REL 424: Early and Medieval Christian Heresy Spring 2015 Instructor: David M. Reis Email: dreis@uoregon.edu Office: 349 Susan Campbell Hall Phone: (541) 346-4980 Office Hours: TR 12:00-1:45 Class Website: http://blogs.uoregon.edu/rel424s15drreis/ Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine. 1 Corinthians 11:19 COURSE DESCRIPTION Disputes over the categories truth and error have been a part of Christianity s history from its origins. For an exclusivist religion such as Christianity, however, not all opinions could be correct, and thus Christian leaders sought to establish the boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable beliefs and practices; that is, what they considered orthodox and heretical. This course will examine the history of these debates by analyzing the teachings of various early and medieval Christianities and tracing the appropriation of the categories orthodoxy and heresy in the development of the faith from a small Jewish sect to the dominant religious institution of Western Europe. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon successful completion of this course, students will: 1. understand the emergence of the categories orthodoxy and heresy in the early Christian period 2. analyze the theological components of ancient and medieval heresies within their social and historical contexts 3. evaluate how the rhetoric of heresy functions in identity formation 4. demonstrate proficiency in interpreting the debates on heresy from an academic perspective, both orally and in writing COURSE TEXTS Deane, Jennifer Kolpacoff. A History of Medieval Heresy and Inquisition. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011. Ehrman, Bart D. Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. LEARNING COMPONENTS 1. Readings The weekly readings consist of both primary and secondary source materials. Primary sources refer to ancient texts that address the problem of heresy. Secondary sources refer to contemporary works that evaluate the
2 problems and issues found in the primary sources. It is expected that students will critically engage all readings before we discuss them in class. 2. Blog Posts Throughout the term, students will be responsible for posting analytical reflections on the daily readings to the class website. Because the blog posts will form the foundation for class discussion, it is imperative that they are published at least one day [=24 hours] prior to the class session so that students have enough time to read and reflect upon them. 3. Oral Presentation Students will lead one class discussion on the primary and secondary literature. Each presentation should consist of 1) a summary of the argument and major themes found in the secondary readings (including an extra reading provided by the instructor), 2) an analysis of the primary readings based upon the ideas discussed in the secondary readings, and 3) two questions for class discussion. Questions should be posted to the class website Forum at least one day [=24 hours] prior to the class session. Students must sign up for a presentation on Canvas by April 14. 4. Research Project Students will complete a research project on a specific topic related to heresy. The project should be organized into two parts: 1) a narrative that critically analyzes the results of the research (approximately 2,500 words) and 2) an annotated bibliography (approximately 12-13 sources and approximately 150 words per source). Students must sign up for a project on Canvas by May 21 and complete a checklist provided by the instructor. Final projects should be posted to the class website no later than June 11 at 12:30 PM. Late submissions will be accepted only in extraordinary circumstances. 5. Participation and Attendance Because this course is heavily structured around lectures and class discussions, participation and attendance are essential. Participation consists of active engagement in and positive contributions to all class activities. Effort and persistence will be rewarded accordingly. LEARNING EVALUATION Blog Posts 125 Oral Presentation 75 Research Project 125 Participation 100 Attendance 75 Total 500 COURSE OUTLINE Part I: Theoretical Frames WEEK 1 (3/31-4/2) Heresy and Theory 3/31: Introduction to Heresy and Orthodoxy 4/2: Heresy, Orthodoxy, Power Ehrman, 1-7, 163-180 King, The Gospel of Mary of Magdala, 155-170
