Summer 2012/Pasadena
Two-week Intensive: June 18-29
CH506
Scalise
CH506: AMERICAN CHURCH HISTORY. Charles J. Scalise.
DESCRIPTION: An introductory overview of the history of Christianity in
America. The class will explore some of the major persons, ideas, and movements
that have shaped Christian faith and practice in North America. The course will
also involve students in opportunities for more intensive pursuit and
presentation of their particular interests in the story of North American
Christianity.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Knowledge of basic themes, patterns, and
events in the history of Christianity in America is indispensable for Christian
ministers who seek to be leaders of the church and reliable interpreters of the
faith in the North American context. Ministers with a sense of historical
perspective on American Christianity will be able to comprehend its current
issues more thoroughly and address its present problems more effectively. The
acquisition of analytical and writing skills will also be useful in observing,
understanding, and influencing contemporary situations of ministry.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who pass this course will have (1) demonstrated
familiarity with the major people, movements, issues, and themes in the history
of Christianity in North America; (2) investigated some aspects of the
historical development of American religious diversity; (3) appropriated
spiritual insights and resources from American history for their own Christian
growth and ministry; (4) explored in detail the life and thought of one North
American historical figure and presented some aspect(s) of their study to the
class; (5) engaged in historical research focused upon constructing and
defending a historical argument (thesis) based upon critical evaluation of
sources.
COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet daily for ten four-hour sessions that will
include lectures, class discussions, student presentations, small group
consultations, and historical document workshops.
REQUIRED READING:
Cullen, Jim. Essaying the Past: How to Read, Write, and Think about
History. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. 208pp. ISBN-13: 978-1405182799.
$21.95.
- Gaustad, Edwin S., and Mark A. Noll, eds. A Documentary History
of Religion in America to 1877. 3rd ed. Eerdmans, 2003. 633pp. ISBN-13:
978-0802822291. $60.00.
- MacHaffie, B. J. Her Story: Women in Christian Tradition. 2nd ed.
Fortress Press, 2006. 404pp. (Read pp. 125-344) ISBN-13: 978-0800638269.
$39.00.
- Noll, Mark A. A History of Christianity in the United States and
Canada. Eerdmans, 1994. 592pp. ISBN-13: 978-0802806512. $50.00.
- Historical figure reading from primary and secondary sources--minimum of
250 pages.
- Reading for research paper critically evaluating primary sources.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Extra Credit Reading (optional 3-page extra credit paper due June
25)--Choose one:
- Orsi, Robert A. The Madonna of 115th Street: Faith
and Community in Italian Harlem, 1880-1950. Third ed. Yale University
Press, 2010. 360pp. ISBN-13: 978-0300157529. $19.00.
- Robeck, Cecil M., Jr. The Azusa Street Mission and Revival. Thomas
Nelson, 2006. 352pp. ISBN-13: 9781418506247. $16.99
- Sweeney, Douglas A. The American Evangelical Story. Baker Academic,
2005. 208pp. ISBN-13: 978-0-8010-2658-4. $20.00.
- Recommended resources:
- Gaustad, Edwin S., and Mark A. Noll, eds. A
Documentary History of Religion in America Since 1877. 3rd ed. Eerdmans,
2003. . 352pp. ISBN-13: 978-0802822307. $60.00
- Rampolla, Mary Lynn. A Pocket Guide to Writing in History. 6th ed.
Bedford St. Martins, 2010. 160 pp. ISBN-13: 978-0312535032. $20.95.
- Reid, Daniel G., Harry S. Stout, and Craig A. Noll, eds. Concise
Dictionary of Christianity in America. Wipf & Stock, 2002. 378pp. ISBN
13: 978-1-57910-969-1. $31.20.
- Selected films portraying American religious history (extra credit; paper
due June 26).
- Maps at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical.
ASSIGNMENTS: (1) Historical figure reading list (5%; due June 19). (2) Research
paper proposal (10%; due June 20). (3) Class presentation on historical figure
(20%). (4) Take-home final exam (25%; due June 29). (5) Ten-page research paper
(30%; due July 16). (6) Class attendance and participation (10%; includes
devotional leadership requirement).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Church History "c"
(CHC); meets NT Seminary Core Requirement (SCR) for MATM, MAICS, MAFS, MACL
(effective Winter 2010).
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (April 2012)