UNIT 1:  THE EARLY CHURCH

In the first unit, we’ll look at ways in which Christian leaders helped to develop the relationships between Christianity and other cultures in the 100’s A.D.  We’ll explore several writings that shaped Christian thought but were not included in the New Testament.  The teachings of some significant theologians will enrich our understanding of the church.  We’ll conclude with descriptions of early Christian worship.

Introduction (Tue Aug 25)

Apostolic Fathers:  González 31-48, Placher 15-18 (Thu Aug 27)

Jewish and Greek culture:  González 49-57, Placher 30‑32 (Tue Sep 1)

Marcion, the canon, and New Testament Apocrypha:  González 58-66, Placher 12-14, 24-29 (Thu Sep 3 – Thu Sep 10)

Research techniques and resources – with guidance from Patty Greany (Tue Sep 15)

Irenaeus:  González 67-71; Placher 18-21 (Thu Sep 17)

Tertullian and Cyprian:  González 73-77, 88-90; Placher 43‑47 (Tue Sep 22)

Research presentations (Thu Sep 24)

            *Baptism after the New Testament period:  González 91-101, Placher 23
                    Willimon, Word, Water, Wine and Bread, chapters 3-5 (BV5.W54)
                    The Didache, in Early Christian Fathers 171-179 (BR60.R5)

            *The Eucharist after the New Testament period:  González 91-101, Placher 23
                    Bradshaw, Eucharistic Origins (BV178.B73 2004)
                    Hippolytus, The Apostolic Tradition (BR65.H84 T7313 1992)

Review for test (Tue Sep 29)

            Review program:  www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/311u1.htm

Test 1, including short-answer questions, essay, and Map 1 (Thu Oct 1)     

 

UNIT 2:  THE IMPERIAL CHURCH

This unit will give us an opportunity to see how certain theological issues were debated over and over, until finally consensus was reached on the relationships of Jesus Christ’s humanity and divinity and other key Christian beliefs.  We’ll also explore the major influence of the monastic movement on the church, and the theological contributions of one of the greatest thinkers in the history of Christianity.

Ecumenical Councils:  González 102-128, 158-167, 173-180; Placher 48-55 (Tue Oct 6-Thu Oct 8)

Research presentations (Tue Oct 13)

            *The Gospel of Thomas:  Placher 12-14
                    Pagels, Beyond Belief (BS2860.T52P34 2003)
                    The Gospel According to Thomas, trans. Marvin Meyer (BS2860.T5A3 1992)

             *Patrick:  González 235-237
                    Cahill, How the Irish Saved Civilization (DA930.5.C34)
                    Hanson, The Life and Writings of the Historical Saint Patrick (BR1720.P26H36)

             [Fall break Wed Oct 14 – Sun Oct 18]

Early monasticism:  González 136-146, 235-248; Placher 129‑131 (Tue Oct 20 – Thu Oct 22)

Women and monasticism – presentation by Lorraine Abraham (Tue Oct 27) 

Research presentations (Thu Oct 29)

            *Jerome, Paula, and Eustochium:  González 201-206, Placher 125-129
                    Kelly, Jerome (BR1720.J5K44 1975)
                    The Letters of St. Jerome (BR60.A35 no. 33)

             *Augustine:  González 207-219, Placher 100-105, 118-121
                    Wills, Saint Augustine (BR1720.A9W55 1999)
                    Augustine, The Confessions, trans. Maria Boulding (BR65.A5E53 1990 pt.1 v.1)

Fall Forum with Peter Navarro (Tue Nov 3)

Review for test (Thu Nov 5)

            Review program:  www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/311u2.htm

Test 2, including short-answer questions, essay, and Map 2 (Tue Nov 10) 

 

UNIT 3:  MEDIEVAL CHRISTIANITY

The final unit will portray the spread of Christianity throughout the world.  It will show the relationships of philosophy and theology in the history of the church.  We’ll also study the lives of key persons who challenged the power structures of Europe, whether those were political or church institutions.  Those courageous individuals continue to inspire Christians today.