3 Part II: Heresy in Early Christianity WEEK 2 (4/7-9) Old Wives Tales? : Women and Heresy 4/7: Asceticism and Women s Leadership Ehrman, 29-46 The Acts of Thecla 4/9: Revelatory Authority and Female Discipleship Ehrman, Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene, 230-246 Gospel of Mary Magdalene WEEK 3 (4/14-16) Responses to Judaism: Jewish Christianity and Marcion 4/14: Jewish Christianity: Ebionites, Petrine Christianity, and Jewish-Christian Polemic Ehrman, 95-103, 181-185 Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.26 Epiphanius, Medicine Chest, 30.1.1-5; 2.1-2; 3.1-7; 13.1-15.4; 16.6-9; 17.1-3; 22.6-7; 26.1-2 Gospel of the Ebionites Letter of Peter to James Pseudo-Clement, Homilies 17.13-19 4/16: Christianity Without Judaism: Marcion Ehrman, 103-112 Justin Martyr, 1 Apology 26 Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.27 Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies 7.18-19; 10.15 Tertullian, Against Marcion 1.1-2, 19; 3.8; 4.2-3, 6 Epiphanius, Medicine Chest 42.1.1-4.6; 8.1-10.8 WEEK 4 (4/21-23) Enlightenment Christianity: The Thomas Tradition 4/21: The Gospel of Thomas Ehrman, 47-65 Gospel of Thomas 4/23: Trajectories in Thomas Christianity Layton, The Gnostic Scriptures, 359-365 Book of Thomas the Contender Acts of Thomas 1-16, 82-118, 134-138, 159-170 WEEK 5 (4/28-30) The Undominated Race : Gnostic Christianities 4/28: Sethian Gnosticism and Gnostic Polemic Ehrman, 113-126, 185-188 Apocryphon of John Apocalypse of Peter Second Treatise of the Great Seth 4/30: Valentinian Gnosticism Ehrman, 126-134 Gospel of Truth Letter of Ptolemy to Flora Treatise on the Resurrection
4 WEEK 6 (5/5-7) Heresy Hunting : Proto-Orthodox Polemic and Apologetic 5/5: Framing the Debate: Power, Knowledge, and Polemic Ehrman, 135-157, 188-202 Irenaeus, Against the Heresies 1.preface; 1-3, 8, 10, 13, 22-27; 3.3-4 Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics 1, 6, 7, 13-21, 32, 37, 41-42 5/7: Forgeries, Scriptural Corruptions, and Apologetic Ehrman, 203-227 Proto-Gospel of James 3 Corinthians Acts of Peter 4-16, 20, 23-29 WEEK 7 (5/12-17) Canon and Christology 5/12: Clarifying the Scriptures Ehrman, 229-246 Early Christian Canon Lists 5/14: Clarifying Jesus: Arianism and the Council of Nicea Rankin, Arianism Arius, Thalia Alexander of Alexandria, Letter to Alexander of Constantinople Arius, Letter to Alexander of Alexandria Creed and Canons of Nicaea Part II: Heresy in Medieval Christianity WEEK 8 (5/19-21) Heretics and the Responses of the Church 5/19: The Good Christians and Waldensians Deane, 1-24, 25-86 Bernard of Clairvaux, Letter 472 (from Eberwin) Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermon on the Song of Songs 65 Chronicle of Laon Walter Map, Trifles of Courtiers ( Account of the Waldenses ) Peter Waldo, Profession of Faith 5/21: Papal Decrees and the Inquisition Deane, 87-122 Third Lateran Council, Canon 27 Pope Lucius III, Ad abolendam Fourth Lateran Council, Canons 1, 3, 21 Pope Innocent III, Cum ex oficii nostri Bernard Gui, The Practice of Inquisition into Heretical Depravity, Part V: preface; 1.1-2, 5-6; 2.1-3, 5-9 WEEK 9 (5/26-28) Monasticism and Mysticism, Magic and Witchcraft 5/26: Franciscans and Beguines Deane, 123-183 Burchard of Ursperg, On the New Orders Bonaventure, Defense of the Mendicants ( On dominium and usus ) Urbitino of Casale, Commentary on the Franciscan Rule ( On dominium and usus )
5 Pope John XXII, Gloriosam ecclesiam Marguerite Porete, The Mirror of Simple Souls The Trial of Joan of Arc 5/28: Magic and Witchcraft Deane, 185-216 Ralph of Coggeshall, Chronicle Walter Map, Trifles of Courtiers ( A Victory of Faith Over Magic ) Nicholas Eymeric, Directory of Inquisitors 2.42-43 Pope Eugenius IV, Letter to Pontus Fougeyron; A Letter to All Inquisitors Krämer and Sprenger, Malleus Maleficarum WEEK 10 (6/2-4) Late Medieval Heresy: John Wyclife and Jan Hus 6/2: Heresy in England: John Wyclife and the Lollards Deane, 217-246 Wyclife, On Indulgences Pope Gregory XI, On Wyclife Wyclife, Letter to Pope Urban VI The Council of Constance ( The Condemnation of Wyclifism ) The Lollard Conclusions 6/4: Heresy in Bohemia: Jan Hus and the Taborites Deane, 247-291 Hus, On Simony The Council of Constance ( The Condemnation of Hus s Errors ) Peter of Mladonovice, The Examination and Execution of Hus WEEK 11 (6/11) Final Projects Due, 12:30 PM