Theology is a potentially interdisciplinary subject with opportunities to learn more about the ideas, history, practices, sociology, literature and languages of belief. Its scope ranges well beyond what you cover on the A-Level Religious Studies syllabus. Follow your supercurricular interest and see where it leads!
1. Read books for systematic understanding
The following non-fiction books range across the philosophy of religion and into Theology as a discipline in its own right. Beyond that are some introductory texts that will help you compare religious traditions.
- Is There a God? by Richard Swinburne (1996): A concise philosophical case for the existence of God, rigorously defending theism using modern analytic philosophy.
- The Miracle of Theism by JL Mackie (1983): Open-minded philosophical case against the existence of God. Critically evaluates classic arguments for theism and offers a thoroughly reasoned atheistic conclusion.
- A History of God by Karen Armstrong (1993): Follows how concepts of God evolved over time in the related monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
- The Puzzle of Christianity by Peter Vardy (2016): A great companion to your further exploration of the A-Level syllabus. Manageable reading on Jesus, the development of Christianity, denominational splits, the authority of the Bible and Christian responses to the modern challenges of feminism, secularism and atheism.
- Theology: The Basics by Alister McGrath (2004): This is a comprehensive but short enough introduction to the whole of Christian theology. Accessibly fills the gaps left by your limited A-Level syllabus.
- Evil and the God of Love by John Hick (1974): A philosophical survey of the problem and proposed solutions, followed by Hick’s own Irenaean-style theodicy.
- Big Bang, Big God by Rodney Holder (2013): A Cambridge University astrophysicist explains why he believes in God with a clinical examination of the relevant evidence from his field.
- Early Christian Writings: If you have already read the New Testament, these letters give you a fascinating insight into the practices and persecutions of the generation that came immediately afterward.
- The History of Christian Thought by Jonathan Hill (2003): Easy-to-read profiles of thinkers, doctrines, movements and controversies from the early Church to now.
- A History of the Bible by John Barton (2019): A great primer on the origins, interpretation and transmission of Christian scripture, including its historical contexts.
- The Historical Figure of Jesus by EP Sanders (1993): A classic example of attempts to piece together what we know of Jesus of Nazareth.
- A History of Christianity by Diarmaid MacCulloch (2009): This is a comprehensive account, so it makes for a very long book that you might want to dip into rather than read all the way through.
- The Story of the Jews by Simon Schama (2013): Interweaves the Jewish people’s theological and faith traditions with broader cultural and political developments up to the year 1492.
- The House of Islam by Ed Husain (2017): The intellectual and spiritual heritage of Islam in all its internal complexity.
- Religions in the Modern World edited by Linda Woodhead (2016): This is a textbook with introductory articles on the major global religions, movements and challenges.
2. Read novels for human insight
Novels are a particularly suitable vehicle for exploring core theological themes of God’s immanence in the world and humanity’s wrestling with it. They won’t help you gain in factual knowledge, but they will give you human understanding. Here is a selection of some deeply theological literature:
- The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis (1942): A satirical imagining of an apprentice demon learning the dynamics of human temptation. Beneath the whimsy there are serious points about human nature and divine grace.
- Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (1945): In the author’s own words, this Catholic novel is about “the operation of divine grace on a group of diverse but closely connected characters.” It opens with idyllic scenes of Oxford and country house life, and then draws you willingly into the deeper themes later.
- The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene (1940): Follows a flawed priest during a period of anti-Church suppression in Mexico. Grace, sin and the presence of God even amidst brokenness.
- Silence by Shusaku Endo (1966): Bleakly follows the fates of 17th century missionaries through hostile Japan. Hailed by many reviewers as a life-transforming read. Now adapted into a film starring Adam Driver and Liam Neeson.
- The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1880): An epic interrogation of faith, doubt, free will and suffering through the worldviews of three very different brothers. There are some especially famous chapters on the problem of evil and the imagined return of Christ to a hostile Church.
- Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin (2012): Mystical novel about a healer’s journey through medieval Russia. It is a favourite recommended by former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who describes it as “an historical narrative full of anachronistic humour, theological subtleties and extraordinary psychological imagination.”
