Theological Heritage III: Medieval Reformation Dr. Shelli Poe Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Millsaps College Email: poesm@millsaps.edu Office: 601-974-1337 Class dates: Jan 5-6, 19-20 Class times: 6:45pm-10pm Fridays; 7:45am-4:15pm Saturdays (See schedule below for adjusted schedule, including breaks) Course Description Nowadays there are hundreds of Christian denominations: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed (Presbyterian, Congregationalist, United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ), Mennonite, Episcopal/Anglican, Baptist (General Conference, Southern, National Convention, Primitive, American, Free Will), Pentecostal (Church of God in Christ, Assemblies of God, Foursquare Gospel), Methodist (African, Free, Southern, Union American, United), and more! Listing just a few is enough to make your head spin! Why are there so many different denominations, and how did they proliferate so plentifully? In this course, we ll investigate the two major divisions within the Christian Church that led to all this chaos (the East-West split of 1054, and the Protestant Reformation of the 16 th century). Using these as focal points, we ll consider how unity might be maintained along with difference. This course offers you the opportunity to consider the benefits and burdens of chaos and community. Assignments Participation (20%): We will be working in small and large groups throughout the course. Your active participation in these groups will be important for the success of the course. Ask questions, offer your perspective, listen to others, take notes, and share your group s work with others. In these ways, we will become a classroom community. Short Paper (20%): In 1,250 words (approximately 5 pages), make an argument about how power, truth, and/or justice is partially at stake in the Eastern Church s separation from the Latin West. To do so, offer a close interpretation and analysis of a primary text. Presentation (20%): In 15 minutes, lead the class in presenting one of the major thinkers or movements within the Protestant Reformation. Use a visual aid and interact with your audience. Thereafter, lead the class in discussion for 15 minutes by offering questions for consideration. Capstone Paper (40%): In 2,500 words (approximately 10 pages), make an argument about the benefits and burdens of difference within community. Link your argument to your own practice of ministry, and use course texts as evidence to substantiate your arguments. Required Texts: James Tracy, Europe s Reformation, 1450-1650 Justo Gonzales, The Story of Christianity, Vol 1*, Vol 2 Henry Bettenson & Chris Maunder, Documents of the Christian Church* Julian of Norwich, Showings (available online) *Students will have the book from a previous class or Licensing School 1
Paper Rubric 40 points total Format Claim/Thesis Reasons, Evidence, Warrant Synthesis Formatted Properly (1 page document; single spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt font, 1-inch margins) Clear, precise, could be true or false (contestable), could be proved or disproved (debatable) Makes a persuasive argument (see 5 parts of argument) Includes discussion of at least 2 properly cited perspectives 8-0 pts Formatted Improperly 8pts Mostly clear and precise, contestable, debatable 8 pts Makes a plausible argument 8 pts Includes discussion of at least 1 properly cited perspective 7 pts Mostly unclear or imprecise, contestable, debatable 7 pts Does not make a plausible argument 7-0 pts Does not include discussion of at least 1 properly cited perspective 6-0 pts Unclear, imprecise, not contestable, not debatable 6-0 pts Does not make an argument Presentation Rubric Clearly conveys all relevant information to the class, strongly holds the class s attention, A B C D F Conveys all Conveys most Does not relevant relevant convey most of information to the information to the the relevant class, class, information to the class. facilitates interesting discussion with the class. holds the class s attention, facilitates discussion with the class. intermittently holds the class s attention, provides discussion questions for the class. Is mostly distracting from the relevant information. 2
