RELG302W
History of Christianity
Fall 2001
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Mon. and Wed. 2:15 to 4:05 |
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David R. Bains phone: 726-2879 |
Course Description:
Surveys the course of the history of Christianity and acquaints students with the intellectual, institutional, and cultural heritage of the Christian church. This course examines developments through the eighteenth-century, giving special attention to the development of theology and church life in the Early Church and sixteenth-century Reformations.
Required Texts:
Gonzalez, Justo L. Story of Christianity: Volume 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of Reformation. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1984. ISBN 0060633158
. Story of Christianity Volume 2: The Reformation to the Present Day. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1984. ISBN 0060633166
Norris, Richard A., Jr., ed. The Christological Controversy. Edited by William G. Rusch, Sources of Early Christian Thought. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1980. ISBN 0800614119
Bede. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Translated by Bertram Colgrave. Edited by Judith McClure and Roger Collins. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. ISBN 0-19-283866-0
Janz, Denis R., ed. A Reformation Reader: Primary Texts with Introductions. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8006-3180-3
O'Malley, John W. The First Jesuits. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1993. ISBN 067430313X
Wesley, John. A Plain Account of Christian Perfection. Trinity Press International, 1952. ISBN 0716200813
Office Hours:
I have set office hours for Mon. 4:05-5:00pm, and Tues. & Thurs.11-12am, but I am available to meet with students at many other times, as well. Please email, phone, or see me after class.
Attendance and Grading / Department of Religion and Philosophy:
The attendance policy of the Department of Religion and Philosophy will be enforced.
Roll will be taken each day. In a MW class a student may miss four classes without penalty. After the fifth absence your final grade will be reduced one letter grade. After the seventh absence the student will receive an FA for the course.
Three tardies count as one absence. If you come in after your name is called, you will need to notify your professor at the end of the class period, or else the tardy will become an absence
The Department of Religion and Philosophy grading scale is:
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A = 95-100% |
C+ = 78-81% |
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A- = 92-94% |
C = 74-77% |
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B+ = 88-91% |
C- = 70-73% |
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B = 85-87% |
D+ = 66-69% |
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B- = 82-84% |
D = 62-65% |
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D- = 60-62% |
Papers that are turned in after the set due date will be penalized one full letter grade for each week that they are late.
Samford University complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students with disabilities who seek accommodations must make their request through Kathleen Troiano in Disability Support Services. This office is located in Counseling Services on the lower level of Pittman Hall, or can be reached by calling 726-4078 or 726-2105. A faculty member will grant reasonable accommodations only upon notification from the Disability Support Services.
Academic Integrity:
Students are expected to observe high standards of intellectual integrity. (See the Student Handbook.) While study groups are only not permitted but encouraged, all work submitted in this class must be your own. Suspected lapses in academic integrity will be investigated and adjudicated in accordance with the university's values policy.
In all essays and papers you must follow a recognized system for citation of quotes and ideas. Since religion is an interdisciplinary field you may follow whatever system you prefer (e.g., MLA, Chicago, etc.). Other guidelines for essays will be provided.
Assignments:
Mid Term and Final (20% mid-term, 25% final).
Major Essays (25%) On Christology and Reformation Theology.
Short Essays and Participation (20%) Reading, analysis, and reflection are the backbone of this course. Students need to come to class prepared to discuss assigned readings. Study questions will normally be provided to guide your reading. Occasional essays will also be assigned. These exercises are designed to hone your skills in analysis and writing. (Initial paper on acts, two class preparation papers on Reformation.)
Schedule and Readings:
These assignments are subject to change.
This course focuses on the careful study of primary texts (in English translation). González, The Story of Christianity is a readable, scholarly, and fairly comprehensive history of Early and Western Christianity. It is assigned to provide context and continuity for the course. Use it to learn what you need to know. Focus your readings on the primary sources.
Oct. 15 Fall Break -- No Classes
Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Break -- No Classes