Sample DCT Questions

These DCT questions are not past paper questions. They are exam-style questions that I have written on the basis of parts of the specification that have not (yet) featured as part of an exam question.

It is worth looking carefully at the Developments in Christian Theology specification (see below) and see if you can work out any other possible questions for yourself.

Use these questions to practice applying your knowledge. Try to identify the 'debate' (most questions will have two opposing 'sides'). Once you have done that work out what the main arguments each side would make. You can then decide who has the most convincing case.

What is religion questions: 

The specification says you must know about:

  • the teaching of Feuerbach on religion;
  • the teaching of Ninian Smart on religion;
  • the teaching of Don Cupitt on religion;
  • the teaching of the above thinkers on modernity and post-modernity

Postmodernism came up in June last year and Feuerbach was on the January paper.

Cupitt has not come up since  January 2012 and modernism has not been specifically referred to since June 2011.

  1. Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of Feuerbach's approach to religion.
  2. To what extent does Smart's approach to religion demonstrate modernist principles?
  3. 'Cupitt successfully demonstrates that religion can survive in a postmodern world.' Discuss.

Barth questions:

The specification says you must know about:

  • The underlying principles of theological exclusivism;
  • The teaching of Karl Barth on religion:
  • The Word, revelation, natural theology, election and universalism.

Before you try to answer the Barth questions I suggest that you watch David Clough's 30 minute lecture on Barth. Part 1 is here and part 2 here. It gives you an excellent understanding of the development of his ideas.

Exclusivism was mentioned in the context of post-modernism last summer.

Barth has not come up since June 2011.

  1. 'Barth's teachings about revelation and the Word make it is impossible for non-Christians to know God.' Discuss.
  2. To what extent is Barth's understanding of religion incompatible with postmodernism?
  3. 'Barth's exclusivist theology offers no way for Christianity and non-Christian religions to be reconciled.' Discuss.

Rahner questions:

The specification says you must know about:

  • The underlying principles of theological inclusivism.
  • The teaching of Karl Rahner on religion:
  • Open Catholicism, Grace, history and creation, Church, anonymous Christian and anonymous Christianity.

Rahner came up last summer and inclusivism in June 2012. 

  1. To what extent does Rahner's teaching about the Church contradict the doctrine of extra ecclesium nulla salus?
  2. 'Rahner's Open Catholicism offer the best solution to the problem of the competing religious beliefs in a postmodern world.' Discuss.
  3. Assess the view that Rahner's inclusivist theology is not convincing because it is too dependent upon the belief that God is revealed in creation and history.

Hick questions:

The specification says you must know about:

  • The underlying principles of theological pluralism.
  • The teachings of John Hick on religions:
  • religious experience, global theology, use of Kant, the Real, demythologising and divinity of Christ.

Hick has not been named in a question since June 2012.

Pluralism came up in January 2013.

  1. To what extend do Hick's teachings about religious experience and his use of Kant embrace a postmodern world view?
  2. 'By rejecting the divinity of Christ Hick undermines Christianity.' Discuss.
  3. Assess Hick's teachings about the relationship between religion and the Real.

Women in the Bible and the Christian Tradition:

The specification says you must know about:

  • The presentation of women in the Old Testament.
  • The presentation of women in the New Testament
  • The views of Augustine, Luther and Mulieris Dignitatem on gender and the relationship of women and men.

Augustine and the Mulieris Dignitatem have not yet featured in a specific question althouth they are on the specification.

Old Testament came up in January 2011 and Luther in January 2013.

  1. 'Augustine's teachings have encouraged negative attitudes towards women.' Discuss.
  2. Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the ways in which Pope John Paul II presented women in the Mulieris Dignitatem.
  3. To what extent does the New Testament support feminist principles?

Liberal feminism questions:

The specification says you must know about:

  • The aims of secular liberal or equality feminisms: rights, autonomy and patriarchy.
  • Responses of liberal or equality feminist theologies to secular liberal and equality feminisms.
  • Liberal feminist theology interpretation of the place and presentation of women in the Bible.

There has not yet been a specific question on rights, autonomy an Patriarchy.

  1. 'The Bible does not support the idea that women should have autonomy.' Discuss.
  2. To what extent have liberal feminist theologians responded successfully to issues of rights, autonomy and patriarchy?
  3. Assess the claim that the aims of liberal feminism are too moderate to succeed in liberating women from patriarchy.

Reconstructionist feminism questions:

The specification says you must know about:

  • The aims of secular reconstructionist feminisms; existentialist, Marxist, Freudian.
  • Responses of reconstructionist feminist theologies to secular reconstruction feminisms; Feminist theology's revisionist/reconstructionist views of women in Christain history; use of the hermeneutic of suspicion.
  • Feminist re-imaging/reconstruction of the language of God; language and the Trinity.

The hermeneutic of suspicion came up last summer. Reimaging language about God came up in June 2011.

There has not yet been a question that refers specifically to the different types of secular reconstructionist feminism.

  1. To what extent is Marxist feminism correct in identifying capitalism as the root cause of women's oppression.
  2. 'For women to feminism to achieve its aims, society has to be reconstructed.' Discuss.
  3. Assess the view that the traditional Christian teachings about women require serious revision.

Radical feminism questions:

The specification says you must know about:

  • Aims of secular radical and naturalist femists; body, difference and androgyny.
  • Responses of radical and naturalist femist theogians to body, difference and androgyny; alternative Christian theology: Elaine Pagels
  • Post Christian feminism; Mary Daly.

Daly came up last summer. Body, androgyny and difference came up in January 2012.

Pagels has not appeared since January 2010.

  • To what extent should feminists aim to achieve an androgynous society?
  • Assess the view that biological and bodily difference should be celebrated.
  • 'Pagels' alternative brand of Christianity is not particularly helpful when discussing women's roles today.

Feminist ethical issues questions:

The specification says you must know about:

  • Role of women as ministers/priests/bishops: responses of feminist theology and nonfeminist theology to the role of women as leaders in the Church.
  • The role of women as mothers; responses of feminist theology and non-feminist theology to motherhood and reproduction.
  • Womanist theology; problems for women of colour of racism and sexual exploitation.

Womanism came up in June 2012. Motherhood as a Christian duty appeared in January 2011. Women as leaders in the Church has not appeared since January 2010.

  1. 'Traditionally women have not had leadership within the Church and that should not change now.' Discuss.
  2. Critically evaluate the debates about women priests.
  3. 'Christianity idealises motherhood in theory, but it has done litte to help actual mothers.' Discuss.