UNIT 1:  HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS

The first unit will establish New Testament foundations for the Christian faith, built on the two-volume work  by Luke.  Then we’ll see how Christianity expanded throughout Europe, through the life stories and teachings of some key Christian leaders.  We’ll conclude with Catholic history, beliefs, worship practices, and ethical issues today.

            Christian history up to 1500
Introduction (Wed Jan 14) 

Jesus’ early life:  Luke 1-5 (Fri Jan 16)

Jesus’ teachings:  Luke 10 and 15 (Mon Jan 19)

Jesus’ death and resurrection:  Luke 22-24 (Wed Jan 21)

Peter and the early church:  Acts 1-4 (Fri Jan 23)

Paul (aka Saul):  Acts 9 (Mon Jan 26)

The Apocalypse:  Revelation 1, 12-13 (Wed Jan 28)

Early Christianity:  www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/200u1.htm  Supplement 1: 
    The Christian Empire and the City of God  (Fri Jan 30)

Monasticism:  Supplement 2:  Four Orders (Mon Feb 2)

Catherine of Siena and Joan of Arc:  Supplement 3:  Courageous Christians (Wed Feb 4)

            Catholics
Catholics in America:  Albanese, chapter 3 (Fri Feb 6 – Mon Feb 9)

Catholic issues and questions:  Rosten 39-67 (Wed Feb 11)

Review of unit 1:  www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/200u1.htm  (Fri Feb 13)

            4  Reflections paper 1 on Catholics [www.vatican.va]

Test 1, including Map 1 – The Christian Faith in Europe and the Middle East (Mon Feb 16)

UNIT 2:  CHURCHES OF THE REFORMATION

The Protestant Reformation produced a number of mainline denominations; we’ll study their history in Europe and America, and we’ll identify the distinctive characteristics in their American forms today.

            The Lutheran branch of Protestantism
The Protestant Reformation:  Albanese 81-88 (Wed Feb 18 – Fri Feb 20)       

Lutheran issues and questions:  Rosten 158-169 (Mon Feb 23)  

            The Calvinist branch of Protestantism
Reformed Churches in Switzerland and Scotland (Wed Feb 25)

Presbyterian issues and questions:  Rosten 200-212 (Fri Feb 27)

Episcopal issues and questions:  Rosten 97-111 (Wed Mar 4)

Methodism in England (Fri Mar 6)

            [Spring break Mon Mar 9 – Fri Mar 13]

Methodist issues and questions:  Rosten 171-185 (Mon Mar 16)

Baptists in England and Holland (Wed Mar 18)

Baptist issues and questions:  Rosten 26-38 (Fri Mar 20)

Lectures by Phillip Sherman, 8:15 p.m., Board of Visitors Lounge

            “Babylon Is Flat:  The Tower of Babel in the 21^st Century” (Sun Mar 22)

            “The Ladder of Jacob and the Promise of Particularity” (Mon Mar 23)

Review of unit 2 and brief overview of Mennonites and Amish:  www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/200u2.htm  (Mon Mar 23)

4  Reflections paper 2 on one of these groups: 

Lutherans [www.elca.org]            Presbyterians [www.pcusa.org]

Methodists [www.umc.org]          Baptists [www.sbc.net]

Episcopalians [www.episcopalchurch.org].

Test 2, including Map 2 – Protestantism in Europe (Wed Mar 25)

UNIT 3:  CHURCHES WITH DISTINCTIVE EMPHASES

America is the birthplace of many new denominations.  We’ll study a few of those which have had a significant impact on the Christian faith in the United States for the past couple of centuries.

