Course description

• Course content
• Learning outcome
• Teaching
• Examination

Course content

Philosophical questions underpin all research whether explicitly acknowledged or not. Within theology and religious studies, important differences exist between, for example, hermeneutics and philology in the study of historical or sacred texts as well as ethnography and qualitative research on society and religious communities. Ethical and doctrinal issues raise fundamental issues in the philosophy of religion. In all these cases, we need to discuss what methods produce valid data and judgements (methodology). At core, they reflect underlying assumptions (ontologies) about theology and religion, some of which are in direct contradiction with each other. These differences have important implications for the way we study religion and theology. As a result, it is important to grasp these differences and to be able to recognise how they influence the research process.

Learning outcome

Knowledge
Candidates will:
Become familia