Culture and country: engaging faith in contemporary Australian society (CT3008S)

Content

Country and Culture explores intersections between Christian faith, culture, language and nation, with focus given to contemporary Australian society, intra-cultural and indigenous Australian experience and reconciliation. Implicit ideas that shape our cultural imaginations and perspectives on faith will be identified and evaluated, challenging students to formulate and articulate Christian identity and vocation in dialogue with contemporary issues of society and culture. Areas to be explored include identity, intercultural engagement, conflict, narrative, music, imagination, secular impetuses and freedom.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

At least 45 points including 15 points in Systematic Theology. This unit is primarily orientated to the professional theological development of a cohort representing alumni, ministry and Christian service vocations.

Pedagogy

lecture input, group discussion, class plenary and further response input

Indicative Bibliography

• Eagleton, Terry. Culture. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2016.
• ———. Materialism. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2016.
• Grant, Stan. ‘The Australian Dream: Blood, History and Becoming.’ Quarterly Essay 64 (2016).
• Harris, John. One Blood: 200 Years of Aboriginal Encounter with Christianity: A Story of Hope. Sutherland, NSW: Albatross Books, 1990.
• Kenny, Robert. The Lamb Enters the Dreaming: Nathanael Pepper and the Ruptured World. Melbourne: Scribe, 2007.
• Scruton, Roger. Modern Culture, London: Bloomsbury, 2007.
• Sherman, Louise, and Christobel Mattingley (eds.). Our Mob, God's Story: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists Share Their Faith. Erskine Park, NSW: Bible Society of Australia, 2007.
• Stanner, W. E. H. The Dreaming and Other Essays. Melbourne: Black Inc., 2009.
• Taylor, Charles. Modern Social Imaginaries, Durham and London: Duke University Press, 2004.
• Thornton, Warwick (director). Sweet Country [film]. Bondi Beach, NSW: Bunya Productions, 2017.
• Trudgen, Richard. Why Warriors Lie Down and Die. Parap, NT: Aboriginal Resource and Development Services, 2000.

Assessment