RELC 206

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RELC 206
Fr. A. Thompson, O.P.
Spring 2002
Lecture: MW 9:00-9:50; Maury 115

HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY II:
1100-1900

Instructor's Office Hours: Tues./Thurs. 10-12;
Phone: 924-6729

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Survey of Western Christianity from the 12th to the 19th century. Attention will be given to spirituality and forms of piety, worship, development of theology, and the institutional history of the Christian Church. Special focus will be placed on the High Medieval Church, the Crisis of the Protestant Reformation, and the early modern background of contemporary Christianity, including Eastern Orthodoxy. Readings from original sources. Three short papers, in-class mid-term and final.

Required Reading

The Bible. Those not acquainted with this book should get to know it.
The Little Flowers of St. Francis, ed. R. Brown (New York: Doubleday, 1958). ISBN 0-385-07544-8
St. Catherine of Genoa, Purgation and Purgatory, The Spiritual Dialogue, trans. Serge (New York: Paulist, 1979) ISBN 0-8091-2207-3
Martin Luther, Three Treatises ["To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation," "The Babylonian Captivity of the Church," "The Freedom of a Christian"] (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1970) ISBN 0-8006-1639-1
St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, trans. J. Ryan (New York: Doubleday, 1989) ISBN 0-385-03009-6
John Williamson Nevin, The Anxious Bench; Antichrist; and the Sermon Catholic Unity (Eugene OR: Wiph and Stock, 1999) ISBN 1-57910-331-6
The Way of a Pilgrim and the Pilgrim Continues his Way (New York: Doubleday, 1992) ISBN 0-385-46814-8

Course packet containing:

St. Anselm of Canterbury, Proslogion, cc. 1-4
St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae I, Q. 2, aa. 1-3
Cathar Documents
The Life of the Archpriest Avvakum by Himself

Other Requirements of Course:

Three short (3-5 page) papers, explained in discussion sections-60% of grade.
Comprehensive Final during exam week: worth 40% of grade.
Active participation in discussions (will influence your grade):
THIS INCLUDES COMPLETION OF THE WEEKLY READING ASSIGNMENT BEFORE SECTION!

WEEK ONE: INTRO. TO MEDIEVAL CHRISTIANITY
Read: Anselm of Canterbury (In Packet)

Jan. 16-Approaches to the Study of Pre-Modern Religion
Discussion Section: Orientation

WEEK TWO: THE RENAISSANCE OF THE 12TH-13TH CENTURY
Read: Thomas Aquinas (In Packet)

Jan. 21-Religion and Practice
Jan. 23-From Law to Theology
Discussion Section: Scholastic Theology

WEEK THREE: THE SCHOLASTIC SYNTHESIS
Read: Little Flowers, Part I (pp. 41-168)

Jan. 28-Dante as Theologian
Jan. 30-The Cosmos of the Comedy
Discussion Section: The Little Flowers

WEEK FOUR: THE MEDIEVAL CHRIST
Read: Little Flowers, III-IV (pp. 171-258)

Feb. 4-Toward a New Piety
Feb. 6-The Little Poor Man of Assisi
Discussion Section: Medieval Franciscanism

WEEK FIVE: HERESY AND SCHISM
Read: Cathar Documents (in Packet)

Feb. 11-Poverty and Dissent
Feb. 13-The Great Heresies (Paper Due on Little Flowers)
Discussion Section: Medieval Heresy

WEEK SIX: AUTHORITY AND DISSENT
Read: Catherine of Genoa, Purgation, pp. 71-87

Feb. 18-Heretics and Apocalyptics
Feb. 20-Rise of the Papacy
Discussion Section: Purgatory

WEEK SEVEN: WANING OF THE MIDDLE AGES
Read: Catherine of Genoa, Spiritual Dialogue, pp. 91-150

Feb. 25-Captivity, Schism, and Plague
Feb. 27-Responses to Crisis
Discussion Section: Medieval Mysticism

WEEK EIGHT: THE RELIGIOUS REVOLUTION
Read: Martin Luther, Freedom of the Christian
(Three Treatises, pp. 266-316)

Mar. 4-The World of the Reformation
Mar. 6-Martin Luther: Reformer
Discussion Section: "Freedom of the Christian"

SPRING RECESS: MARCH 9-17
Finish by Week 9: Martin Luther, Babylonian Captivity
(Three Treatises, pp. 113-260)

WEEK NINE: REFORMED CHRISTIANITY
Read: Francis de Sales; Devout Life:
Part I-II, pp. 39-52, 71-79, 80-86, 90-119

Mar. 18-Luther's Theological Foundations
Mar. 20-From Luther to the Reform Tradition
Discussion Section: "Babylonian Captivity"

WEEK TEN: BAROQUE CATHOLICISM
Read: Francis De Sales, Devout Life:
Parts III-V, pp. 121-235, 243-251, 271-272, 289-291.

Mar. 25-The Spectrum of Belief
Mar. 27-Catholic Reformation (Paper due on Luther)
Discussion Section: "The Devout Life"

WEEK ELEVEN: ON THE PERIPHERIES
Read: "Life of Avvakum" (In Packet)

Apr. 1-The Catholic Revival and World Missions
Apr. 3-The Christian East
Discussion Section: Orthodox Sensibilities

WEEK TWELVE: EASTERN CHRISTIANITY
Read: Way of the Pilgrim (pp. 13-94)

Apr. 8-Russian Ritual and Spirituality
Apr. 10-The Russian Staretz
Discussion Section: Russian Mysticism

WEEK THIRTEEN: AMERICAN RELIGION
Have Read: John W. Nevin, The Anxious Bench
(Antichrist is optional)

Apr. 15-From Arminianism to Methodism
Apr. 17-Revivalist Transformations
Discussion Section: American Spirituality (Nevin)

WEEK FOURTEEN: CHALLENGES OF MODERNITY
Have Read: Nevin, "Catholic Unity"

Apr. 22-Two Revolutions
Apr. 24-Catholicism in Crisis
Discussion Section: How has this course changed your impressions of Christianity in the United States today?

WEEK FIFTEEN: CATHOLIC REVIVAL
Apr. 29.-A Catholic World Apart (Paper due on Nevin)

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