TH501 WHAT CATHOLICS BELIEVE

TH101   INTRODUCTION TO CATHOLICISM

Level 5, 10 Credits

What are the key distinguishing characteristics of Catholicism? How are they expressed today? In considering these questions, this course aims to provide useful background for those interested in exploring the question of Catholic identity.

TH502 WHAT IS THEOLOGY?

TH102   INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY

Level 5, 10 Credits

Theology is “faith seeking understanding”. This course will explore questions about God, Jesus Christ, creation and being human in light of scripture, tradition and experience. Students will be encouraged to see themselves as both experiencing and receiving theology.

TH503 CHURCH AND SACRAMENTS

TH103   HISTORY OF THE SACRAMENTS

Level 5, 10 Credits

Course Material: Martos, J. (2001). Doors to the sacred: A historical introduction to the sacraments in the Catholic Church, Liguori, MO: Liguori/triumps

This course will give an overview of the major historical changes and developments that have influenced our understanding and practice of the sacraments. This in turn will help students to better understand the issues relating to sacraments today.

 TH504 CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

 TH104   SOCIAL ISSUES: CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING TODAY

Level 5, 10 Credits

What is Catholic social teaching? This course will outline the Church’s teaching on justice and peace. Some major social issues will be explored with a view to helping participants better understand how Catholic social teaching can be applied to action for justice and peace.

TH505 ISSUES IN CHRISTIAN ETHICS

TH110   INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN MORALITY

Level 5, 10 Credits

Christian morality seeks a faith-filled response to the ordinary and “not so ordinary” issues that people face. This course will examine the key principles underlying Christian morality and will introduce students to some of the different approaches to moral decision-making.

TH601 SACRAMENTS TODAY

TH201/RE200   UNDERSTANDING SACRAMENTS

Level 6, 15 Credits

This course will give an overview of the theological understanding of the sacraments today and help participants view the sacraments more critically, renewing their own approach to and understanding of them.

TH602 THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS

TH202/RE200 INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTOLOGY

Level 6, 15 Credits

As Christians, we are heirs to a profoundly rich history. For some two thousand years Christians have been struggling to come to terms with the Jesus we recognise as Christ, Lord and Saviour. This course will examine some of that history as it invites participants to answer for themselves Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?”

TH603 RENEWING THE CHURCH

TH203   UNDERSTANDING CHURCH

Level 6, 15 Credits

This course looks at the Catholic Church's understanding of itself from the time of the Second Vatican Council, particularly as expressed in the document The Constitution on the Church (Lumen gentium).

TH604 THE LITUGICAL YEAR

TH204 THE LITURGICAL YEAR

Level 6, 15 Credits

As the title suggests, this course will look at the Church’s annual liturgical cycle with special focus on the liturgical seasons. It will explore the enriching theological and liturgical implications the cycle brings with it which will, hopefully, increase the appreciation for the importance of liturgy in the pastoral-spiritual formation of all the baptised.

TH606a THE EARLY CHURCH 

TH206a/RE200  CHURCH HISTORY: THE EARLY AGES  

Level 6, 15 Credits

The period is a long one and it is not possible to cover all issues. The course will examine the emergence of the Church within the culture of the Roman Empire, both east and west. It will trace the conflict between heresy and orthodoxy, especially in the debates concerning the person of Christ. Attention will also be given to the administration of the Church and the development of episcopal and papal government. In conclusion, we shall look at the conflict over the use of images which was resolved by the seventh ecumenical council.

TH606b THE MIDDLE AGES

TH206b/RE200 CHURCH HISTORY: THE MIDDLE AGES    

Level 6, 15 Credits

This course will look at the Church in Western Europe between about the 8^th and 15^th centuries.  It will examine the following: the process and extent of conversion, the  growth and importance of monasticism and other religious orders, the growth of papal government and the nature of the papacy’s relations with kings and emperors, the religious attitudes and observances of the laity, and religious and ecclesiastical reform movements at all levels of the Church.  The emphasis throughout will be on the interrelationship between the Church and the society in which it operated.

TH606c THE REFORMATION 

TH206c/RE200 CHURCH HISTORY: THE REFORMATION

Level 6, 15 Credits

This course traces the history of the Church from before the Protestant Reformation and looks at the events that led up to the Counter-Reformation and the Council of Trent. Areas covered include Counter-Reformation theology, spirituality and attitudes to new scientific learning. Martin Luther, Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, Queen Elizabeth I and John Calvin will be some of the people studied.

TH608 UNDERSTAND WORLD RELIGIONS

TH208/RE200 WORLD RELIGIONS 

Level 6, 15 Credits

Knowledge of other religions and the principles of inter-faith dialogue has become a pastoral imperative. This course presents an overview of major world religions and explores ways of becoming involved in inter-religious dialogue.

TH611 CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING II

TH211   CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING II

Level 6, 15 Credits

It is the special vocation of the laity to advance the reign of God by acting as a leaven in the world and transforming society. This course will explain the Church’s social teaching in some detail and focus on the permanent elements in that teaching. The course aims to give participants the knowledge and understanding necessary in order to apply the Church’s teaching with confidence to the issues of the day.

TH619 MĀORI SPIRITUALITY- HE RAU TOROA II

TH219/RE200 MAORI SPIRITUALITY         

Level 6, 15 Credits

This course will assist students to deepen their understanding of being Christian in the bi-cultural context of Aotearoa New Zealand through an exploration of concepts and values central to Māori spirituality.

TH631 CATHOLIC SPIRITUAL TRADITION

TH231   CATHOLIC SPIRITUAL TRADITION

Level 6, 15 Credits

This course introduces students to the major contributors, movements and contexts associated with Christian spirituality from the early Church until today. They will identify and analyse historical developments in the Christian spiritual tradition and examine ecumenical and Maori spirituality in Aotearoa-New Zealand from a Catholic perspective.

TH636 LEADERSHIP IN THE NEW ZEALAND CHURCH 

TH236   THE NEW ZEALAND CHURCH: LEADERSHIP IN CONTEXT

Level 6, 15 Credits

This course will provide students with an overview of major historical features that are the legacy of the global Church of our time. In addition, students will explore the tradition and history of the New Zealand Church with a view to being able to exercise leadership in a biculturally sensitive way.

TH633 VALUES AND ETHICS IN PASTORAL LEADERSHIP 

LD/PM333 VALUES AND ETHICS IN PASTORAL LEADERSHIP 

Technological developments are becoming integrated into and changing our social practices and institutions, including sexuality, marriage and family life. This course will help students to engage with some of the pastoral issues that people face today from the beginning of life through to the end of life.