Module manager: Dr Simon Hewitt
Email: s.hewitt@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Theology – as the reflection on (mostly) Christian faith and practice – always takes place in real-world contexts. Theologians write from particular geographical regions and social locations, differentiated by class, gender, and race. You will examine a number of theological movements which have arisen out of a conscious awareness of context. These might include Latin American liberation theology, feminist and womanist theologies, Black and African theologies, disability theology, and urban theology. Many of these movements are rooted in a commitment to social justice, to transforming the contexts out of which they speak. You will consider these commitments and how they relate to the theologian’s task of reflecting on and speaking about God. In studying this module you will encounter some of the most urgent global questions concerning belief in and speech concerning God: how is belief in God shaped by the contexts in which it arises? What does it mean to speak of God in contexts of exploitation or oppression? Is it helpful to bring an explicit awareness of context to our theological work?
Theologies which work from an awareness of context are often referred to as ‘contextual theologies’. This module aims to give you a thorough understanding of contextual theologies through presenting you with a range of examples of such theologies in detail. Additionally, the module aims to help you consider the socio-political implications of contextual theology. These theologies often aim to move people to change the world for theological reasons. You will explore whether we ought to endorse this, and whether there are concerns about this mode of theological engagement with the world. Finally, this module will enable you to develop an appreciation of the situatedness of all theology and of how you own position in the world affects how you read and write theology.
In order to equip you to come to an understanding of contextual theologies and to assess their worldly orientation, you will be taught by a combination of lectures and seminars. The lectures will present in-depth studies of contextual theologies. The seminars will provide the opportunity to reflect on core texts and theologies and form a judgement about their socio-political orientation. This will enable you to consider your own contextual relationship to the material.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
(LO1) Critically reflect on at least one contextual theology in a way that identifies its social origins and relates it to social and political issues.
(LO2) Appraise, with respect to a contextual theological movement, how key theological themes are developed within that movement and how these feed into engagement with society.
(LO3) Reflect on their own situatedness with respect to theological texts and issues, with reference to at least one contextual theology.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
(LO4) Communicate clearly and effectively about complex material (Academic and Work ready skill)
(LO5) Identify globally significant social and political ideas (Sustainability skill)
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminars | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 179 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 21 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students may submit either a partial draft of their essay or an essay plan. They can choose the form of feedback they will find most useful after reflecting on feedback received for previous work.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Students will submit an essay on a different topic for the resit.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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