Theme A. Religious concepts – the nature of God: Is God male? The issue of male language about God; the pastoral benefits and challenges of the model of Father; Sallie McFague and God as Mother. Can God suffer? The impassibility
Theme B. Religious concepts – the Trinity: The need for the doctrine of the Trinity: the nature and identity of Christ (issues of divinity and pre-existence) and Christ’s relationship with the Father (co-equal and co-eternal). The origin of the Holy Spirit: the filioque controversy.
Theme C. Religious concepts – the Atonement: Three theories of the Atonement (which are not mutually exclusive): the death of Jesus as Christus Victor (with reference to the liberation of humanity from hostile powers); the death of Jesus as a substitution (both the belief that Jesus died as a substitute for humanity, and the belief that only the divine-human Jesus could act as a sacrifice by God for the sake of humanity); the death of Jesus as a moral example (of how to live and die). The underlying assumptions about the need for divine forgiveness and the conflict between the wrath and love of God in theories of the Atonement.
Theme D. Religious life – faith and works: Luther’s arguments for justification by faith alone (with reference to Romans 1:17; 5:1; Ephesians 2:89; Galatians 2:16 and Luther’s rejection of James 2:24); the Council of Trent as a response to Luther; E. P. Sanders and the role of works in justification.
Theme E. Religious life – the community of believers: The New Testament community of believers as a model for churches today (with reference to Acts 2:42-47); the role of churches in providing worship and sacraments, religious teaching, mission, service and outreach, and fellowship for the community of believers.
Theme F. Religious life – key moral principles: Selected key moral principles of Christianity: the importance of love of neighbour (Leviticus 19:34; Luke 10:25-28); God’s love as a potential model for Christian behaviour (Exodus 34:6-7; 1 John 4:1921); regard for truth (1 Samuel 12:24; Ephesians 4:25-27); the role of conscience (2 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Timothy 1:5); and the need for forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15; Colossians 3:12-13).
Photos used under Creative Commons from Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel, Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view, John Beans