Assessment 2: Faith, Evil, and Public Life (2026)

Unit: PHIL/RELS 320 – Philosophy of Religion and Modern Public Theology

Level: Upper-division undergraduate / taught postgraduate
Weighting: 40% of final grade
Length: 1,500–2,000 words (excluding bibliography)
Submission: Word or PDF via LMS Turnitin link
Due: Week 8, Sunday 23:59 (local time)

Assignment Overview

You will write a focused, argument-driven essay on the relationship between faith, evil, and public life in one contemporary context. The task is to integrate close engagement with at least one primary text (biblical, theological, or philosophical) and a small set of scholarly secondary sources, then defend a clear position on how religious belief should respond to, interpret, or act in the face of suffering and injustice.

This assessment is designed to mirror how departments in Religion, Theology, Biblical Studies, Philosophy, History, Political Science, and Religious Studies routinely assess source-based argumentation, conceptual clarity, and written communication in 1,500–2,000-word essays. Criteria align with current essay marking rubrics used in theology and religious studies programmes, with explicit bands for relevance, argument, use of sources, structure, and academic writing.

Task Description

Write a 1,500–2,000-word essay that addresses one of the following assignment prompts. Your essay must:

• Formulate a precise, arguable thesis that directly answers the chosen question.
• Engage substantively with at least one primary text (e.g. biblical passage, historical document, doctrinal statement, or classic philosophical text).
• Interact critically with at least five peer-reviewed scholarly sources (2018–2026) relevant to your topic.
• Demonstrate awareness of historical and/or social context where appropriate.
• Use a consistent academic citation style (Chicago, APA, or Harvard, as specified by your programme) and include a full bibliography.

Choose ONE of the following prompts

Option A: Philosophy of Religion – The Problem of Evil

Philosophy of Religion – The Problem of Evil

Develop a sustained philosophical argument on whether the existence and scale of suffering in the contemporary world undermines belief in an all-powerful, wholly good God. Engage at least one major version of the problem of evil (logical, evidential, or existential/pastoral) and evaluate at least one theistic response (e.g. free-will defence, soul-making theodicy, skeptical theism). Your essay should explain the structure of the argument from evil and then defend a clear position on whether it succeeds in challenging classical theism.

Option B: Theology and Suffering – Theology of Suffering and Evil

Theology of Suffering and Evil

Construct a theologically informed account of innocent suffering that draws on a Christian doctrine of God and at least one biblical text. You may focus on a particular context (e.g. illness, war, natural disaster, systemic racism). Clarify how your theological account seeks to hold together God’s goodness, human suffering, and hope for redemption, and critically assess its pastoral and ethical implications.

Option C: Biblical Studies – Pauline Ethics in Context

Biblical Studies – Pauline Ethics in Context

Analyse a selected Pauline text (for example Romans 5–8, 1 Corinthians 8–10, Galatians 5, or Philippians 2) in relation to the problem of suffering, evil, and moral responsibility. Situate the passage in its historical and social context, identify its key theological claims, and argue how Pauline ethics might inform contemporary Christian approaches to one concrete issue (e.g. economic injustice, interpersonal violence, ecological crisis). Your essay should show exegetical care and avoid proof-texting.

Option D: History / Church History – Reformation, Modernity, and Suffering

Church History – Reformation and Modernity

Examine how one Reformation tradition (e.g. Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist, Catholic) interpreted suffering, providence, and evil, and assess how this legacy shaped later Christian responses to modern crises (for example colonialism, industrialisation, world wars). Build your argument around selected confessional statements, sermons, or treatises, and show how doctrinal positions translated into pastoral or political practices.

Option E: Religion and Politics – Theology, Evil, and Social Justice

Theology and Social Justice / Religion and Colonialism

Choose a case where religious discourse was invoked either to legitimise or to resist systemic evil (for instance, Christian missions and empire, the struggle against apartheid, civil rights movements, or refugee policy). Analyse how theological ideas about God, evil, and human dignity shaped political arguments and institutional actions, and evaluate the normative adequacy of these appeals from the standpoint of contemporary Christian ethics or political theology.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

• Formulate and sustain a clear, coherent, and defensible argument in response to a focused theological or philosophical question.
• Interpret and evaluate primary religious and philosophical texts with attention to genre, context, and historical setting.
• Integrate relevant scholarly literature into a critical discussion and distinguish descriptive summary from analytical judgment.
• Relate conceptual debates about evil, suffering, and God to concrete historical or contemporary situations.
• Produce written work that meets current disciplinary expectations for structure, referencing, and academic style.

Guidance on Structure and Writing

1. Introduction (approx. 10–15%): Clearly state your question, thesis, and roadmap.
2. Conceptual and textual exposition: Explain key concepts and summarise the relevant primary and secondary sources.
3. Argument and analysis: Develop your own position, engaging critically with alternative views.
4. Application or case study (where relevant): Show how your account works in one concrete context.
5. Conclusion (approx. 10%): Re-state the argument and briefly note its implications and limits.

Assessment Criteria and Marking Rubric (2026)

1. Relevance to Task and Clarity of Question (20%)

2. Argumentation, Critical Analysis, and Originality (25%)

3. Use of Primary and Secondary Sources (20%)

4. Structure, Coherence, and Organisation (15%)

5. Academic Writing, Referencing, and Presentation (20%)

Submission, Academic Integrity, and Feedback

• Submit electronically through the designated LMS link; late penalties apply according to the School’s policy.
• All essays will be checked using text-matching software. Collusion, plagiarism, or misuse of AI tools violates university policies.
• You may consult AI tools during planning and drafting, but you remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, and proper citation of all material.
• Feedback and provisional grades will normally be returned within 2–3 teaching weeks and will include rubric scores plus qualitative comments.