The Certificate in Theology through the Creative Arts (Cinema, Literature and Music) aims to provide a working knowledge of key terms and topics in Christian theology. This provides learners with the basis to develop the theological literacy needed to take part in cultural and religious education discussions and to pursue questions about faith and practice in contemporary culture. In addition, the course aims to enable learners to explore and identify theological themes in world literature, cinema, and music. 

Credits: 10 ECTS

Delivery: One evening per week (3-hours on-campus) for 12 weeks. See January 2024 Programme Schedule for further details.

The course will cover the following areas:

The sources of Theology:

• Vocabulary, definitions, concepts, and methodologies;
• Tradition – Yves Congar and the meaning of tradition;
• Revelation – Dei Verbum and the theology of revelation;
• Salvation, Redemption, and Atonement in the Christian tradition;
• Interpreting Sacred Texts: The Literal, Allegorical, Moral, and Anagogical senses of scripture

Theology and contemporary culture:

• Student input is essential for the creative arts part of this module.  Students, in consultation with the lecturer, will select a number of works at the start of the course which will be explored as sites for theological discourse.  The following examples can be used as a guide:
  • Theodicy in The Dark Knight Trilogy,
  • Redemption in Harry Potter;
  • Fellowship in Babettes Feast;
  • Being and Becoming in The Matrix;
  • Revelation and Incarnation in the poetry of Patrick Kavanagh
  • Death, and Redemption in selected texts from Shakespeare and Heaney
  • Secularisation in Richard Power’s The Hungry Grass;
  • Agnosticism in the works of Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen

Entry Requirements

Applications are assessed on a case by case basis in accordance with Carlow College Admission Guidelines and Procedures for Part-Time Learners

Fees

Course fees are €350 and payable at registration.

Applications

Applications for Certificates commencing in January open in late October. Full application details are available here