            Nineteenth-Century new American religious groups:  Albanese, chapter 7
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Fri Mar 27)

Mormon issues and questions:  Rosten 186-199 (Mon Mar 30)

Christian Scientists:  Rosten 69-81(Wed Apr 1)

Seventh-day Adventists:  Rosten 244-254 (Fri Apr 3)

Jehovah’s Witnesses:  Rosten 132-141 (Mon Apr 6)

            African American Christianity:  Albanese, chapter 6
Black Methodist and Baptist denominations; Church of God in Christ (Wed Apr 8)      

            [Easter break Fri Apr 10 – Mon Apr 13]

Review of unit 3:  www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/200u3.htm  (Wed Apr 15)

4  Reflections paper 3 on one of these groups:  

Latter-day Saints [www.lds.org]               Jehovah’s Witnesses [www.watchtower.org]

Christian Scientists [www.tfccs.org]        Seventh-day Adventists[www.adventist.org]

Test 3 – no map (Fri Apr 17)

UNIT 4:  WHAT CHRISTIANS HAVE IN COMMON

The final unit will give us an opportunity to bring everything together:  first we’ll look at a couple of groups that emphasize unifying themes, and then we’ll talk together about beliefs that are shared by most persons who see themselves as Christians.             

            Seekers
Unitarian Universalists:  Albanese 96-97, Rosten 263-276 (Mon Apr 20)

Friends:  Albanese 91-92, Rosten 214-243 (Wed Apr 22)

            Discussion of basic Christian beliefs
What Christians believe about God (Fri Apr 24)

What Christians believe about Jesus Christ (Mon Apr 27 )

Review; what Christians believe about the Holy Spirit (Wed Apr 29)

            Final deadline for turning in any written work

            Review program:  www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/200u4.htm 

Final exam

            Comprehensive Map 3 – The Christian Faith in America

            Short-answer section over the entire course and two essays over the entire course

Note:  tests and exams are not given early.  If you have a last-minute emergency or hospitalization at the time of the final exam, we may need to work out an arrangement for you to receive an Incomplete in the class and take a makeup exam at a later time.  In all other cases, plan to take the exam at the scheduled time.

TEXTBOOKS

A New Testament – any translation.  I have ordered for the college bookstore The Holy Bible: 

            New Revised Standard Version.  New York:  American Bible Society, 1989.     

Albanese, Catherine L.  America:  Religions and Religion.  4^th edition.

            Belmont, California:  Thomson Wadsworth, 2007.

Rosten, Leo, ed.  Religions of America.  New York:  Simon & Schuster, 1975.

& Please bring your Bible to class each day, so that you can relate the information from the lectures and discussions to appropriate biblical passages.  If you have room in your backpack, bring your copy of Religions of America too, since it deals with a lot of interesting questions about each denomination which we may want to discuss in class.  I’ll need to update some of the information in Rosten’s book, and you may want to make notes in the margins. 

            In the very rare circumstance that the college is on a Delayed Opening schedule, announced on area radio and TV stations, this class and all other 1:30 classes will meet at the normal time.

COURSE GOALS

            You will understand the biblical and historical foundations of the Christian faith.

            You will identify ways in which Christian churches have developed in organization, beliefs, and rituals, from the first century A.D. to today.

            You will learn about the lives and teachings of Christian leaders and church founders.

            You will locate on maps a number of key places in Christian history and know why each place is significant.

            You will compare and contrast the beliefs, ethical principles, and liturgies of a wide variety of denominations within the Christian faith.

            You will refine your understandings of three specific denominations by reflecting on key characteristics of each.

            You will develop your ability to express your observations and reflections in clear and grammatically correct writing.

            You will have the opportunity to relate what you have been learning in this class to experiences outside class, further developing your understanding of the Christian faith.

STUDY METHODS

             You'll understand the Christian faith best if you take about an hour before each class to study the assigned readings listed in the schedule.  Soon after the session, review your notes and put them in a clear form.  Reread sections from the Bible and/or the textbook(s) that relate to your notes.  Write the date at the beginning of each day’s notes; that way you can refer to them easily when studying for tests.  In the years ahead, you’ll remember the information that you’ve learned day by day much better than what you’ve crammed the night before a test. 

            Before each test, go through the computer review of the unit.  Type into your Web browser either the address for the individual review or for my Home Page, which has links to all the review programs.  Type the numerals carefully:  for example, 200u1 stands for Religion 200, unit 1. 

