PMIN 225: CHURCH HISTORY Spring, 2018 William J. Dohar, PhD TENTATIVE COURSE SYLLABUS Course description: This on-site and online course at SCU is an historical survey of Catholic Christianity from its origins to the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). As surveys go, it s meant to lend an impression that lingers one that informs broadly but also relies on occasionally closer scrutiny of select topics. The course is studiously multi-disciplinary, approaching major developments in Catholicism from a variety of perspectives and historical sources. Learning Objectives: This course has four learning objectives: 1) by the end of the course, students will have a generalist understanding of historical developments in Christianity from its origins to the mid-20th century; 2) that this generalist knowledge will be enriched and occasionally deepened by a nuanced appreciation of historical-theological sources, textual, artistic and monumental. 3) Participants will distinguish between Christianity as a religious movement and the institutional, theological and pastoral developments of Christian churches with an emphasis on the West. 4) Finally, course participants will develop a personal and pastoral pedagogy for the history of the church by translating historical complexities in diverse pastoral settings. Course Texts: the main text for the course is David Chidester's Christianity: A Global History (HarperOne, 2001). This text is a broad survey of Christianity and while our emphasis will be on the emergence and development of Roman Catholicism, it s impossible to understand the latter without considering the broader currents of the Christian tradition and the range of 1
denominational, social, political and economic forces that gave it shape. All other sources including two online discussion forums will be uploaded to Camino (Canvas) at SCU. Course Requirements: we accomplish the learning objectives above through various activities in the course. The first and most important is student participation. Student involvement will occur in three ways: in our on-site discussions for the three Saturdays we meet on SCU s campus; our weekday (to be determined) evening Zoom meetings, and two online discussions. (These online discussions will not involve a Zoom meeting.) Being present in all three settings is crucial for a positive course experience. The writing requirement is fulfilled in two ways: one short paper (4-5 pages in length) based on any one of the original sources discussed through the quarter. Secondly, students will keep a near-weekly course journal where thoughts, ideas, questions, concerns are stated and reflected upon. These journal entries, usually no more than two pages, are shared only with the course instructor and serve as a record of the student s developing understanding of Church history. The final requirement is a pastoral application project. This group effort occurs in place of a final exam and will offer students the chance to choose one historical topic and convey it, in whatever fashion they like, to a pastoral group of their choosing. Apportionment of credit: Participation: 20% (including 5% each for the two online discussions) Essays (two) 30% Course Journal: 30% Pastoral Application: 20% Disabilities: If you have a documented disability for which accommodations may be required in this class, please contact Disabilities Resources, Benson 216, www.scu.edu/disabilities, as soon as possible to discuss your needs and register for accommodations with the University. If you have already arranged accommodations through Disabilities Resources, please initiate a conversation with me about your accommodations during my office hours within the first two weeks of class. Students who are pregnant and parenting may also be eligible for accommodations. Accommodations will only be provided after I have verification of your accommodations as approved by Disabilities Resources, and with sufficient lead time for me to arrange testing or other accommodations. For more information you may contact Disabilities Resources at 408-554-4109. Plagiarism: All assignments reading and writing are due the day assigned. Plagiarism in any form will result in certain failure of the project in question and may result in a failing grade for the entire course according to University policies and procedures. Please read carefully: http://www.scu.edu/studentlife/resources/academicintegrity/). 2
SCHEDULE OF CLASS MEETINGS SATURDAY, April 7 Topics: Introduction to the course; how to approach Church history; Jewish foundations, the context of Rome, and the birth of a new religion; the mosaic of Christian communities; theological dissonance and concerns over heresy; Roman imperial critique of Christianity and the rise of the Apologists ; persecution and martyrdom. Readings: Chidester, Chapters 4-7 (pp 43-108) Source: Didache (excerpts) Online 1 Online Discussion #1 View the documentary film, Christianity: the First Thousand Years (available on YouTube) and respond to reflection and discussion questions set on our Camino course page. Specific times for the discussion to be determined by the class. Online 2 Zoom Discussion Topics: the call of the desert and the spirituality of desert mothers and fathers ; the influence of Greek philosophy for early Christian learning; inevitable clashes of faith and reason ; power and the holy: the gradual emergence of the Church of Rome; the long shadow cast by Augustine; a far more quiet voice in the East: Ephrem the Syrian. Course journal due Readings: Chidester, Chapters 8-10 (pp 109-56) Source: Syncletica of the Desert (the story of a desert mother ) Online 3 Zoom Discussion Topics: further divisions in Christianity; theology and liturgy in the East and West; the Societas Christiana and the emergence of Christendom. The rise of Islam and profound changes in the Christian world; the desert in the forest: ascetic communities and the beginnings of the monastic tradition (Benedictine and Celtic); Irish spirituality; ; early monks and nuns. Course journal due Readings: Chidester, Chapters 11-12 (pp 159-196) Source: The Rule of St. Benedict (excerpts) Online 4 No Class Meeting 3
This Thursday is set aside for initial discussions (Zoom office hours) about the Pastoral Application Project SATURDAY, May 5 Topics: Sacred objects and images; the ancient lure of relics; Pseudo-Dionysius and the Christian mystical tradition; early Eucharistic debates; rapid changes in the West and the rise of heresy; the new orders: Franciscans and Dominicans; Clare and her sisters; the zenith of the medieval papacy and the reforms of Lateran IV (1215), the Great Council. Course journal due Readings: Chidester, Chapters 13-16 (pp 197-274) Sources: Select canons from the Fourth Lateran Council (1215) Online 5 Zoom Discussion Topics: Mary in the medieval church; popular piety and devotion; cathedrals and the spirituality of church spaces ; late medieval currents of theology; three popes instead of one; the constant cry for reform; the impact of the New World on the Christian mind; humanism and new intellectual challenges to the Church; Martin Luther and the early reformers. Course journal due Readings: Chidester, Chapters 17, 19 (pp 275-92; 312-31) Source: Martin Luther, On Prayer Online 6 Zoom Discussion Topics: Christian conquests, political and religious; Latin America; the first great age of missions; Jesuits in China and Japan; the ethical dilemma of slavery; American Zion and the Church in North America. Course journal due Readings: Chidester, Chapters 21, 23, 25 (pp 353-70; 389-411; 434-51) Source:: Two missionary sermons : Colonial New England and Peru Online 7 Online Discussion #2 Watch Christianity: the Second Thousand Years (available on YouTube) and respond to the Camino Discussion questions. The emphasis here will be on the Church in the age of the Enlightenment (18 th century) and through a century of revolutions (19 th century); the loss of the Papal States, the long pontificate of Pope Pius IX, and the Vatican Council (I). 4
SATURDAY, June 2 Topics: our morning will be devoted to completing our discussion of major themes in modern Church history: the Church in the 20 th century; the collapse of the old order and the chaotic emergence of the new; ideologies, wars and holocaust; broad ecumenical currents in the Christian world; Pope John XXIII and Vatican II. The afternoon will be devoted to an informal presentation/discussion of student capstone projects for the course. Readings: Chidester, Chapters 28, 29, 30 (pp 491-558) Instructor Contact Information: William Dohar, Ph.D. Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA 95053 wdohar@scu.edu 5