- Course code: TEOL2640
- Credits: 10
- Semester: Spring
- Language: English
Study program affiliation:
Church in the World: Denominations and Ecumenism TEOL2640
This course is no longer offered. Students who have the right to take or retake the exam in this course can contact the study counselor.
TEOL2640 focuses on the main dominations in world Christianity and on the church¿s ecumenical profile. We often talk about new faces of Christianity, and the course will reflect these major developments within the global church. We will focus on a selected group of churches and denominations, their historical background, growth, identity, distinctive features and beliefs.
The course also introduces ecumenism as a term that signalizes the church¿s longing for visible unity. We ask: what do the churches in general have in common and what are the main differences? We will critically thematize the tools and working methods that have characterized ecumenism over the past 100 years, and we will discuss different alternative approaches and cooperation models, because changes in the church landscape, social issues and the work for peace and justice represent new challenges in the ecumenical work.
Modes of teaching and learning activities:
- Lectures, discussions and group dialogues
- Essay writing
About the study
Study requirements
In order to receive a final assessment, the student must:
- have approved an essay of 1200-1500 words on a subject covered in the course
- attend at least 60 percent of the lectures
- participate in the in-depth evaluation of the course if such evaluation is stipulated in the relevant term.
- When course requirements are not fulfilled, this will count as one examination attempt, unless the student withdraws before the set deadline (1 May).
Final assessment/Exam
The final evaluation is a 4 hour written school exam. The exam is assessed with grades (A-F).
Examination support material permitted on the exam: List E and List F. Link to overview over support material lists: https://www2.mf.no/dokumenter/studier/eksamen/hjelpemidler_eksamen.pdf
Exam dates
- Exam date:
- 19. May 2025
- Start time:
- 09:00
- Duration:
- 4 hours
- Final deadline to withdraw from examination:
- 1. May 2025
- Release date for results:
- 6. June 2025
Written school exam - Ordinary exam
Learning outcome
KNOWLEDGE
The student has:
- knowledge about the far-reaching changes in the worldwide geography of Christianity
- understanding of the historical background for the most influential churches and denominations in the world today, their doctrinal beliefs and worship
- insight into what promotes a good conversational culture when facing theological and ethical disagreement between churches
- insight about tools and working methods that characterize the ecumenical movement
SKILLS
The student can:
- analyze and evaluate the similarities as well as the differences between selected bodies which represent the worldwide church today
- in a constructive and critical way reflect upon ecumenical tools and working methods and how contemporary issues represent new challenges in the ecumenical dialogue
- reflect upon one's own approaches in light of the theoretical insights given in the course
Overlapping courses
Reduction of Credit points
TEOL2650 does not overlap with other courses.
Reading list
Here you can find the reading list for this course.
Part of the literature will be available digitally, while other parts might only be available in paper format. Some of the literature will be available as compendiums, which you can find via the course room in Canvas.
You will automatically get access to literature that is available digitally when you are sitting at MF, otherwise you can get access by using Oria or by using "External access" in the library's list of databases.
Note that it will take some time before link to the reading list is updated. Please make sure that you are looking at the correct semester's reading list.
Course responsible
