PC136-812 - Theological Approaches to Wellbeing

  • 2,976 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 12
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 8
    AQF level
  • Category advanced unit
    C
  • Pastoral & Church-Focussed Ministry Unit Discipline

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

1. Biblical and theological principles relating to human flourishing and wellbeing, and the approaches to human wellbeing in the history of ideas and Christian thought.

B. Be able to

1. Critique secular and Christian perspectives on human flourishing and wellbeing

2. Present a Research-Aware and evidence-based perspective on wellbeing in a church or professional setting

C. Be in a position to

1. Communicating a vision and rationale for a Christian perspective on human flourishing and wellbeing in their vocational context

2. Applying Advanced perspectives and skills from their theological understanding of human flourishing to ministry or professional practice and contemporary Christian living as a Reflective practice.

Content

1. Human flourishing in the history of ideas and Christian thought

2. Human flourishing and wellbeing in the Old Testament

3. Human flourishing and wellbeing in the New Testament

4. Theological reflections upon positive psychology and contemporary understandings of happiness

5. Suffering, resilience and wellbeing

6. Virtue and its relationship to wellbeing

7. The contribution of the church to wellbeing

Set Readings

This unit's indicative bibliography is currently being revised. Students should contact their home college for further details at the time of taking this unit.


Ambler, G., M.P. Anstey, T.D. McCall & M.A. White (eds) Flourishing in Faith: Theology Encountering Positive Psychology (Eugene, Oregon: Cascade, 2017)

Birkett, K., Resilience: A Spiritual Project (London: The Latimer Trust, 2016)

Charry, E.T., By the Renewing of Your Minds: The Pastoral Function of Christian Doctrine (New York: OUP, 1997)

Charry, E.T., God and the Art of Happiness (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2010)

Clifton, S., Disability, Virtue Ethics, and the Good Life (Waco, TX: Baylor UP, 2018)

McMinn, M.R., The Science of Virtue: Why Positive Psychology Matters to the Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos, 2017)

Pennington, J.T., 'A Biblical Theology of Human Flourishing' Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, 2015. Online: https://tifwe.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Pennington-A-Biblical-Theology-of-Human-Flourishing.pdf

Pennington, J.T., The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2018)

Strawn, B.A., The Bible and the Pursuit of Happiness: What the Old and New Testaments Teach Us about the Good life (Oxford: OUP, 2012)

Taylor, C., A Secular Age (Cambridge, Mass: Belknap, 2007)

Volf, M. A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos, 2011)

Volf, M. & M. Croasmum, For the Life of the World: Theology That Makes a Difference (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos, 2019)

Whybray, N.R., Good Life in the Old Testament (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 2006)

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