Connecting biblical and theological studies with contemporary issues in the arts, humanities, and social sciences lies at the heart of the Bible and Contemporary World (B&CW) programme. Since 2003, the programme has welcomed students from around the world and supported more than 100 graduates in completing a Postgraduate Diploma or MLitt.
Studied part-time and fully online, the programme enables students to explore how the Bible and Christian theology engage with the questions, challenges, and opportunities of contemporary life. Through guided reading, lectures, seminars, and online discussion, students develop a critical understanding of the relationship between biblical interpretation, theology, culture, ethics, and society. Along the way, they learn to engage confidently with scholarly research and to develop well-informed, independent arguments on issues of contemporary significance. Students also have the opportunity to participate in optional in-person events in St Andrews, offering a chance to meet fellow students and faculty, engage in lively academic discussion, and experience the unique setting of Scotland’s oldest university.
Here is a small selection of the kinds of essay questions students might explore during the programme:
- ‘Surveillance technologies are a gift of God.’ Discuss.
- Examine a medical ethical issue through one or more films, television programmes, or podcasts.
- Which understanding of the imago Dei do you find the most convincing, and why?
- Discuss the Book of Revelation’s economic critique of Rome and relate it to contemporary questions of wealth, consumerism, and Christian discipleship.