Missions in the East and West:   González 231-235, 251-269 (Thu Nov 12)

Research presentations (Tue Nov 17)

            *Francis of Assisi:  González 301‑304; Placher 151‑152
                    House, Francis of Assisi (BX 4700.F6H595 2001)
                    Francis and Clare:  The Complete Works (BX4700.F6A3 1982)

             *Abelard and Heloise:  González 311‑319, Placher 150‑151
                    Abelard, The Story of My Misfortunes (B765.A24 A33)
                    Burge, Heloise and Abelard (BX4705.A2B87 2003)

Later monasticism:  González 277-291, 311-319; Placher 156-160 (Thu Nov 19)

  .  First draft of research paper due (Thu Nov 19)

Catherine of Siena and the papacy:  González 329-341 (Tue Nov 24)

            [Thanksgiving break Wed Nov 25 – Sun Nov 29]

Research presentations (Tue Dec 1)

            *Joan of Arc:  González 324-327
                    Spoto, Joan:  The Mysterious Life of the Heretic Who Became a Saint (new books DC103.S66)
                    Beevers, Saint Joan of Arc (DC103.B38)

             *John Huss:  González 348-353, Placher 191-193
                    Schaff, John Huss (BX4917.S3)
                    Spinka, John Hus at the Council of Constance (BX4917.S73)

John Wycliffe:  González 346-348 ; Placher 185-187 (Thu Dec 3)

            *Optional “wild card” presentation on a topic not listed in the schedule (Thu Dec 3)

Review for final exam (Tue Dec 8)

            Review program:  www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/311u3.htm

            Final deadline for turning in any written work

  .  Research paper due in final form (Tue Dec 8)

Final exam:  (1) short-answer questions on unit 3, (2) essay on unit 3, (3) comprehensive essay, and (4) Map 3 (1:30-4:30 Sat Dec 12)

            Tests and exams are not given early.  If you have a last-minute emergency or hospitalization at the time scheduled for the final exam, we'll arrange 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.

            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 11 o'clock Tuesday-Thursday classes will meet from 11:40 to 12:25.

 

TEXTBOOKS

            Thank you for joining me in this study of the history of Christianity from 100 A.D. up to the time of the Protestant Reformation.  The basic history of the early church is in this textbook:

            González, Justo L.  The Story of Christianity.  Volume 1.  San Francisco:  Harper, 1984.  0-06-063315-8.

Selections from primary sources are in this anthology:

            Placher, William C., ed.  Readings in the History of Christian Theology.  Philadelphia:  Westminster, 1988.  0-664-24057-7. 

& Please bring both textbooks to class each day, so that you can relate the information from the lectures, discussions, and presentations to appropriate sections of the readings. X

            For your research paper, the following style manual is required; the English and Religion Departments have adopted this style manual for all writing courses, so please plan to buy a copy:

            Hacker, Diana.  A Writer's Reference.  Sixth edition.  Boston:  Bedford/St. Martin's, 2007.  0-312-45025-7. 

  

COURSE GOALS

            You will learn the basic life stories and teachings of key Christian theologians and church leaders between approximately 100 and 1500 A.D.

            You will identify main ideas in primary source documents from the same period.

            You will gain a foundational understanding of the growth and development of the Christian Church, including its central theological doctrines, its worship practices, and its division into Eastern and Western Christianity. 

            You will explore the interactions between Christianity and other religious traditions, especially Judaism, Greco-Roman culture, and Islam.

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

            You will develop your research skills, including the ability to use both online and print resources, focusing on one particular area of research.

            You will express your research findings effectively in an oral presentation and in a thorough, clear, and grammatically correct paper.

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

 

RESEARCH PROJECT

             Each person in the class will do special research on one topic or person.  You may choose any of the starred topics, reserve your topic with the instructor, and begin your research with the two basic sources listed for it.  Whenever possible, I've included a primary source as well as a secondary source on your topic or person.  Be sure to read through the primary source carefully; good historical research requires studying actual documents in translation, rather than simply relying on what someone else says about a person or topic.  Take good notes, and don't mark up the library book --  that would ruin it as a reference source for future readers! 

 

            Please choose your topic and reserve it with me as soon as possible.  Note that I've included one "wild card" possibility:  if you have special interest in exploring a topic from the early centuries of Christian history different from any of the ones that I've listed, talk with me about your idea, and we'll see if the library has access to resources for adequate research on it.

            On the date shown in the schedule, you'll give a brief class presentation, sharing what you have learned from your research so far.  Here are some suggestions:

·         Be clear and articulate; don't just read from a paper, but use your notes and express your ideas in your own words.  Take your time, and make sure that everybody is able to follow you. 

·         A few days before your presentation, talk with me about how to pronounce the names of any foreign-language names, places, or key terms.  I'll help you feel comfortable with the pronunciation of any foreign words.

·         To help your fellow students understand and remember the most important parts of your presentation, please prepare a one-page handout with your main points, significant terms, names, places, etc.  The purpose of your presentation is to share information about your topic or person; so please don't bring food, drink, or other gifts for us. 

