DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the western, Latin Church in the Medieval and Reformation periods (600-1600 A.D.), beginning from its Augustinian foundations in the aftermath of the barbarian invasions of the Roman Empire, through its millennium-long attempt to build a Christian society and the resulting tensions in thought, governance and practice, and the many reform efforts which culminated in the transformation of European "Christendom" in the Reformation of the sixteenth century begun by Luther. Besides ecclesiastical developments, Christianity's impact in new practices of faithful living and expression will be addressed.

This period formed the particular shape of western Christianity in its various manifestations. A critical appropriation of this heritage is crucial to situate ourselves in the wider catholic and apostolic church, and to understand our faith in the fuller, more judicious--even chastened--perspective given in the historical experience of the Church. The student will thereby come to appreciate the historic conflicts and options behind Christian practice and doctrine, and by such critical engagement better attend to the needed articulation of faith in one's own ministry and witness.

This two-week intensive will meet for four-hour sessions of lecture/discussion each weekday.

Janz, Denis, ed. A Reformation Reader. Fortress 1999.

Julian of Norwich. The Showings. Paulist Press 1988.

Ozment, Steven. The Age of Reform (1250-1550): An Intellectual and Religious History of Late Medieval and Reformation Europe. Yale University Press, 1980.

Extended syllabus of selected primary readings.

Bainton, Roland. The Reformation of the Sixteenth Century. Beacon Press, 1985.

McGinn, Bernard; John Meyendorff; and Jean Leclerq, eds. Christian Spirituality I: Origins to the Twelfth Century. Crossroads, 1992.

Muller, Richard A. Dictionary of Latin and Greek Theological Terms. Baker, 1985.

Pelikan, Jaroslav. The Growth of Medieval Theology 600-1300. University of Chicago Press, 1978.

Rait, Jill, ed. Christian Spirituality II: High Middle Ages and Reformation. Crossroads, 1989.

Steinmetz, David. Reformers in the Wings. Oxford University Press, 2000.

1. Completion of assigned readings in preparation for class.
   Prior to the first class: Read the opening selection from the extended syllabus, "The Achievements of the Early Church," as well as the first four chapters of the Ozment book.

2. Daily short-answer quizzes on the readings (10%).

3. Midterm (20%) and Final (45%).

4. A 5-7 page critical Book Review, due a week after the Final Exam (20%).

5. An assigned 1-2 page response to one of the readings, to be used as a discussion starter (assigned at beginning of class--5%).