Summer 2005/Pasadena
Two-week Intensive: June 20-July 1
CH503
C. Scalise
CH503: MEDIEVAL AND REFORMATION THEOLOGY. Charles J. Scalise.
DESCRIPTION:
- An introduction to the history of Christian thought from the
beginning of the medieval period to the Reformation of the sixteenth century.
Particular attention will be given to the history of the development of
Christian doctrine. The course will offer opportunities for students to study
any of the variety of ways in which Christians of the Middle Ages and early
Reformation eras thought about their faith.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- Developing an understanding of the conflict-laden process of the
historical development of the diverse teachings of the Christian faith is
foundational for responsible and effective theological reflection in
contemporary ministry. Christian ministers need to discover the roots of their
own faith traditions and congregations, as well as acquiring the capacity to
think historically and theologically about the meaning of their Christian
identity and the doctrines of their communities of faith. This course seeks to
help students connect historical research and theological formulation in the
quest for a thoughtful articulation of the Christian faith throughout their
ministries.
COURSE FORMAT:
- Course sessions will include lectures, class discussions,
historical document workshops, small group consultations, and student
presentations. Class will meet daily for four-hour sessions for two
weeks.
REQUIRED READING:
- Fairweather, E. R., ed. A Scholastic Miscellany: Anselm to
Ockham. Westminster John Knox, 1995.
- González, Justo L. A History of Christian Thought. Revised
edition. Vol. 2. Abingdon, 1991.
- McGrath, Alister E. Reformation Thought: An Introduction. Third ed.
revised. Blackwell, 1999.
- Placher, William C., ed. Readings in the History of Christian
Theology. Vol. 2. Westminster John Knox, 1995 (pp. 9-77).
- Historical figure reading from primary and secondary sources for student
presentations.
- Readings on selected doctrine and historical movement for research paper
and final exam.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Optional extra credit reading: Bynum, Caroline Walker. Jesus as
Mother: Studies in the Spirituality of the High Middle Ages. University of
California Press, 1990.
- Recommended resources:
- Livingston, Elizabeth A., ed. The Concise Oxford
Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford University Press, 2000.
- Anderson, Charles S. Augsburg Historical Atlas of Christianity in the
Middle Ages and Reformation. Augsburg, 1994.
- Historical maps at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical and
interactive maps at http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~atlas.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Class presentation on historical figure (as scheduled) - 25% of final
grade.
- Take-home final examination (due July 1; half on prepared research; half on
lectures and common reading) - 25%.
- Research paper (due July 15) - 25%.
- Attendance and class participation (includes devotional leadership) -
10%.
- Research bibliographies on doctrine and movement (due June 22; evaluated
credit/no credit) - 10%.
- Bibliography for class presentation (due June 21; evaluated credit/no
credit) - 5%.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Church History "b"
(CHB).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.