RS 120 Christianity, Past and Present, Sections H & I Fall Semester, 2003
Prof. Jeffrey Trumbower
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the critical study of all facets of the world religion called “Christianity.” This includes its origins within Judaism, the development of its major doctrines and practices, reasons for its many divisions, its relationship to other religions, and its status in the world today. This course presupposes no particular faith relationship to the material under study, but it welcomes students of all religious perspectives (or none) to engage in an in-depth examination of the phenomenon of Christianity. Some students will begin with a great deal of exposure to Christianity, while others will have almost none. There are advantages and disadvantages in both types of preparation. Those who know nothing about Christianity will have to master a whole new vocabulary of concepts and history that may be mystifying at first, but they may see things with fresh eyes and make unexpected connections. Those who think they know a great deal about the topic may be surprised to learn that many of their pre-conceptions are erroneous. The only pre-requisites for this course are an open mind and a willingness to work.
Required books:
Catherine A. Cory and David T. Landry, eds., The Christian Theological Tradition, Second Edition (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003). You MUST have the second edition! Abbreviated in this syllabus: C & L
An English translation of the Bible, with both Old and New Testaments. The bookstore has an optional edition available for purchase, but you may use one you already have as long as it is a complete modern translation (i.e., avoid the King James Bible and old Catholic Douay Bibles), and not a paraphrased edition. If you have a question, see me.
Other supplemental readings to be found either on the website for this course, or on reserve in the library. Website address (announced in class) is:
Course Requirements
I. Periodic unannounced quizzes, short writing assignments, and class participation. If a student misses a quiz for an unexcused reason, that quiz is recorded as a zero. If you are ill, you must let me know, since unexcused zeroes are the largest contributor to poor performance on this grade. Enthusiastic class participation will enhance this grade in the form of extra points added at the end. (20% of the final grade)
II. Two 4-5 page papers on assigned topics (each one is 15% of the final grade), one in the first half of the semester, one in the second.
III. One “church visitation” paper. At some point in the semester, on a Sunday of your choosing, you will be required to visit the worship service of some Christian group that is NOT your own religious tradition, and write up a report on your experiences. More about this later (10% of the final grade)
IV. Midterm examination (20% of the final grade), given on October 9. No provision will be made to take this exam on a different day except in the case of documented illness.
V. Final examination, given during exam week (20% of the final grade).
Academic Integrity
Consistent with the policies of St. Michael's College, each student is to do his or her own work. Of course, studying together for exams is encouraged, but anyone cheating on an exam will receive a zero on that exam. Cheating includes (but is not limited to) giving or receiving answers on an exam, or using unauthorized notes during an exam. Once an exam begins, no one will be allowed to leave the room except in dire emergency. In any research paper, all ideas from, references to, and citations of others' works must by properly acknowledged in the paper. Procedures for doing so will be discussed in class. Plagiarism will result in a zero on the paper, meaning probable course failure. In the last several years, I have given zeroes on papers to four students who were guilty of various types of plagiarism. As a result, each student failed the course and now has a notation of plagiarism on file in the Dean’s office. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! Assignments are due at the BEGINNING OF CLASS on the due date. Late assignments will be accepted for up to one week after the due date at a penalty of one full letter grade.
Grading Scale
A = 92-100; A- = 90-91; B+ = 88-89; B = 82-87; B- = 80-81; C+ = 78-79; C = 72-77; C- = 70-71; D+ = 68-69; D = 60-67; F = 59 or below.
Office Hours
My office is in St. Edmund's Hall, Room 246, phone 654-2373. I will keep office hours MWF 10:30-12:00, and I am available at most other times. See me before or after class to make an appointment.
Course Schedule:
T Sep 2 Introduction. What is Christianity? What is religion?
Th Sep 4 What is religion? Readings: C & L 1-18. In addition, each student should identify a religious website; write down the address and bring it to class, and be prepared to discuss what, precisely, is “religious” about this website.
