Janelle, Third year
'The Theology course at Oxford is very diverse; it gives you an opportunity to explore interests from Pauline literature to modern Judaism in society. The Reformation papers that I opted to study allowed me to engage with the subject as if I was an historian or literature student as well as tackling major theological issues.
Theology students here are required to study a biblical language, classical Arabic, Pali or Sanscrit in their first year. Coming to university with little more than a GCSE in German I was apprehensive about this at first! However, I was guided through the study of New Testament Greek with classes and one-to-one sessions, and although challenging, the benefits of studying texts in their original languages have proved invaluable.During my summer vacation I went in a once-in-a-lifetime ‘Holy Land study trip’. Over two weeks we explored various sites of biblical interest such as Jerusalem and Mount Sinai, and were also able to witness the religious and political tensions that the area is experiencing today. This trip summed up Theology for me. Much of what we study originates in the past, but is relevant to the contemporary world.
In tutorials the prospect of speaking on a subject that you have only studied for a week or so with a tutor who has dedicated their career to it may seem intimidating, it is worth remembering that tutors don’t expect you to know everything! Some of the most valuable tutorials that I have had involved unresolved debates, more questions than answers and the realisation that maybe I got it all wrong at first!'