            You will have three tests, one over each unit.  I will count only the best two and drop your lowest test grade.  If you miss a test for any reason, I’ll count that as your lowest grade and drop it.  Since I have this generous policy of counting only the highest two of the three test grades, please don’t ask me to give a makeup test for you before or after the scheduled test time; a makeup test would take hours for me to develop.  Instead, if you miss a test, plan on dropping that grade.

REFLECTIONS PAPERS

            You’ll write short papers on three of the denomina­tions that we're studying in this course, as specified in the schedule above.  Here are the guidelines.

            1. At the top of the first page, put your name and identify the denomination.  For unit 1: Catholics.  For unit 2:   Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, or Methodists.  For unit 3:  Mormons, Christian Scientists, Seventh-day Adventists, or Jehovah’s Witnesses. 

            2. Describe your understanding of the denomination, as thoroughly and specifically as you can, focusing on the characteristics which make this denomination different from other Christian churches.  Here are the essentials:

·        a brief introductory paragraph on historical foundations

·        distinctive beliefs

·        worship, including sacraments

·        ethical and social issues today

            3. The paper should be based primarily on your studies of this denomination in the textbook(s), the website listed in the schedule above, and any other appropriate online sources (not Wikipedia!).  You may mention the names of any books or websites that you’ve consulted if you wish, but that’s not required in such a short paper. You don’t need documentation or a bibliography.  This paper should show your careful research, not just a summary of your class notes. 

            4. Please put all information in your own words, not in the words of your sources.  Don’t quote at all unless you have a short quotation that you feel is absolutely essential; then you should identify your source. 

            5. It will enrich your paper if you can observe a worship service of the denomination during the unit.  This is not a requirement, but an opportunity to add first-hand experience to insights from your studies.  You may attend a Catholic Mass during the first unit.  In the second unit, you may visit a Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist, or Baptist church.  In the third unit, you may go to a Mormon, Christian Science, Seventh-day Adventist, or Jehovah’s Witnesses service.  If you want to share your impressions from a service, please include the church’s name, place, and date of your visit, and tell how your observations helped you to understand the denomination. 

            6. You may include anything that you’ve learned from friends or family members who belong to the denomination, or your own personal experiences with church members.  X Don't evaluate (criticize or praise) the denomination, its teachings, its members, or its form of worship.

            7. Conclude with your personal reflections on what you have learned about the Christian faith in general from your in-depth study of the denomination for this paper.  

            8. Don’t email your paper; instead, print it neatly with your computer set for double spacing (to give me plenty of room for comments and suggestions), a 12-point font, and one-inch margins.  It must be at least 500 words long.  An excellent (A) paper will normally be significantly longer than the bare minimum of 500 words. 

            9. Backup, backup, backup!  < Save each draft of your paper on a flash drive, so that it’s not lost if your computer crashes.  L   On your final draft put a new date, so you don’t confuse it with your first draft.

            10. Fold the pages together lengthwise (unstapled), and put your name on the outside.  Whether or not you write “Pledged,” the paper must be entirely your own work, using appropriate sources as described in these guidelines. 

            11. I'll return your first draft promptly, together with a checklist and suggestions to help you improve your paper.  I’ll keep your final draft for evaluation of your group of three papers – or, in rare cases, I’ll keep your first draft if it is so good that it doesn’t need to be rewritten.  This evaluation will count as 1/5 of your course grade.

CLASS PARTICIPATION

             Base grade.  For a good base grade:  come to class faithfully, remain alert, look up passages in the Bible to which I refer, and take careful notes on the lectures.  If your cell phone rings during class time, I’ll lower your base grade by 1 point for each such disruption of the class.  If my cell phone rings during class time, I’ll raise everyone’s base grade by 1 point for each such disruption of the class.  

            I keep my watch set to the correct time, and I am careful to begin and end my classes on time.  If you often come late to class or begin packing your books and notebooks before I have ended the session, your base grade will be lowered for such disruptions of the class.

