DESCRIPTION: An introduction to the Western Latin church in the Medieval and Reformation periods (600-1600 A.D.), beginning from its Augustinian foundations and 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.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are four objectives to this course. First, that students become familiar with the central developments in the church of the Middle Ages and Reformation, particularly those that led to the Reformation and have formed and expressed Protestant identity. Second, that students gain an understanding of the Middle Ages and Reformation from diverse points of view, including the perspectives of the original participants and those of historians today. Third, that students practice the close reading of selected primary sources in order to analyze and faithfully articulate a historical text. Fourth, that students reflect on the perennial nature of the controversies that shaped Christian identity in this period as these doctrines and practices have engendered contemporary Christian diversity and ecumenical conversation.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: 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.

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

REQUIRED READING:

Bonaventura, Saint. The Mind's Road to God. Translated by G. Boas. Prentice Hall, 1953.

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

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

Ozment, Steven. The Age of Reform (1250-1550). Yale University Press, 1980.

Southern, R. W. Western Society and the Church in the Middle Ages. Viking, 1990.

Extended syllabus of selected primary readings.

1. Completion of assigned readings in preparation for class.

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

3. Midterm (25%) and Final (40%).

4. A 5-7 page critical Comparative Book Review, due a week after the Final Exam (20%).