Church History Methodology

You are viewing an older version of this academic item. To access a different version, adjust the year in the field above. For handbooks published prior to 2023, click the "Previous Handbooks" button at the bottom of the page.

Abstract

This subject aims to foster a self-critical religious historiography by exploring how and why history is written and re-written principally within Christian traditions in the modern era. It seeks to identify the dominant concerns and emphases of past and recent historiography to uncover widely recognised criteria for good history writing; to focus on perennial methodological issues in religious history writing; to survey critically recent Australian religious history writing; and to demonstrate the central part that history as a discipline plays within theological studies.

Syllabus

An overview of history writing and methods of critique Professional skills and current standards in contemporary history writing Religious and church history writing during the previous fifty years Contemporary forces that shape the writing and criticism of religious history Developments in Australian religious historiography since the 1960s Perennial methodological issues … For more content click the Read More button below. The place of the historian's own attitudes and concerns in religious history writing The nature of historical proof The contested use of historical methodology in vindicating or corroborating religious faith

An overview of history writing and methods of critique
Professional skills and current standards in contemporary history writing
Religious and church history writing during the previous fifty years
Contemporary forces that shape the writing and criticism of religious history
Developments in Australian religious historiography since the 1960s
Perennial methodological issues affecting history writing in general and religious history writing in particular
The place of the historian's own attitudes and concerns in religious history writing
The nature of historical proof
The contested use of historical methodology in vindicating or corroborating religious faith

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

be able to show understanding of how emphases and perspectives of religious and wider historiography have changed during the past century;

be able to demonstrate recognition of how perspectives of history writers are shaped by their culture and religious interests;

be able to assess the competence of any history writing by formal historiographical standards;

be able to evaluate critically the perspectives and preoccupations of contemporary works on Australian religious history;

be able to discuss the problems posed by historical methodology in vindicating or corroborating religious faith;

be able to evidence enhanced research and historiographical skills.

Enrolment restrictions

Master of Theology and Bachelor of Theology (Honours) students only

Incompatible