- Gilead by Marilynne Robinson: An elderly pastor writes quiet reflections for his son, whom he will never get to see grow up. Themes of faith, forgiveness, and finding the sacramental in everyday life.
- The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien (1954): A subtly religious narrative where providence, sacrifice and redemption infuse the whole story.
- The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (1678): 17th century Protestant allegorical journey mapping the Christian path of salvation, temptation and perseverance. Hugely influential on English culture.
- Paradise Lost by John Milton: Another culturally influential choice. An epic poem meditating on the fall and redemption of mankind.
3. Listen to podcasts for up-to-date application of Theology to modern life
Podcasts are great for multi-tasking while you do some chores or go for a run. There is such a wide range for Theology and Religion, especially from particular faith perspectives. The selection below is chosen for its wider applicability:
- In Our Time: Religion: BBC Radio 4 programme where Melvyn Bragg whips a panel of academics into teaching him about a new subject every week. The BBC has a separate podcast feed for philosophy, religion, history, science or culture. Thousands of episodes since it started in 1998! Search the full archive for something you like.
- Sunday: Gentle BBC Radio 4 treatment of the week’s religious news.
- Holy Smoke: Combative discussion of controversial religious topics of the week.
- Cosmic Skeptic: Alex O’Connor is an engaging young Oxford graduate who stands out for his direct personal engagement with the hardest questions in the philosophy of religion. Expect interviews with major figures in the relevant fields.
- Closer to Truth: Thoughtful interviews with theologians, philosophers, scientists and other academics on fundamental questions of the universe. High production values here from the USA’s public-service broadcaster, PBS.
- Gresham College Lectures: This public institution gives thoroughly informative talks on a broad range of Theology topics and more. There is an interesting recent series on pagan religion.
- Unbelievable? Weekly debates between believers and non-believers on fundamental questions of Theology. The host is an Oxford Philosophy and Theology graduate, and moderates these discussions thoughtfully.
- Reasonable Faith: Christian philosopher and apologist William Lane Craig takes on listener questions.
- The Thomistic Institute: Thoughtful lectures on Theology with a basis in the thought of Thomas Aquinas.
- BibleProject: Thematic conversations analysing the Bible in depth.
- Godsplaining: Conversations applying Catholic theology to today’s issues.
- Living With the Gods: Former director of the British Museum uses artefacts to tell the history of religious belief across the world. This is now a complete series from 2017 – you can listen to it in full.
4. Watch YouTube channels for bitesize topics
The best YouTube channels present information in both a digestible and memorable format. These ones are interesting and full of visual aids for theological study:
- Religion for Breakfast: An objective introduction to a wide array of comparative religion topics. A great way to grow your literacy in the subject.
- The Bible Project: Short videos summarising books of the Bible with excellent visuals which you can download and keep.
- Christian Art: Explores the traditions, symbolism and history of Christian art (and sometimes music too). Great one for the culture vultures.
- Ascension Presents: Vibrant introductions to topics and key questions in Catholic Christian theology.
- Breaking in the Habit: A Franciscan monk reflects on the religious life and topical issues facing Christian believers.
- Let’s Talk Religion: Visually rich academic introductions to a broad range of religious traditions. Browse the thematic playlists to find your own route through the material.
5. Take online courses for a taste of university-level learning
Compared with other subjects, there is only a sparse selection of online courses (or MOOCs) for Theology. However, here are some high quality examples with well-compiled resources and in core theological or comparative religion topics:
- A Journey through Western Christianity: from Persecuted Faith to Global Religion (100-1650) (Yale University on Coursera)
- Philosophy, Science and Religion (University of Edinburgh on Coursera)
- World Religions Through Their Scriptures (Harvard University on edX)
- Religion, Conflict and Peace (Harvard University on edX)
- The Qur’an Between Judaism and Christianity (University of Nottingham on FutureLearn)
- Zoroastrianism: History, Religion and Belief (SOAS, University of London on FutureLearn)
- Why Religion Matters: Religious Literacy, Culture and Diversity (The Open University on FutureLearn)
Theology & Religion University Entrance Tuition
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