Saint Michael's College, Colchester, Vermont

Department of Religious Studies

Welcome to the Online Syllabus for  . . .

RS221 World Christianity

Prof James Byrne

Fall Semester 2007

Please Note that this is a "live" syllabus. We are studying a living and changing religion which is constantly in the news. While the basic structure of the syllabus will remain constant I reserve the right to change links as the situation changes (e.g. in the Middle East or Africa).  So while you may print the syllabus for reference you should visit the live syllabus before doing the reading for every class.

 

 

REQUIRED BOOKS

  • William Dalrymple, From The Holy Mountain: A Journey Among The Christians of the Middle East

  • David Aikman, Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity Is Changing China and Transforming the Global Balance of Power

OTHER USEFUL TEXTS

  • Other useful texts include the following. Note you do not need to buy the books listed below, only the Dalrymple and Aikman books are required.

    The following books are good background reading and may be useful for your research paper.

    • Harvey Cox, Fire From Heaven: The Rise of Pentecostal Spirituality and The Reshaping of Religion in the Twenty-First Century

    • Phillip Jenkins, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity

    • Charles M. Sennott, The Body and The Blood: The Holy Land's Christians At The Turn Of A New Millennium

    • Elizabeth Isichei, A History of Christianity in Africa: From Antiquity To The Present

    • John Bowden (ed.) Encyclopedia of Christianity

    • The World Christian Encyclopedia, ed. D. Barrett, G. Kurian, T. Johnson (SMC Library Ref.: OVER BR157.76)

     

Other Reading:

  • Library Reserve: assigned reading on specific topics. See the Syllabus for details.

  • Online reading: there will be quite a bit of online reading about various Christian communities and different issues. Please note that I may add some suitable links as they come to my attention; where possible I will add such links well in advance of the reading and tell you in class, but it is very important for you to check each day's reading online. For longer or more complicated websites I will help you with some study questions to guide your reading.

  • Important: Websites marked with an upper case R in parentheses (R) are REQUIRED reading. Other sites are optional but recommended for a fuller understanding of the material. Where there is required online reading you are to read the main page of the linked website, and follow as many of the related links as you can.

 

What you need to know . . . .

Course Policies

 

Assessment

 

Study Guide to the Course

 

Prof. Byrne's Guidelines for Paper Writing

 

Office Hours

 

DATE

TOPICS AND READING

 Tues 8/28

  • Introduction:

    • Class overview

    • Christianity As A World Religion

    • No set reading.

Section 1

 

Part 1: Christianity in the  Middle East

Main Text: William Dalrymple: From the Holy Mountain

Reading Dalrymple: Click for the  Class Preparation Guide

 

PLEASE NOTE:

It is essential that you study the Country Profiles to ensure that you have up-to-date political information on each country.

 

Thur 8/30

 Tues 9/4

Thur 9/6

 Tues 9/11

 

The town of Saidnaya (Syria) with the Monastery of Our Lady of Saidnaya on top of the hill (visited by Dalrymple).

 

Thur 9/13

 Tues 9/18

Thur 9/20

  • Focus: Christians in Iraq

  • Suha Rassam, Christianity in Iraq, pp. 133-163 (on reserve)

  • Christians of Iraq Website (some excellent photos)

  • Documentary Film: The Last Assyrians

 Tues 9/25

Thur 9/27

Tues 10/2

Thur 10/4
  • Overview of Part 1 of the course. Exam preparation.

 

 

This is Pope Shenouda of the Coptic Church.

Click here for the story of his life.

 

Tues 10/9

No Class: Columbus Day Break

 

 

 

 

Part  2: Aspects of Global Christianity Today

 

Thur 10/11

  • In class EXAM on Part One of the Course

Tues 10/16

Research Methods Class: This class is dedicated to research methodology for your Research Paper. We will be joined by Liz Scott, College Archivist and RS Department liaison for the library.

Thur 10/18

  • Demographics: The Future Expansion of Christianity: Demographics

    • Philip Jenkins on Nigeria (R)

    • Philip Jenkins, "The Next Christianity"  from The Atlantic Monthly, October, 2002. Ask the professor if you'd like to read a copy of this.

Tues 10/23

  • Film: "Encounter Point" - a sign of hope in the Israel-Palestine Conflict.

  • REQUIRED TASK: Bring to class a typed page indicating the area of interest for your research paper and a short bibliography (at least 3 items). These will be collected.

Thur 10/25

  • The Pentecostal Explosion

Tu 10/30

 

Thur 11/1

Tues 11/6

Thur 11/8

Tues 11/13

  • RESEARCH PAPER DUE: DISCUSSION of Research Papers (presentation in groups and general class discussion).

    • NOTE: Please be prepared to give a summary of your paper to your group and to explain to the whole class the most interesting things you learned from your research.

 

Thur 11/15

 

 

 

 

Part  3: Christianity in China

Main Text: David Aikman, Jesus in Beijing

 

Tues 11/20

  • Christianity in China 3:

  • Aikman, Jesus in Beijing, Chapters 7-10

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Tues  11/27

  • READING: Christianity in China: Aikman, Jesus in Beijing, Chapters 11-16.

    This class gives you an opportunity to finish the Aikman book.
  • Film: "The Gospel According to the Papuans". A fascinating insight into the tensions between missionary groups in Papua New Guinea and the impact which their activities have on indigenous communities.
  • Country Profile: Papua New Guinea

Thur 11/29

 

 

Tues 12/4

Thur 12/6

  • Final Discussion / Return of research Paper / Class Evaluation

FINAL EXAM: TAKE HOME

Part One (3 pages minimum): Due in class on Thursday December 6.

Question: Discuss ONE of the following: a) "One of the most distinctive things about world Christianity today is the great diversity of Christian practice and belief" OR b) "The future of Christianity is in the global south."

 

Part Two (3 pages minimum): Due Tuesday December 11 in the Professor's office (STE 223) from 11am - 1pm (unless you have special permission from me for an extension due to illness or other serious factors, this is an absolute deadline due to Registry requirements for grade submission )

Question: Write a book review for the NY Times of David Aikman's Jesus in Beijing. In your answer you must demonstrate knowledge of the book by referring to specific sections or chapters, quoting when appropriate and discussing issues raised by Aikman. You might consider issues such as the persecution of Christians in China, policies of the current Chinese government, house churches, distinctive aspects of Chinese Christianity, tensions within Chinese Christianity, etc.

 

NOTE: if you so chose you may submit the Aikman review first, but you must submit at least one part on December 6. You may submit both that day if you wish.