T Sep 9 Myth. Readings: Genesis 1-4; Nancy Ring et al., “Cultures and Cosmologies,” from Introduction to the Study of Religion, pp. 16-27; also read C & L 19-28.
Th Sep 11 The Hebrew Bible. Readings: Genesis 12, 17, Exodus 1-8, 11-21, 32-34; C & L 29-43.
T Sep 16 The Hebrew Bible. Readings: 2 Samuel 7; Psalms 2 & 89; Moabite Stone (handout in class); C & L 44-56.
Th Sep 18 Hellenistic Judaism and the cultural backdrop for the rise of Christianity. Readings: Zechariah 9 & 14; Malachi 3 & 4*; Psalms of Solomon 17 (handout in class); Mark 1 & 11; C & L 57-69. (Some Bibles may not have a Malachi 4. If yours doesn’t, just read chapter 3).
T Sep 23 The Historical Jesus. Start the class by asking: what are some famous sayings attributed to Jesus? Readings: 1 Cor 1 and 15; Matt 5-7; Luke 10:25-41; 15; C & L pp. 71-81.
Th Sep 25 The New Testament and the Early Church. Readings: C &L 81-88; John 1; Mark 14-16 and John 18-21 (Compare these latter two as you read. We will discuss them in class to help you prepare for paper assignment #1)
T Sep 30 Issues in Early Christianity. Readings: Acts 1-9; Paul’s Letter to the Galatians; C & L 89-102.
Th Oct 2 Paper #1 due. The entire class period will be devoted to a discussion of your findings. No new readings.
T Oct 7 Early Christianity up to the fall of the Roman Empire in the West. Readings: The Nicene Creed; C & L 103-152.
Th Oct 9 Midterm Examination. No arrangement to take this exam on an alternate day will be made except in the case of severe illness
T Oct 14 NO CLASS (Fall Break)
Th Oct 16 Eastern Orthodoxy. Readings: C & L 153-166.
T Oct 21 The rise of Islam. Readings: C & L 167-181.
Th Oct 23 Medieval Film. Readings: C & L 182-195.
T Oct 28 Roman Catholicism in the High Middle Ages. Readings: C & L 196-214; Pope Gregory VII, “Dictatus Papae” (website)
Th Oct 30 Preludes to the Reformation. Readings: C & L 230-258.
T Nov 4 Martin Luther. Readings: C & L 259-274; Martin Luther, “Definition of Faith” and “The Freedom of a Christian” (Both on website). A short writing assignment will be due today.
Th Nov 6 Other Protestant Reformers and the Catholic Reformation. Readings: C & L 275-308; The "Schleitheim Confession" (website)
T Nov 11 Christianity and The Enlightenment. Readings: C & L 324-344; Immanuel Kant, “What is Enlightenment?” (website)
Th Nov 13 Christianity in the U.S.A. Readings: C & L 345-364; James Madison, “Memorial and Remonstrance” and Josiah Strong "On Anglo-Saxon Predominance" (website)
T Nov 18 Vatican II. Readings: C & L 365-378, plus the official document from the Vatican, “Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions" (Nostra Aetate), entire text (website).
Th Nov 20 Church visit papers DUE. Discuss church visits; everybody must have the topic chosen for paper #3. No new readings.
T Nov 25 NO CLASS. I will be at the American Academy of Religion Convention in Atlanta.
Th Nov 27 NO CLASS. Happy Thanksgiving!
T Dec 2 Class shifted to Dec. 4.
Th Dec 4 Liberationist and Feminist Theologies; Christianity and Homosexuality. Readings: C & L 378-386.
T Dec 9 Fundamentalism and other currents in contemporary world Christianity. Readings: "Where Faith Grows: Fired by Pentecostalism"
Th Dec 11 Paper # 2 DUE. Discuss research findings; review for exam.
Final Exams: Section H: Tuesday, December 16, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Section I: Friday, December 19, 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Happy Holidays!