SOUTHWESTERN ADVENTIST COLLEGE
SOCIAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

                                    RLGN or HIST 331 HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY
                                                            3 sem hrs credit
PREREQUISITE: none

Course meeting time: TTH 10:30 am, Evans Hall 8
TEACHER: Erwin Sicher, Ph.D., Ph.D.
Phone: (Ext. 247)
OFFICE: Evans Hall 101
OFFICE HOURS: WF 10:00 - 12:00 am,
TTH 1:15 - 2:00pm, 3:20-4:00 (and by appointment)

• For more information see:

    http://www.digitex.net/karnten/

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A study of the rise and impact of Christianity in the Roman world and western culture. Attention is given to theological and social movements, the influence of Islam, the crusades, expansionism, and religion's adaptation to modern life.

I. Food for Thought:

"How shall we labor with any effect to build up the church, if we have no thorough knowledge of her history, or fail to apprehend it from the proper point of observation? History is, and must ever continue to be, next to God's Word, the richest foundation of wisdom, and the surest guide to all successful practical activity."
Philip Schaff.

"The example of noble deaths such as the Spartans and others hardly move us, for we do not see what good it is to us. But the example of the deaths of Christian martyrs move us, for they are our members, having a common bond with them, so that their devotion inspires us not only by their example, but because we should have the same... The history of the church should more accurately be called the history of truth and should be studied diligently." Blaise Pascal.

II. Format:

The format of the course consists of lectures and discussions. Because of the pressure of time and the need to cover much material it is important for you to keep up with the readings and lectures. Also keep in mind that many issues in history are open to controversy in their interpretation; men and women of good will can and will disagree on their meaning and importance, a point exemplified by the different approaches to be found in the texts, films, lectures and discussions. But debate and controversy should be encouraged, not ignored under the guise of "consensus," "value free objectivity," or dogma. Both students and the instructor need to maintain an open attitude to many points of view. One goal of the course is to demonstrate that the meaning of history can be perceived in different ways. I have opinions on many of the subjects under discussion and will try to make my biases clear. You need not accept my opinions or interpretations and are free to take issue with them without penalty. It is, however, important that you base your arguments on solid data and draw your conclusions in a logical and coherent manner.

III. Purpose

This course has been designed with several purposes in mind:
to examine the History of Christianity from an evangelical perspective beginning with the life of Christ and ending with Luther's posting of the 95 theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg; to provide an introduction to the social, political and economic changes as well as historical processes; to provide necessary background for further coursework in history, religion, and the social sciences; and to encourage analytical thinking and intellectual growth. All that is required is an open mind and a willingness to learn about religions, churches, ideas, regions, countries and people mostly outside the United States.

IV. OBJECTIVES

To scrutinize the History of Christianity in Europe from Christ to 1517.
More specifically to become acquainted with:
- Some documents, research and writings on church history
- The meanings, value and organization of church history
- The early spread of Christianity and the struggle to survive (0-313 A.D.)
- The supremacy of the Old Catholic Imperial Church (313-590)
- The organizational developments in Christianity
- The work of some important Church Fathers
- The development of Faith, Creeds, Doctrines and Liturgy
- The rise and development of monasticism
- The Latin-Teutonic Empire and Christianity and church and state relations (590-1054)
- The rise of Islam
- The supremacy of medieval papacy (1054-1305)
- The crusades
- Medieval Learning
- The decline and resurgence of the papacy (1305-1517)
- The late medieval reformers and reform movements.

V. ASSIGNMENTS

1. Study of the assigned textbook pages in Earle E. Cairns,
    Christianity Through the Ages (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996)
2. Define in HANDWRITING the names and terms provided below and plot them on a sequential chart or timeline (one

       sample is shown below. The names and the terms will be part of the final examination.
3. Consider carefully the "Study Questions". Quizzes and most test items will be drawn from these questions.
4. Enter the geographical names and terms on an outline map.
5. One book summary or a report of 10 articles from the periodical CHURCH HISTORY
6. View two films/videos such as "A.D.", "Fall of the Roman Empire", “Peter and Paul”, "The Sign of the 

      Cross”, "Constantine The Great or Constantine and the Cross”, ”The Fall of the Roman Empire” ”Becket”,
     “The Lion in Winter”,“Lionheart”,”Brother Sun-Sister Moon”, ” Joan of Arc”, “Hus”, “Martin Luther”, “A Man
     for all Season”, etc. and write a summary and critique. For additional films see my web.
8. One historical essay dealing with an interesting religious issue which evolved over several centuries.

