Unit information: The Theology of Martin Luther in 2023/24

Unit name	The Theology of Martin Luther
Unit code	THRSM0122
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Balserak
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

Luther was foul-mouthed, brilliant, and passionately interested in finding a merciful God at the centre of the universe. He ultimately did so, and his discovery turned Europe on its head. But while the significance of Luther is well known, the actual character of his thought is not. This unit will examine that thought in detail, looking at topics like: Luther's notion of the hidden God; his doctrine of human depravity and the bondage of the will; his thinking on the devil; his theology of the cross, his theology of justification by faith, his belief in the priesthood of all believers; his understanding of the Church; his 'two kingdoms' doctrine; his understanding of the Eucharist and of the ubiquity of Christ's body, his eschatology, views on the Jews, and so forth. His thought will be examined within its late medieval context with attention also being given to the larger-than-life character of Luther, the man, and to how Luther's theology develops after his death amongst Lutherans.

Aims:

• To provide an understanding of the late-medieval and early modern theological landscape which was the background for Luther's life and thought.

• To provide an understanding of Luther's theology both in regards to the positions he takes on individual topics and in regards to the shape and character of the whole of his thought.

• To provide an understanding of some of the scholarly study of Luther and of some of the major schools of thought present within Luther

• To develop analytical skills through the discussion and essay writing.

Your learning on this unit

By the end of the unit students should be able to demonstrate:

1. advanced understanding of late medieval and early modern theology in Europe
2. sophisticated knowledge of the life and thought of Luther in its contexts
3. critical and analytical skills to deal with primary and secondary materials
4. a high level of ability in selecting, applying, interpreting and organizing information with sophistication and scholarly rigour
5. advanced application of existing analytical strategies to new evidence with flexibility and creativity
6. the capacity for independent research.

How you will learn

Lectures / Seminars - 3 hours per week

How you will be assessed

One summative coursework essay of 5000 words (100%) [Assessing ILOs 1-6]

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. THRSM0122).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.