Theological Studies

Unit overview and content

This unit provides an introduction to the spirituality emanating from the life, teaching and tradition of the early Father of the Church, Augustine of Hippo, 354-430AD. Augustinian Spirituality provides a theological underpinning for our appreciation of why acts of justice are seen to be essential for followers of Christ in their ministering to the poor, the disenfranchised, the refugee and the enslaved in any age.

The content of this unit will cover the biographical details of Augustine’s life; the currency of his thought contained in his homilies, letters and his great books; the values embedded in the practice of the Rule of Life which has been lived out over 16 centuries and the influence he has made on the spiritual writings of modern Popes and the Second Vatican Council.

The unit allows students to apply the impact of this content onto their ability to be in mission for the Church amongst the poor and marginalised members of our society.

Assumed Knowledge 

THEO800 & THEO801

Study hours

10 hours per week for 12 week session, comprised of:

• At least one hour per week for online lectures.
• At least three hours per week of reading.
• At least six hours per week of directed study, including optional and assessable online activities.

Lecturers

Mr Paul Wilson

Fr Paul Maloney

Teaching methods

Online lectures; online activities; guided reading; scaffolded assessments; feedback on assessments.

Indicative Assessment

At the Institute we use a range of assessment tasks, including essays, research papers, online posts, critical reflections, projects and praxis exercises. Within a unit of study each set of assessment tasks is designed as an integral part of your learning experience. These tasks vary across units and programs. All assessment tasks are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework level appropriate for graduate awards.