Unit rationale, description and aim
Interreligious understanding and respect is an essential concern for navigating today's pluralistic society. This unit aims to provide you with an introduction to the comparative study of sacred texts and their theologies, concentrating on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. You will explore various ways of reading these sacred texts, both from within the religious tradition, and respectfully, from the perspective of another faith tradition. This unit will enable you to engage with the methodologies of comparative theology, interreligious learning, and 'scriptural reasoning', and apply them to interreligious encounters, both in Australia and internationally.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Compare the sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity,...
Learning Outcome 01
Critically evaluate the methodological overlaps an...
Learning Outcome 02
Apply comparative interreligious insights to a loc...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
- Revelation, authority, inspiration, and sacred texts in Judaism, Christianity and Islam;
- The similarities and differences in hermeneutics (science of interpretation) between Judaism, Christianity and Islam when studying their sacred texts (and that of others);
- A study of specific texts within each religious tradition (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity) to see how they have interpreted, and continue, to interpret their sacred texts;
- A study of sacred texts that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam either have in common with one another or share similar themes.
- The conceptual frameworks of comparative theology, interreligious learning, and scriptural reasoning.
Assessment strategy and rationale
A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. Assessment will focus on developing your ability to analyse, evaluate, and apply what you have learned to specific interreligious encounters. Such procedures may include, but are not limited to, presentations, essays, reports, examinations, and case studies.
Overview of assessments
Short written comparative piece - requires studen...
Short written comparative piece - requires students to demonstrate critical understanding of Abrahamic texts and traditions
20%
Oral presentation with written component - requir...
Oral presentation with written component - requires students to critically assess and evaluate methodological issues pertaining to comparative theology, interreligious learning and scriptural reasoning
40%
Analytic Research Essay - requires students to cr...
Analytic Research Essay - requires students to critically analyse the texts and traditions of Abrahamic faiths in an Australian context
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit includes formally structured learning activities such as lectures, integrated classroom discussions and online learning (where applicable), focusing on students as active learners. It also includes guest lectures and excursions (where feasible and available) related to the unit content. The remaining hours involve reading, research, and the preparation of tasks for assessment.