The Church Since the Reformation Hamilton Campus

Transcription

1 Gordon L. Isaac, Ph.D. Spring Semester 2018 Fridays 2:00pm-5:00pm Office hours Tues & Wed 1pm 4pm The Church Since the Reformation Hamilton Campus Course Description: The Church from the Reformation is a basic introduction to the development of the Christian Church in its various forms from the Protestant Reformation of the Sixteenth Century to the present time. Course Objectives: The Church From the Reformation is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of the major themes, issues and personalities of Church History; to help them to make use of the rich resources of Church History in their practice of ministry. Textbooks: 1) Justo L. González, The Story of Christianity. Volume Two: The Reformation to the Present Day. Revised and Updated (New York: Harpers Collins, 2010). Spanish-speakers may read the Spanish version: 2) Anne H. Pinn & Anthony B. Pinn, Fortress Introduction to Black Church History (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2002). 3) Gordon L. Isaac, Left Behind or Left Befuddled: The Subtle Dangers of Popularizing the End Times (Liturgical Press: Collegeville, MN, 2008). 4) William Placher, Readings in the History of Christian Theology, Volume 2: From the Reformation to the Present (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1988). Course Requirements: Students who are taking the course for credit are expected to attend the lectures regularly, complete the required reading and assignments. Report Papers: Each student will be asked to write two eight to ten page papers for the course: Major Paper: The major paper is due by April 30 th It should focus on one significant individual or movement in Church History between A.D and the present. Research should include the reading of at least one major biography of the person or one major work produced by the movement and at 1

2 least one additional major piece of writing by that person or of that movement. Please avoid doing a simple biography of a person but rather find a specific angle by which to study that character. So, instead of doing Calvin s life as biography focus on one aspect of his writings such as the construction of the Institutes or his writings against the Anabaptists, or his biblical commentaries. I do hope that specific ways (both positive and negative) in which your subject might be of help to you in your future ministry will be in your mind as you write. Have fun with this! Response Paper: The student will write a response paper to the text Left Behind, Left Befuddled. The paper will be 5 pages in length and will interact with this presentation of Dispensationalism. The paper will include more personal responses about what surprised you, what you resonated with, and what you learned. This paper is due on or before March 16, 2018, Personal Consultations: The instructor will normally be available for brief conversations before and after each class session. He is also available in his study during regular office hours. Individual appointments are also welcomed and can be made with the professor. Dr. Isaac can be reached by telephone in his study ( ) or by (gisaac@gcts.edu). Grading: Your final grade for the course will be computed on the following basis: Response paper: 25 points Major paper: 75 points COURSE SCHEDULE: (subject to change) Friday, February 2: THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION Required reading: Gonzalez Vol. II 1-45; Placher 9-19 Session I: THE CHANGING SHAPE OF CHURCH HISTORY: Sweeping changes have taken place in church history in the last decades. This is due not only to a multiplication in differing methodologies used but also because the church and the world are changing. Session II: THE MAGISTERIAL REFORMATION: LUTHER During this class we will begin to explore the Magisterial traditions of the Protestant Reformation. Special attention will be given to the life and work of Martin Luther. Friday, February 9: THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION Required reading: Gonzalez 46-69, Placher 19-37;

3 Session I: THE MAGISTERIAL REFORMATION: ZWINGLI, CALVIN AND KNOX During this session we will explore the Reformed branch of the Magisterial Reformation. Special attention will be given to the work of Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich and John Calvin in Geneva. Session II: THE RADICAL REFORMATION: SATTLER & SIMONS During this class we will be examining the development of the Anabaptist wing of the Protestant Reformation. Special attention will be given to the Swiss Brethren and the Mennonites. Friday, February 16: THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION Required reading: Gonzalez , Placher Session I: THE REFORMATION IN ENGLAND During this class we will focus upon the Reformation in England. Special attention will be given to the emergence and development of the Church of England. Session II: THE CATHOLIC REFORMATION During this session we will trace the Catholic response to the Reformation and its efforts to revitalize the old faith READING WEEK (February 19-23): NO CLASS Friday March 2: CHRISTIANITY IN THE ENLIGHTENMENT Required reading: Gonzalez , Placher 66-90; Session I: PURITANISM During this class we will explore the rise and development of the Puritan Movement in England. Session II: RELIGION IN THE AGE OF REASON The eighteenth century inaugurated the modern epoch. Christianity faced a plethora of complex and often caustic ideas during this time period. Supernaturalism began to be challenged and Christianity had to respond. Friday, March 9: CHRISTIANITY DURING THE ENLIGHTENMENT Required Reading: Gonzalez , Placher

4 Session I: CONTINENTAL PIETISM During this session we will discuss the origins, methods, ethos, and effects of the continental pietists. Session II: METHODISM A remarkable renewal touched England during the 18th century under the ministry of John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield. Not only did this bring new life to the Church of England but it spilled over to form the modern Methodist movement. Friday, March 16: AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY IN THE 17 TH & 18 TH CENTURIES Required reading: Gonzalez , Placher Session I: NEW ENGLAND PURITANISM During this class we will examine the Puritan and Pietist roots of American Christianity--using the Massachusetts Bay Colony (founded in 1630) as our basic point of reference. Session II: THE AMERICAN REVIVAL TRADITION During this session we will be exploring the great revival tradition in America. Special attention will be given to the Great Awakening of the Eighteenth Century and the Second Great Awakening of the early Nineteenth Century. Friday, March 23: AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY Required reading: Gonzalez , Placher Session I: EVANGELICALISM AND CERTAIN OTHER ISM S American Evangelicalism emerged as a recognizable historical movement during the revivals of the Great Awakening. But alongside evangelicalism several other movements and ideas of importance swept through America as well, including Unitarianism, Transcendentalism, Universalism, and Liberalism. Session II: THE BLACK CHURCH IN AMERICA During this session we will examine both the struggles and the many contributions of the African-American church in America. READING WEEK (March 26-30) NO CLASS Friday April 6: THE FUNDAMENTALIST-MODERNIST CONTROVERSY 4

5 Required reading: article on CAMS Session I: THE RISE OF FUNDAMENTALISM During this class and the next we will be examining the rise of Fundamentalism and Modernism during the late 19th century, their bitter battles during the first three decades of the 20th century. Session II: THE CONSEQUENCES OF FUNDAMENTALISM The shaping of today s conservative scene by fundamentalism including its attack on modern science and evolutionary theory Friday, April 13 th no class Friday, April 20: THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD Required reading: Gonzalez , Placher Session I: THE NEO-ORTHODOX IMPULSE IN EUROPE AND AMERICA Following the collapse of both Modernism and Fundamentalism in the early 1930's, two renewal movements emerged within American religious life. This class will explore the rise and development of Neo-Orthodoxy in the 1930s and Neo-Evangelicalism in the 1940s. Session II: THE NEW EVANGELICAL IMPULSE IN AMERICA Traces the establishment of the NAE, InterVarsity Fellowship, and other institutions of the new evangelicalism Friday, April 27: THE CHURCH IN THE PRESENT Required reading: on reserve, Placher Session I: THE WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT Sweeping changes have affected the character of the world-wide Christian movement. This session will address the trends, the prevailing winds, and issues that affect the church today. Session II: PENTECOSTALISM The fastest growing segment of the Christian population is Pentecostalism. We focus in this first session on the Azusa Street Revival and its aftermath. 5