Summer 2006/Pasadena
Two-week Intensive: July 31-August 11
CH504
Ahn
CH504: MODERN CHURCH HISTORY. Katherine H. Lee Ahn.
DESCRIPTION: This course surveys the history of Christianity around the world
from the seventeenth through the twentieth centuries. Additional attention will
be given to the transitional process of Christianity moving from a Western to a
world religion and major themes and events that dominated the process.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Students will be able to identify and explain many of the principal
theological developments and historical events and personalities that have
shaped the modern church since the Protestant and Catholic Reformations.
- Students will demonstrate through presentation and writing assignments the
ability to think critically about historical texts and arguments, placing them
in context.
- Students will demonstrate through presentation and writing assignments an
ability to interpret their own ecclesiastical tradition and other traditions
with critical awareness and reflection.
- Students will be challenged in some of their religious assumptions by the
complexity and diversity of Christian history and through this process will
develop a greater understanding of and sensitivity toward the beliefs and
practices of churches in different cultural and social contexts.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Christianity is no longer the possession of the
Western world, as the majority of Christians now live in the Southern
Hemisphere. Non-Western Christian churches are growing rapidly, bringing fresh
new energy, as well as new challenges, to the Christian church today. At the
same time world Christians are still largely influenced by historically Western
Christian tradition and theology. This course seeks to lead students to a
broader understanding of the historical development of both the Western and
non-Western churches and to find relevance of their ministry in this global
Christian time. In the course of the study we will seek to understand various
Christian traditions and theological and ecclesiastical developments and how
they interacted and resulted in today's Christian churches. In the process we
hope to gain new appreciation for the breath, unity, and diversity of the
worldwide Christian church.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet daily for two weeks for four-hour
sessions.
REQUIRED READING:
- Bettenson, H. S., and C. Maunder, eds. Documents of the
Christian Church. Oxford Univ. Press, 1999.
- González, Justo. The Reformation to the Present Day. Vol. 2
of The Story of Christianity. Harper & Row, 1984. (The chapters
after the Reformation only.)
- Hastings, Adrian, ed. A World History of Christianity. Eerdmans,
1999. (Chaps. 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13.)
- Sanneh, Lamin. Whose Religion Is Christianity? The Gospel Beyond the
West. Eerdmans, 2003.
- Tucker, Ruth, and Walter L. Liefeld. Daughters of the Church: Women and
Ministry from New Testament Times to the Present. Zondervan, 1987. (The
chapters after the Reformation only.)
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Completion of all required readings.
- One class presentation on a regional specific historical event, movement,
or person, with an outline submitted simultaneously; the formal written
presentation of the materials (8-10 pp.) submitted by August 25 (25% of grade).
- A critical book review (5-7 pp.) on one text from a list of recommended
books, due Sept. 8 (25%).
- Take-home midterm at the end of the first week, based on required readings
and lectures (25%).
- Final exam on the last day of the second week (25%).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Church History "C"
(CHC).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.