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.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND 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.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will develop a basic acquaintance with the thought of some of the significant persons in the West who shaped the Christian tradition during the medieval and early Reformation periods (cognitive)--assessed by final exam; (2) demonstrate knowledge of some major themes in the development of Christian doctrine from the seventh century through the middle of the sixteenth century (cognitive)--assessed by doctrine bibliography and final exam; (3) show familiarity with a variety of historical movements which impacted the social and intellectual contexts in which Christian theology has been articulated and various Western ecclesiastical traditions were formed (cognitive)--assessed by movement bibliography and final exam; (4) appropriate some of the spiritual insights and resources from the history of the church for their own Christian growth and ministry and also share them with the class (affective)-assessed by devotional presentation; (5) explore in detail the life and thought of one historical figure from the medieval or early Reformation periods and present some aspect(s) of their study to the class (instrumental)--assessed by historical figure reading list and class presentation; (6) develop the capacity to connect historical research and theological formulation through intensive acquaintance with the thought of one person and either the development of one doctrine or the significance of one movement within medieval and/or early Reformation Christianity (instrumental)--assessed by research paper.

COURSE FORMAT: Course sessions will include lectures, class discussions, historical document workshops, small group consultations, and student presentations. The class will meet for ten four-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:

Fairweather, E. R., ed. A Scholastic Miscellany: Anselm to Ockham. Westminster John Knox, 1995.

González, Justo L. A History of Christian Thought. Vol. 2. Rev. ed. Abingdon, 1991.

McGrath, Alister E. Reformation Thought: An Introduction. 3rd 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.

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. Rev. ed. Oxford University Press, 2006.

Rampolla, Mary Lynn. A Pocket Guide to Writing in History. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2010.

Historical maps at at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical and interactive maps at at http://mappinghistory.uoregon.edu/index.html.

• Bibliography for class presentation (due June 22; evaluated credit/no credit) - 5%.

• Class presentation on historical figure (as scheduled) - 25% of final grade.

• Take-home final examination (due July 2; half on prepared research; half on lectures and common reading) - 25%.

• Research paper (due July 16) - 25%.

• Attendance and class participation (includes devotional leadership) - 10%.

• Research bibliographies on doctrine and movement (due June 23; evaluated credit/no credit) - 10%.