What is Christian Theology?
Christian Theology offers the opportunity to focus on the Christian faith in detail, through the study of the Bible, the history of Christianity, its key thinkers and its influence on ethical debates and the actions of its believers
Followers of the Christian religion base their beliefs on the life, teachings and death of Jesus Christ.
What 3rd level courses are available?
Universities and colleges in Ireland are offering courses in Christian Theology in the following subject areas:
- Christian Leadership in Education – An introduction to Christian Leadership in Education and theological literacy.
- Early Christian Ireland C.400-1000 – This module deals with what has traditionally been known as Ireland’s “Golden Age”, the period from the arrival of Christianity in the fifth century to the eve of the first Viking attacks at the end of the eighth.
- Biblical Studies & Christian Ministry – For some individuals, spreading the Good News of the Christian faith is more than a job, pastime or hobby—it is a calling. Many students completing this program have a passion and goal to help people lead more spiritual and rewarding lives.
- Certificate In Christian Leadership In Education – Study the application of ethical leadership in a variety of complex scenarios that reflect contemporary issues facing school leaders in faith-based schools.
Studying Christian Theology
There are many courses in Christian Theology that may take place over a few days, weeks or even 1 year to 4 years depending on the course and modules selected. There are also part-time courses and night courses available so you can be sure to fit in your studies no matter what your schedule is like.
Courses will cover theory work through lectures, assignments, tutorials and taught modules. Assessments will take place on a continuous basis with written examinations and practical assignments combined in order to achieve a qualification.
You could also consider work experience or a work shadow in the industry. Types of relevant work include youth work, advisory work such as career guidance and personal counselling, teaching, care work and social work. Voluntary work is widely available in chaplaincy teams, especially in hospitals and other health and social care settings, for example, hospices and residential care.
Relevant work experience is a good way of demonstrating a genuine interest in the field and is regarded favourably by employers.
Work Experience will not only give you the opportunity to obtain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the industry, it will also give you a chance to do some essential networking with other industry professionals and gain valuable contacts for the future.
Career options
After completing a Christian Theology course you will be able to get started in a career that uses specific knowledge of the faith and philosophical beliefs of Christianity.
A career in Christian Theology would suit you if you’re interested in helping people, are a good listener and have the capacity to deal with a range of challenges presented by individuals seeking pastoral care. You should also enjoy giving practical help and support, often during times of crisis or personal difficulty.
You could work in a range of settings, including hospitals and other health and social care establishments, such as residential care and hospices, universities, schools and colleges, prisons, sports organizations, community-based work, including community churches as well as commercial sites such as airports and the Armed Forces.
Most opportunities are in the public, voluntary and not-for-profit sector with more limited openings in commerce and industry. It’s rare that you would work on a freelance or self-employed basis for this type of work.
Working hours will depend on whether you are self-employed, employed by a company with set business hours or if you are contracted to various businesses or companies. The normal working day will be office hours from 9 am until 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday. However, you may occasionally have to work beyond this regime including evenings and weekends depending on your role and place of employment.
Related jobs include:
- Chaplain
- Higher education lecturer
- Primary school teacher
- Secondary school teacher
- Advice worker
- Archivist
- Charity fundraiser
- Counsellor
- Civil Service administrator
- Community development worker
- International aid/development worker
- Mediator
- Newspaper journalist
- Police officer
- Youth worker
Further study
After completing a course in Christian Theology you may choose to pursue further study in a specialist field to increase your knowledge base and skill set. Postgraduate study can also be used as a means to change career focus or to gain professional qualifications required to practice in certain career areas such as Sociology, Social sciences and social policy, Social work, Psychology, Health and well-being, Counselling, Philosophy, Humanistic pastoral care and World religions.
FAQ
What skills could be helpful for a career in Christian Theology?
For any career within Christian Theology, it is likely that you will need to have the ability to
- Listen attentively to what an individual is saying
- Demonstrate empathy
- Communicate in all manners, especially face to face
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish good relationships with people
- A strong commitment to people who become vulnerable and an understanding of the factors affecting their lives
- The ability to provide reliable support to people and act with integrity in times of stress
- Patience, tolerance and flexibility
- The ability to treat individual concerns with respect, tact and sensitivity, while being aware of the limits that are required by confidentiality and the boundaries that govern the chaplain relationship with service users
Where can I study Christian Theology?
Explore your options here
Did You Know?
- There are more than 2.4 billion Christians worldwide, which makes Christianity the largest religion in the world.
- Many people imagine the origin of the Bible as a single book, but it’s, in fact, an anthology of 66 books with various authors. The first printed bible dates back to 1455, and it’s known as the Gutenberg Bible, which is also the first book ever printed.
- Christianity has the same god as Judaism and Islam. They all stem from the same origins of Abraham, and it’s known as one of the Abrahamic religions.
- The Roman Empire made Christianity its official religion in 325 AD. Emperor Constantine supported Christianity as it slowly became a popular religion among the Romans.
- In 1517 Martin Luther, a German monk, started a movement called the Reformation when he criticized certain church practices as well as the supremacy of the pope. This divided Western Christianity into the Roman Catholic Church and Protestantism.
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