DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the western, Latin Church in the Medieval and Reformation periods (600-1600 A.D.), beginning from its Augustinian foundations in the aftermath of the barbarian invasions of the Roman Empire, through its millennium-long attempt to build a Christian society and the resulting tensions in thought, governance and practice, and the many reform efforts which culminated in the transformation of European "Christendom" in the Reformation of the sixteenth century begun by Luther. Besides ecclesiastical developments, Christianity's impact in new practices of faithful living and expression will be addressed.

This period formed the particular shape of western Christianity in its various manifestations. A critical appropriation of this heritage is crucial to situate ourselves in the wider catholic and apostolic church, and to understand our faith in the fuller, more judicious--even chastened--perspective given in the historical experience of the Church. The student will thereby come to appreciate the historic conflicts and options behind Christian practice and doctrine, and by such critical engagement better attend to the needed articulation of faith in one's own ministry and witness.

This two-week intensive will meet for four-hour sessions of lecture/discussion each weekday.

Janz, Denis, ed. A Reformation Reader. Fortress, 1999.

Julian of Norwich. The Showings. Trans. M. L. Del Mastro. Triumph Books, 1994.

MacManners, John, ed. The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity. Oxford 1990.

Ozment, Steven. The Age of Reform (1250-1550): An Intellectual and Religious History of Late Medieval and Reformation Europe. Yale University Press, 1980.

Extended syllabus of selected primary readings.

Bainton, Roland. The Reformation of the Sixteenth Century. Beacon Press, 1985.

Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Growth of Medieval Theology 600-1300. University of Chicago Press, 1978.

Rait, Jill, ed. Christian Spirituality II: High Middle Ages and Reformation. Crossroads, 1989.

Steinmetz, David. Reformers in the Wings. Oxford University Press, 2000.

Prior to the first class: Read the opening selection from the extended syllabus, "The Achievements of the Early Church," as well as chapters 2-3 of The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity; for those who would like to relieve some of the burden of reading in the first week, I would suggest advance reading of the first four chapters of the Ozment book.

1. Completion of assigned readings in preparation for class.

2. Daily short-answer quizzes on the readings (15%).

3. Take-home midterm exam (20%) and take-home final (40%). Take-home final due a week after last class session.

4. A 5-7 page critical book review, due a week after the final exam (20%).

5. An assigned 1-2 page response to a reading(s), to be used as a discussion prompt (5%).