elliott

Eamonn Elliott is a senior lecturer at Newman University. He is responsible for co-ordinating the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS) and teaches Religious Education on Undergraduate & Postgraduate programmes. As part of a national approach to CCRS Eamonn sits on the National Board of Religious Studies and chairs the CCRS Central & South Wales regional group.

During his time at Newman Eamonn has been an external examiner to other universities including the University of Brighton and the University of Glasgow. He completed a ‘Masters in Education & Professional Studies’ at Birmingham University and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Eamonn is presently undertaking a doctorate through an EdD at Newman (in partnership with Liverpool Hope University). Having trained as a primary school teacher Eamonn has spent most of his professional life working within Catholic Education and this has continued as a focal point for his doctoral research.

Dr Richard Goode

Richard Goode

Having completed his BTh at Westminster College, Oxford, Richard was awarded AHRC scholarships for Masters and PhD studies which he took at the University of Birmingham. His doctoral research, ‘Looking for the living among the dead (letters): Textual transmission within first and second century Christianity’ was jointly supervised by Profs. Mark Goodacre and David Parker. Post-doctoral work  included working at the Institute for Textual Scholarship and Electronic Editing (ITSEE) at the University of Birmingham and as Content Specialist for the British Library on the ‘Turning Pages’, Codex Sinaiticus Project.

Richard has also been the director of the Syneidon Project which he set up in 2007 to explore and develop dialogues between faith communities and academics in relation to the Bible and its use.

Dr Louise Hickman

Louise Hickman

Louise is Reader in Philosophy of Religion, and programme lead for taught post-graduate Theology provision. She studied for her first two degrees at the University of Exeter and completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge. She has published on various aspects of the history of philosophy, the philosophy of religion, and science and religion. From 2011-2018, she was editor of Reviews in Science and Religion. 

Louise is a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion and a Senior Fellow of the UK’s Higher Education Academy. She is also a trustee of the Trussell Trust.

Dr Tom Hunt

Tom Hunt

Tom has studied at Cambridge, Birmingham and Cardiff. He taught at Durham before coming to Newman in September 2013.

In your first semester at Newman, you will study three modules:

Methods in Theological and Philosophical Study: This module introduces students to the study of Theology and Philosophy at University level through a focus on the theme of ‘Understanding Creation’, and aims to equip students with the academic skills needed for successful study towards a degree.

Politics and Religion in Britain: This module introduces students to the field of political philosophy, and explores the role of religion and politics in Britain today by examining topical case studies.

Reading Sacred Texts: The Jewish and Christian Bible: This module introduces students to the academic study of sacred texts with a particular focus on the Jewish and Christian bible – its origins, contents, and uses within faith communities today.

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 course page.

You can expect 10 hours of classes each week, spread over 4 days. The group size will be small (typically between 8 and 15 students). The classes will include a mixture of input from the tutor, discussion, and opportunities to ask questions. You will often be provided with something specific to read in advance of the class so that you can come prepared to share your ideas.

Mondays 13:00-14:00pm & 15:00-17:00pm

Tuesdays 9:00-11:00am

Thursdays 9:00-11:00am, 12:00-13:00pm & 14:00-16:00pm

Full details of your individual academic timetable will be available on mynewman after you have completed online enrolment and set up your student login.

Preparatory Work in Philosophy

If you’re new to the study of philosophy, then this book is great to read:

Nigel Warburton (2013) Philosophy: The Basics. Abingdon: Routledge.

It is an introduction to all the main areas of philosophy and will give you a good understanding of some key ideas. Even if you’ve done some philosophy before, it would be worth reading it to refresh and consolidate your knowledge. There are lots of second-hand copies available for £3-4 on Abe Books.

Or, this book will be useful throughout your degree studies:

Diogenes Allen and Eric O. Springsted (2007) Philosophy for Understanding Theology. Louisville: Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press. There are second-hand copies available from Abe Books for less than £5.

If you’ve already studied philosophy before and want something a little more challenging to read before you begin your studies then you could read some chapters of this book.

Online Resources 

  • Have a look at this useful website. It contains lots of podcasts (about 30 minutes each) on all sorts of different philosophical topics, including ethics. Browse the site and have a listen to some podcasts that catch your attention. The degree at Newman can support you to develop your own philosophical and theological interests so now is a great time to pursue the kinds of topics you’re interested in.
  • Michael Sandel is a famous American philosopher and he has recorded a series of lectures. Start with lecture 1 ‘The Moral Side of Murder’. He discusses lots of interesting ethical ideas, and many of them will be discussed further in the degree.
  • Marianne Talbot’s ‘A romp through the history of philosophy from the Pre-Socratics to the present day’ will also provide a useful introduction.

Preparatory Work in 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)

Both of these are suitable for beginners, and will support what we cover in your fist semester at Newman.

Online Resources

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

  • New Testament Podcasts  – 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 Project – a series of short introductory videos on different books of the bible recorded as part of the St John’s Timeline Project. Maybe choose a book you’ve heard of but don’t know anything about to explore.

Other articles and videos can be found on Bible Odyssey and Biblical Studies Online – surf one of them and see what interests you.

General Reading to Prepare you for a Degree in Theology & Philosophy

Here are details of a small selection of books that we recommend you read during your first year. You may like to choose 1 or 2 of them to read before you start the course to open up areas of the subject that will be new for you. You are not required to buy any of these, as copies are available in the University library, and your local library may also be able to obtain some of them for you.

Theological Study

  • 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

  • Anderson, W.P., A Journey through Christian Theology (Fortress 2010)
  • Meister, C. and Stump, J.B., Christian Thought: A Historical Introduction (Routledge 2010)

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)

Hear more about this programme