·         Involve us actively through questions and discussion.  Help this time to be enjoyable and informative for the whole group!

·         Your presentation should last about thirty minutes, including time to answer any questions.  I'll give you a written evaluation of your oral competence in this presentation.

             You'll write a research paper on the same topic.  The body of the paper will be at least ten full pages long, computer-printed in a 12-point font, double-spaced.  Be sure to save each draft of your paper on a flash drive, so that you may revise it easily or print it out again if it is lost. This project will enable you to develop your skills in research and writing.  I'll give you guidelines for your paper and a checklist responding to your first draft.

 

 STUDY METHODS

             You'll understand Christian history best if you spend about an hour before each class studying the assigned readings.  Soon after the class session, review your notes and put them in a clear form.  Reread sections in González and/or Placher to which I have referred.  Write the date at the beginning of each day's notes; that way you can refer to them easily when studying for tests.  Follow the same procedures for research presentations by your fellow students.  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, 311u1 stands for Religion 311, unit 1.

            You will have two tests, over units 1 and 2.  (The material from unit 3 will be included in the final exam.)  I will count only the better of the two tests and drop your lower test grade.  If you miss either test 1 or test 2 for any reason, I'll count that as your lower grade and drop it.  Since I have this generous policy of counting only the higher of the two 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.  I'll save a blank copy of the missed test for you, for study purposes.  No, you may not drop the final exam grade!  J

 

CLASS PARTICIPATION

             Discussion.  Please come to class faithfully, remain alert, and take careful notes on the lectures.  I hope that you will participate actively in discussion, expressing your understandings of early Christianity which will help the rest of us.  Ask questions and share your insights into issues that I am describing.  Help me to build a lively group dynamic! I'll be disappointed if I have to do all the talking in class; part of the fun of this course is the interaction we have with each other in struggling with key issues!  Come by my office any time and talk with me about anything in your study of religion that interests you or challenges your own religious understandings, or email me.  

            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.  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, athletic competition, dangerous driving conditions because of  weather, or an event officially sponsored by E&H for which your absence has been authorized in an email to me from an E&H faculty sponsor.  Right after any absence, please email me, giving the reason that you missed class if you want me to consider excusing the absence. 

            You may request that one absence be counted as a personal absence, with no need for an explanation and no penalty.  Reasons include such things as oversleeping, 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 burrowing through a time warp back to the Middle Ages to help Monty Python and Dan Brown in a quest for the holy grail.  If you want to count a missed class as your one personal absence, email me; you don't need to give me a reason for your absence. 

            An unexcused absence, or an absence beyond a total of four for any reason, will reduce your overall course average by 2 points.

 

            Extra credit.  Here are a few options to boost your final course grade by either one or two points.  Write a one-page paper summarizing each 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 early and medieval Christianity in this course.  The paper must be computer-printed, not emailed.  Turn in your paper within a week or so, while the event is still fresh on your mind.  One acceptable paper will add 1 point to your overall course average, or two papers will add 2 points.  If you wish, you may write two extra credit papers to balance out the grade reduction for an unexcused absence.

            1. During this semester you may attend a relevant lyceum program. 

            2. You may teach a youth group or Sunday School class about early Christianity.

            3. You may watch a full-length video relevant to this class.  (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 recommend these from our library collection:

            Brother Sun, Sister Moon [Francis of Assisi, video BX4700.F7]
            John Huss [video BS4917.S3]
            The Name of the Rose [Sean Connery in a monastic mystery, video PN1997.N313E52]
            Stealing Heaven [the love story of Heloise and Abelard, video PN1997.S76914]

            4. If you have been involved in a community service project this semester, you may reflect on how it relates to a topic from church history which you have studied in this course.

 

EVALUATION 

            Your signature on any test means that in accordance with the Honor Code which you signed when you enrolled at Emory & Henry, your work is entirely your own, and you have not looked at anyone else's test.  You 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. 

             Here's how I'll calculate your course average:

25%:    the higher of the two tests – if you miss either test for any reason, I'll count that as your lower grade and drop it, so you won't have to take a makeup test.

25%:    final exam

25%:    class presentation

25%:    research paper

±        attendance reductions or extra credit additions

 

            My grading scale is: 

A = 95 (90‑99),
B = 85 (80‑89),
C = 75 (70‑79),
D = 65 (60‑69),
F = 50. 

 

          Your best evaluation will be how well you empathize with early Christians.  You'll be really puzzled by some of their theological debates.  But they were wrestling with issues which are still vital to us today!

                                                                                    Fred Kellogg