None

The student can: 

analyse and evaluate challenging texts by important theologians from the Reformed tradition as well as modern theologians (MTA 1, 2, 3); 

explain and reproduce the main aspects of selected themes from Reformed theology from a systematical and historical perspective (MTA 1, 4); 

reflect from a Reformed perspective on selected theological topics and construct new ways to develop and appropriate themes from Reformed theology for her/his context (MTA 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8). 

This course travels through current theological themes and investigates what a Reformed theological perspective can contribute. Meanwhile, it is a practice in conversing with different contexts and traditions. The theme of ‘God’s presence in reality’ connects the first six lectures. A major concern in Western theology is a particular shortcoming of modernity and secularity: the materialist or naturalist worldview has so deeply transformed our thinking and feeling that it is difficult to notice, acknowledge and sense the presence of God. In the field of ethics and philosophy, non-naturalist worldviews and re-enchantment have recently been explored. In Western theology, ontologies of participation are sometimes presented as solution to re-connect God and reality. Thanks to the MIRT-students in this course, the participants can receive and engage with a non-Western perspective on this typical Western problem.  Because a Reformed perspective takes the Scriptures as its authority, there will also be attention for biblical theology in the questions at stake. This module focuses on some major theological topics such as: how to approach creation theologically (1), the trend of sacramental ontology (2), the trend of theosis (3), the threefold office of Christ (4), eco(theo)logy (5), and eschatology (6). The students will gain insight in classic (reformed) stances concerning these matters, as well as contemporary issues concerning these topics. They will be challenged to reflect theologically and contextually on the themes at stake. The theological issues discussed are not confined to Reformed theology, but students will learn how to relate from their Reformed and contextual perspective to these issues.   

An international theologian will lecture on the actuality and contextualisation of Reformed theology in his specific context. 

Students prepare themselves through literature study of the assigned texts. Before each lecture, they need to hand in a reading report according to specific requirements that focus on analysis of the texts and contextual reflection and appropriation of the theological theme in his or her cultural context while taking (Western) reformed theology into the conversation (use Canvas). The evaluation is based on the assignments (50%) and a written exam with multiple choice closed-ended questions, short open-ended questions and long open-ended questions (50%).  

Lectures 

Dr. Martine Oldhoff  

Creation: how to approach creation theologically? 

Creation: sacramental ontology  

Soteriology: trending theosis 

Soteriology: the threefold office of Christ 

Eco(theo)logy 

Eschatology 

(3x) International Guest Professor dr. Paul Mpindi on ‘doing Reformed theology in Africa’  

• 6 lectures with dr. Martine Oldhoff (6 x 3 hours) 
• 3 lectures with an international guest professor (3 x 3 hours) 
• Discussions, Presentations, Writing assignments (CAAQR), Independent studies and a Final Paper 

Study Load – 168 hours 

Contact hours: 27 hours  Lecture preparation: 75hours 

Independent study:  66 hours 

Final Assessment 

*Five assignments, prepared before every lecture: reading report (on the largest text that is to be read for the specific lecture) according to requirements that focus on analysis of the texts and contextual reflection: the CAAQR model (CAAQR is a representation, in approximately 600 words, of a text by means of a core quote, a description of the argument (not a summary), an analytical connection (not a similarity) with the other text that needed to be read for the particular lecture, a critical-analytical question concerning the concerned literature and a brief reflection on the relation to one’s own cultural context). The students receive a grade for two of the assignments and the average of these assignments composes half of the final grade (50%). 

*A written exam with multiple choice closed-ended questions, short open-ended questions and long open-ended questions (50%). 

Period D: Minor Reading (part 2, see period B; 2 ec), Master’s Thesis (3 ec in period C and 15 ec in period D)

MTA Afstudeerrichting Kerkgeschiedenis

Het masterprogramma draagt de titel ‘Theologische stemmen in meervoud: vijf eeuwen Nederlandse kerkgeschiedenis’ en bevat de volgende cursussen (periodes eventueel in overleg):

• Cursus 1: (Laat)middeleeuwse en voorreformatorische kernteksten (dr. Klok); cursuscode MAKG1.1, periode A.
• Cursus 2: Reformatoren aan het woord: kernteksten uit de reformatie (prof. Hiebsch, dr. Klok); code MAKG2.1, periode A.
• Cursus 3: Postreformatorische theologische stemmen (dr. Klok); code MAKG3.1, periode B.
• Cursus 4: Het neocalvinisme van de 19e en 20e eeuw Meeting of the Minds: de correspondentie Kuyper-Bavinck (prof. Harinck); code MAKG4.1, periode B.
• Cursus 5: Lutheranen in Nederland (docent onbekend); code MAKG5 OF De veelzijdige Calvijn (dr. J.C. Klok); code MAKG8, periode D.
• Bijvak: periode A en B (voltijds; periode A deeltijds).
• Afstudeertraject (Klok, Hiebsch, Harinck); code MAKG10, periode C en D.

*) Indien voor de planning noodzakelijk volgt een voltijdstudent de tweede helft van de colleges c.q. opdrachten van module2 in periode B samen met de deeltijdstudenten (‘Module 2b’). Dit in overleg; de colleges worden in ieder geval niet dubbel gegeven.

Duitstalige literatuur

In de master kerkgeschiedenis wordt gebruik gemaakt van Duitstalige literatuur. We verwachten dat je als student de Duitse taal voldoende beheerst om deze teksten te lezen. Mocht je hier ondersteuning bij nodig hebben, dan kun je via de een cursus volgen met 15% korting.

Periode A: Cursus 1 (6 ec); Cursus 2 (6 ec); Bijvak start (3 ec)