The Da Vinci Code and beyond - new course looks at early and modern Christianity
Professionals looking to explore the connection between their work and Christian faith will be challenged by the Master of Arts in Early Christianity and Contemporary Practice.
Offered for the first time in 2006, the MA in Early Christianity and Contemporary Practice is a joint venture between Macquarie University's Department of Ancient History and the Macquarie Christian Studies Institute (a college within the Australian College of Theology).
Christianity in focus
"In seeking approval for this course I quoted from an article that appeared in the Financial Review's Boss Magazine in August 2003," explains Neil Holm from the Macquarie Christian Studies Institute (MCSI). "Entitled 'The suits are looking to Christianity to help them find a path through the CBD' it highlighted the fact that businesses were giving increasing attention to the spiritual dimension of people at work. It also featured interviews with a number of Christians who were seeking to find a way to integrate their work with their faith."
Building on existing strengths
This new degree builds on the Department of Ancient History's strengths in Early Christianity and the Australian College of Theology's strengths in contemporary Christianity.
"We devised this program in association with the Department of Ancient History, which already offers an MA in Early Christian and Jewish Studies," says Holm. "We wanted to look at Christianity in its earliest contexts and its contemporary context. We particularly wanted to explore connections between Christian faith and every day life."
What you will gain
During the degree students develop a deep understanding of:
* the earliest forms of Christianity and the Mediterranean context in which they developed
* the ways in which these forms are practised in a contemporary Western post-modern context
* the ways in which 21st Century Christians contextualise and integrate their faith with their professional or personal lives.
Variety of subject choices
Students are required to take four units from Ancient History and four units from the MCSI. Subjects include: Advanced Greek, Archaeological Fieldwork, The Quest for a Historical Jesus, Introduction to Biblical Hebrew, Social Ethics, Theology of Work and Pastoral Care of Workers, and Religions of the World within Contemporary Society.
Who will benefit
"This degree will interest a range of people including teachers, counsellors and lawyers who seek to base their professional practice on contextualised understandings of Christian faith," says Holm. "It will also appeal to students who seek postgraduate qualifications in contemporary Christian studies in contrast to traditional theological studies. Teachers in Christian faith based schools will also find these studies particularly useful."
For further information visit the website on www.mcsi.edu.au/ or email Neil Holm on neilholm@mcsi.edu.au