Course Schedule Pre-weekend assignments: Getting to Know You document (to be distributed) Gonzalez, ch. 27-31, 34 Bettenson 95-96 (Trinity and Jesus) Bettenson 98-99 (Icons) The Rule of Saint Benedict, in Bettenson, 122-134 Julian of Norwich, Showings, https://www.catholicspiritualdirection.org/revelations.pdf Friday, Jan 5 5:45-6:45pm Worship Framing the Course 6:45-7:00 Introduction to the course and community of learning: Chaos, Community, and Questions 7:00-7:20 Small group discussion: Why can t we all just get along? Unity and Difference: Power, Truth, and Justice 7:20-7:40 Large group discussion: Where have you seen these issues in your own practice of ministry? 7:40-7:50 Break Part 1: The Medieval Context and The East-West Schism (1054 C.E.) Section 1: Medieval Context 7:50-8:30 Early Medieval Context in the West Background reading: Gonzalez, vol. 1, chapter 27 8:30-8:50 Small group discussion: Rule of St. Benedict Reading for discussion: Bettenson 122-134 8:50-9:30 Early Medieval Background in the East 3
Background reading: Gonzalez, vol. 1, ch. 28; Bettenson 95-96 (Trinity and Jesus); Bettenson 98-99 (Icons) 9:30-9:55 Constructing study tools: Timelines, maps, charts Saturday, Jan 6 Section 2: The East-West Schism 8:00-9:00am What caused the East-West Schism? Investigating Papal Supremacy, the Filioque, and the Crusades Background Reading: Gonzalez, chapter 29-31; Bettenson 101-102 (papal supremacy) 9:00-9:15 Small group discussion: How are concerns about authority, truth, and justice at work in the East-West Schism? Which concern is dominant, if any? 9:15-10:15 Free write: How are issues of authority, truth, and justice involved in your own practice of ministry? 10:15-10:45 Lecture: Aftermath of the East-West Schism: Background Reading: Gonzalez, ch. 34 10:45-11:30 Small group discussion: Julian of Norwich s Showings Reading for Discussion: Julian of Norwich, Showings 11:30-12:00 Large group discussion: Julian of Norwich 12:00-12:45 Working Lunch: How are you connecting the course material to your own practice of ministry? 12:45-1:00 Break 1:00-2:00 With a partner: Unity and difference in the Medieval Age: What can we learn from the East-West Schism about unity and difference within religious communities? 2:00-2:30 Large group discussion: Review and Questions 2:30-3:15 Paper workshop: Sign up for presentations on Saturday, Jan 20: 4 groups Short Paper due Friday, Jan 19 at class time 4
Pre-weekend assignments: Gonzalez vol. 1, ch. 35 Gonzalez vol. 2, chs. 4-7 *sign-ups only Gonzalez vol. 2, chs. 8, 18 Tracy, 3-4 Bettenson, 194-209, 298-300 Friday, Jan 19 5:45-6:45pm Worship Reconnecting 6:45-7:00 Remembering our questions: Chaos & Community in Christian traditions 7:00-7:30 One-on-one discussion: Short Paper debriefing 3 copies of short paper due for instructor, self, neighbor 7:30-8:30 Between the East-West Schism and the Protestant Reformation Background Reading: Gonzalez, vol. 1, ch. 35; Tracy, chapter 3 8:30-9:00 Small groups: How do you see controversy around textual criticism, media, insecurity, and moral decay at work in today s church? 9:00-9:45 Small groups: Preparation for Presentations Saturday, Jan 20 Part 2: The Reformation (1517 C.E.): Diversity of Catholic and Protestant 8:00-9:00 What Caused the Reformation of the 16 th Century? Indulgences, Papal Authority, and Theology 9:00-9:15 Presentation 1: Luther Background Reading: Bettenson 194-197 (indulgences), 197-203 (95 Theses), 204-209 (authority), 209-212 (theology) Gonzalez, chapter 4 9:15-9:30 Large group discussion: Luther & Justification Tracy, ch. 4 9:30-9:35 Break 5
9:35-9:50 Presentation 2: Zwingli Gonzalez, chapter 5 9:50-10:05 Large group discussion: Zwingli & the Sacraments 10:05-10:10 Break 10:10-10:25 Presentation 3: Anabaptists Gonzalez, chapter 6 10:25-10:40 Large group discussion: Anabaptists 10:40-10:45 Break 10:45-11:00 Small group discussions: What are the differences between Luther, Zwingli, and Anabaptists? 11:00-11:15 Presentation 4: Calvin Gonzalez, chapter 7 11:15-11:30 Large group discussion: Calvin 11:30-12:00 Lunch 12:00-12:15 English Reformation, Puritanism, and Sanctification Background Reading: Gonzalez, chapters 8 and 18; Bettenson 298-300 (Puritans) 12:15-12:30 Small group discussions: What are the differences between Calvin, English Reformation, and Puritanism? 12:30-1:00 Large group discussion: How are concerns about authority, truth, and justice reflected in the Protestant Reformation? 1:00-1:45 Free write: How could you connect the material from part two of the course to your own practice of ministry? Part 3: Chaos and/or Community 1:45-2:00 Returning to our framework: Chaos and Community 2:00-2:30 Small group discussions: Chaos OR community? A Contemporary Example 6
2:30-3:00 Lecture: Chaos AND community? A Contemporary Proposal 3:00-3:30 Small group discussions: Chaos, Community, Conclusions, Continuing Questions 3:30-3:45 Large group discussion: How might unity be maintained along with difference? Capstone paper due Saturday, Jan 27 by 5pm via email 7