Oxford sidelines Christian theology

For the first time in its 800-year history, Oxford University will not require theology undergraduates to study Christian theology during their three-year course, writes Rose Gamble.

The university says it is revising its undergraduate curriculum in Theology and Religion to attract a greater diversity of applicants and to bring the course in line with Britain’s religious landscape.

Under the new curriculum, which will be rolled out in September 2017, students will continue to study Christian Theology in two out of four compulsory modules in their first year but there will be no mandatory papers on Christianity in years two and three. The same system is in place at Cambridge and Durham universities.

The updated course will offer students increased opportunity to study other religions. In addition to Greek and Hebrew, students will be able to study Latin, Arabic, Sanskrit and Pali.

Professor Johannes Zachhuber, chairman of the Theology Faculty board, said the changes do not represent a departure from the faculty’s commitment to Christian Theology but are part of its “struggle to attract a diverse field of applicants in comparison to the other humanities”. Dr Clayton Croy, who teaches New Testament at Wycliffe Hall, said the change was positive. “There is admittedly a possibility that Oxford’s traditional strengths could be diluted, but I do not see that as likely,” he said. “From my own personal, confessional perspective as a Christian, I would not want to see Oxford’s Faculty of Theology and Religion lose its strength in the religious tradition that holds the greatest hope for humankind.”