            Discussion.  This is primarily a lecture course, so you are not required to discuss or ask questions as part of your class participation, but discussion is certainly welcome!  If you don’t understand something in the lecture or the readings, or if you have an insight into the Christian faith that would be helpful to the group, I would appreciate your sharing your questions or interpretations.  I would also be very happy for you to come to my office any time and talk with me about issues in your study of religion, or to email me with any questions or reflections.

            Attendance.  During your college years, by responsible class attendance you can establish a reputation for reliability that will help your professors to write good reference letters for jobs or programs of graduate study.  I value faithful attendance highly, as an indication of your commitment to the course goals.  An unexcused absence, or an absence beyond a total of four for any reason, will reduce your class participation grade by 5 points. 

            But I don’t want you to come to class when you’re sick, for your own sake and for the sake of your fellow students.  You may request that up to three absences be excused for appropriate reasons such as sickness, college-sponsored trips or athletic events, or dangerous driving conditions because of severe weather.  Right after any absence, please email me, giving the reason that you missed class if you would like me to consider excusing the absence.  I don’t grant excuses based on forms from coaches or emailed lists; I need a personal email or note from you.  

            You may request that one absence be counted as a personal absence, with no need to give me an explanation, no makeup work required, and no penalty.  Reasons for a personal absence include such things as finishing a test in another class, attending a wedding, helping a friend, participating in a workshop or seminar related to your major, going home to take care of a family matter, or traveling with little green people in a UFO to learn all about religion on the planet Mars.  Email me or write me a note if you want to count the missed class as your one personal absence.

            Extra credit.  Here are a few possibilities to boost your participation grade. 

            1. You may find a lyceum event this semester which helps you to understand the Christian faith.  I especially encourage you to attend Phillip Sherman’s lectures and the Winter Forum. 

            2. If you have been involved in a community service project this semester, you may reflect on how it relates to something from the Christian faith that you have studied in this course.

            3. You may watch a full-length video relevant to the Christian faith.  (Watching a TV program would not earn extra credit.)  You may view it any time in the semester, not only when we’re studying that particular topic.  I especially recommend any of these:

            Brother Sun, Sister Moon [Francis of Assisi, video BX 4700.F7]

            Martin Luther [DVD BR 333.2.M372]

            Witness [Harrison Ford and the Amish, DVD PN 1997.W587]

            For extra credit, write a paragraph summarizing the program or video (including the date that you attended the program or watched the video)  and relating it to what you’ve been learning about the Christian faith in this course.  Turn in your paper or email it to me within a week or so, while it is still fresh on your mind.  One acceptable paper will add 5 points, or two will add 10 points to your base grade, up to a maximum class participation grade of 95.

EVALUATION

            Your signature on any test or paper means that in accordance with the Honor Code which you signed when you enrolled at Emory & Henry, your work is entirely your own, using appropriate sources as specified in the guidelines, and you have not looked at anyone else’s test or paper.  Your pledge your personal honor that this is true.

            The final deadline for submission of any written work, such as extra credit papers, is the last day of class.

2/5:  the best two of the three tests.  I’ll drop your lowest test grade.  If you miss a test for any reason, I’ll count that as your lowest grade and drop it; you won’t have to take a makeup test.

1/5:  the quality and timeliness of your three reflections papers

1/5:  final exam

1/5:  class participation, including any extra credit

            My grading scale is A = 95 (90‑99); B = 85 (80‑89); C = 75 (70‑79); D = 65 (60‑69); F = 50 (0-59). 

          The true evaluation of the course will be in your assessment of how well you understand the Christian faith.  You’ll know this several years from now; please come back and tell me.  I pledge to work with you to the best of my ability, so that in the future you'll look back to this course as a valuable part of your lifelong learning! 

                                                                                    Fred Kellogg

If you would like you can send me e-mail: fkellogg@ehc.edu

To look at one of my other syllabi, go to my Home Page.

To review a unit in the course, go directly to one of the following:

    Unit 1, Foundations
    Unit 2, Churches of the Protestant Reformation
    Unit 3, Churches with distinctive emphases
    Unit 4, What Christians have in common

If you prefer, you may return to the Emory & Henry College Home Page.

Last updated:  December 30, 2008