Christianity has been a hugely influential force in the development of Western civilisation, helping to shape the world in which we live today. It continues to have a very significant global presence.
Christian Thought and History explores the history, beliefs and values of Christianity – their origins, development and varying contexts.
Graduates develop valuable skills in critical thinking, research and communication. They go on to develop careers in any number of roles: teaching, social work, journalism, librarianship, administration, aid and development agencies, government department work, and church leadership and ministry.
Christian Thought and History can also be taken as an endorsement (specialisation) option for the Bachelor of Theology (BTheol).
For further information, please see the subject entry for Theology
All you need to study Christian thought and history is a sense of curiosity about the world and human experience. You do not need to have a faith of your own to find compelling the issues raised by Theology. Students of all or no religious persuasions are welcome.
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | Two 100-level CHTH papers | 36 |
| 200-level | Two 200-level CHTH papers | 36 |
| 300-level | One 300-level CHTH paper | 18 |
| Total | 90 |
Note: This minor subject is not available for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Theology (BTheol).
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHTH102 | 2024, 2025 | The History of Christianity | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| CHTH111 | 2024, 2025 | Doing Theology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| CHTH131 | 2024, 2025 | God and Ethics in the Modern World | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| CHTH206 | 2024, 2025 | The Reformation | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH212 | 2024, 2025 | Spirit, Church and Sacraments | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH213 | 2024, 2025 | The Trinity | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, Semester 1 |
| CHTH217 | 2024, 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | 1st Non standard period (11 November 2024 - 14 December 2024), Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH218 | 2024, 2025 | The Person and Work of Christ | 18 points | Semester 1, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH224 | 2024, 2025 | Theology and the Environment | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, Semester 2 |
| CHTH231 | 2024, 2025 | Christianity, War and Violence | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, 1st Non standard period (10 November 2025 - 13 December 2025) |
| CHTH233 | 2024, 2025 | Public Theology: Faith in the Public Square | 18 points | Semester 1, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH235 | 2024, 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH236 | 2024, 2025 | Māori Theology and Religion | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| CHTH237 | 2024, 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Semester 1 (11 February 2024 - 31 May 2024), Semester 1, 1st Non standard period (9 February 2025 - 18 June 2025) |
| CHTH305 | 2024, 2025 | The Roots of Public Theology | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, Semester 1 |
| CHTH306 | 2024, 2025 | The Reformation (Advanced) | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH312 | 2024, 2025 | Spirit, Church and Sacraments (Advanced) | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH313 | 2024, 2025 | The Trinity (Advanced) | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, Semester 1 |
| CHTH314 | 2024, 2025 | The Theology of Søren Kierkegaard | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH317 | 2024, 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | 1st Non standard period (11 November 2024 - 14 December 2024), Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH318 | 2024, 2025 | The Person and Work of Christ (Advanced) | 18 points | Semester 1, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH319 | 2024, 2025 | Reconciliation, Christian Ethics and Public Theology | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, Semester 1 |
| CHTH320 | 2024, 2025 | Public Theology and Social Justice | 18 points | Semester 1, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH322 | 2024, 2025 | Citizenship, Democracy and Discipleship | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH323 | 2024, 2025 | Theology and Human Well-being | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, Semester 2 |
| CHTH324 | 2024, 2025 | Theology and the Environment (Advanced) | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, Semester 2 |
| CHTH331 | 2024, 2025 | Christianity, War and Violence (Advanced) | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, 1st Non standard period (10 November 2025 - 13 December 2025) |
| CHTH333 | 2024, 2025 | Public Theology: Faith in the Public Square (Advanced) | 18 points | Semester 1, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH335 | 2024, 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH336 | 2024, 2025 | Māori Theology and Religion (Advanced) | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| CHTH337 | 2024, 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Semester 1 (11 February 2024 - 31 May 2024), Semester 1, 1st Non standard period (9 February 2025 - 18 June 2025) |
| CHTH403 | 2024, 2025 | The Puritans: Working out the English Reformation | 20 points | Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH405 | 2024, 2025 | The Roots of Public Theology | 20 points | Not offered in 2024, Semester 1 |
| CHTH414 | 2024, 2025 | The Theology of Søren Kierkegaard (Advanced) | 20 points | Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH415 | 2024, 2025 | Reconciliation, Christian Ethics and Public Theology (Advanced) | 20 points | Not offered in 2024, Semester 1 |
| CHTH416 | 2024, 2025 | The Theology of Bonhoeffer | 20 points | Semester 2, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH420 | 2024, 2025 | Public Theology and Social Justice (Advanced) | 20 points | Semester 1, Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH422 | 2024 | Citizenship, Democracy and Discipleship (Advanced) | 20 points | Not offered in 2024, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| CHTH423 | 2024, 2025 | Theology and Human Well-being (Advanced) | 20 points | Not offered in 2024, Semester 2 |
| CHTH490 | 2024, 2025 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (1 July 2024 - 21 June 2025), 1st Non standard period (28 February 2025 - 20 February 2025), 1st Non standard period (28 February 2025 |
Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.
Email theology@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/theology
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.
