 |
 |
|
| Theology at the University of Newcastle NSW, Australia |
 |
| Theology is something of a novelty in the context of full integration into the Australian universities, and Newcastle's recently founded department offers something fresh and exciting. There are great hopes for the future of the discipline here in the Australian university environment. I am keen to invite applications from good students to work on research degrees with me in the area of systematic theology, particularly, but not exclusively, in my own specific areas of interest: -- the theologies of Karl Barth, John Milbank, Rowan Williams, Donald MacKinnon, Juergen Moltmann, and T.F. Torrance, among others; -- in eschatology and hope; -- in theology and literature, -- in theology and pop culture. |
| What Does Newcastle Have to Offer? |
|
| Theology at the University of Newcastle is situated on the Callaghan campus, 12km west of Newcastle's city centre, in 140 hectares of natural bushland. Situated on what many have described as a "breathtaking" part of the Australian coastline, Newcastle is around two hours drive north of Sydney, and offers stunning beaches, great sunshine (all too lacking in my native UK), a comparatively low cost of living, a friendly small but vibrant city culture, a relaxed and casual life, fantastic surfing and sailing, and some wonderful parks and nature reserves. (Of course, I cannot make any favourable comparisons whatsoever between the Newcastle Jets and my beloved Liverpool Football Club - well, nowhere has everything...!) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Why Study Theology at Newcastle? |
| Apart from the obvious fact that you'll have the opportunity to study with me, there are several reasons for coming to Newcastle: -- very few Australian universities offer theology - usually theology is offered in colleges generally connected more with church denominations; -- that means that there will be a 'catholic' flavour to the body of students, and therefore opportunties to become familiar with a broad range of perspectives that comprise the Christian traditions; -- it also means that theology is done with a careful eye on its integrity as a university discipline; -- and, further, that theology has within reach rich conversations with other disciplines - religious studies, sociology, psychology, the natural sciences, history, classics, education, and so on. -- The student body is also an diverse or internationally rich one. -- Finally, the university, in conjunction particularly with the Episcopalian diocese of Newcastle, has provided considerable financial support for PG scholarships, and library holdings in theology. This is a new discipline within the University of Newcastle, and consequently full of real potential, both for the students who come to study here, and for the staff who teach them, an opportunity to put the dynamic theology being done in Newcastle firmly on the international map. |
 |