    Topics may deal with issues up to 1517 (See the example: The View of Death Throughout the Ages).
Here are some examples of topics:
Death Through the Ages
The Changing Image of the Virgin
The Changing Image of Christ through the Ages
God's Image Through the Ages
A History of Heaven
A History of Hell
A History of the Concept of Sin
Christianity's Changing View of Sex
The Changing View of Virginity
The View of Women Throughout the Christian Era
Christianity's Changing View of Children and Childhood
A History of Heresies
Christianity's Changing View of Marriage and the Family
A History of Papal Corruption
The Poor in Christian History
Missionary Activities throughout the Centuries
The Changing Christian View of Capital Punishment
The History of Religious Ideas:
      Millennium
      Salvation
      The Kingdom of God or Heaven
      etc.
The Changing View of Disease and Catastrophes
A History of Rebellious Christian Women
A History of Minorities in the Church
A History of Attitudes Toward Slavery in the Church
Christian Attitudes Toward Mental Illness.
Possession?
Attitudes Toward Suicide
History of the Idea of the Antichrist
A History of Christian Views of Witchcraft
A History of Christian Anti-Semitism
A History of Health Teachings by the Church
AND MANY OTHER TOPICS
-YOU MAY CHOOSE OTHER TOPICS IF YOU GET APPROVAL FROM THE INSTRUCTOR.

9. For primary texts (original sources) etc. see:
 http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medieval.html OR
 http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/sbook3.html OR

 http://www.ucc.uconn.edu/~das93006/nyssa.html and many other sites.

VI. EVALUATION
1. Quizzes
2. Five unit examinations which will cover lecture and discussion materials since the last examination.
3. Take a close look at the “Study Questions”
4. Define in HANDWRITING the names and terms and plot them on a sequential chart (These names and terms will be

       part of the final).
5. Outline map
6. Book review OR article reviews.
7. Two film reviews
8. Essay
9. Peruse primary sources on the internet.

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is a serious offense. Students must do their own work, to reference all sources used, and to write  in their own words. If students are not sure what is plagiarism they should ask the instructor and  read the relevant section in the University Bulletin. The consequences of  plagiarism can include an "F" on the assignment  or even a failing grade in the course.

VII. TYPES OF TESTS

Tests will include objective (multiple choice, matching, true and false), map questions, short-answer ID's and possibly a      longer ESSAY.

VIII. GRADING
100-83% A
82-73% B
72-53% C
52-40% D
Each homework assignment will receive between 10-20 points.
Each test will count for 60-100 points

IX. RULES
a.) Attendance, tests and quizzes
“The university attendance policy is that regular class attendance is essential. No tests, quizzes and assigned work are excused because of absence, no matter what the cause...
Except for emergencies, the student should make arrangements with the teacher prior to any absence.”
SUMMARY OF SWAU ABSENCE POLICY

b.) The dress code of the Student Handbook will be in effect in the class

c. MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS
You must take examinations on the dates scheduled. Should you, however, miss a test for a justified reason (described above) you must make up the test within one week.

Attention ! Make-ups will cover the same materials as-but they will be different from-the original examination. Make-ups are usually harder, and that for many reasons: longer time since the material was discussed in class.

X. WRITING ASSIGNMENTS (Guidelines)
All writing assignments should be in a standard academic form, including the following: full references, with author, title, place of publication, publisher, and pages; an introduction and conclusion; a conceptual framework (essays or summaries are not encyclopedia articles or mere compilation of information); factual information, quotations, and paraphrasing; complete footnotes; correct grammar, spelling and punctuation; numbered pages; bibliography if needed; and use of sophisticated sources.
Your book review or summary can be in the form of an essay discussing what you read. You need to describe enough of the book to assure me that you read it. If you read a historical work, for instance, explain what country, period of time, and problems were discussed. Try to explain the author's main argument or thesis, either in your own words or in a brief quotation. After you do this, give some of the examples or facts you thought important to support the argument. If you read a novel, explain the plot. If you read an autobiography, essay, or work of an influential person, give a brief biographical sketch of the person. And always follow as far as possible the guidelines outlined in the first paragraph of section X. WRITING ASSIGNMENTS.

XI. Study Tips.

Study and read for information and understanding. You must be an active participant. You cannot sit listening in class and expect your head to be filled automatically with information coming from the instructor, so you cannot sit looking at words and expect to be filled with information from the text. You cannot be a bucket waiting to be filled with information, but you must be a searchlight seeking out knowledge and understanding. You must be actively involved in your study.
Begin a chapter by surveying it. Look quickly over the material to get a sense of the main topics and how they are organized. A survey involves:
    1.Look at the chapter tile and think about what it means.
    2.Read the introductory paragraph to get a general idea of what the chapter is about
    3.Read all headings and subheadings, and think about how they fit into some kind of pattern
    4.Read the summary paragraph and think about how they restate what you have read before
    5.Ask yourself what you think the chapter is about, on the basis of your survey
Next, read the material slowly, carefully, and thoroughly. Do not skip sections because they seem dull. Make marks or notations in the margins about important issues.
Some students find underlining useful. It is effective only if you are doing it right. For most students outlining works better than underlining. Above all, be an active reader by asking yourself questions as you go along. Stop at the end of every sentence or two and ask yourself a question about what you have read. If you cannot answer, you must read the material again. Do the same thing for each paragraph, section and the chapter (Typical questions to be asked are provided for all the chapters).
The best preparation for the examinations involves:
    1. Study often. Study for three hours once a week is not as good as studying 45 minutes four times a week.
    2. Learn bit by bit. Do not study the whole thing at once.
    3. Visualize. Try to create mental images in your mind of the people, things, and events you are studying.
    4. Repeat. Go over the material again and again until you know it.
    5. Question yourself. Self-examination is the key to knowledge.
    6. Do not play games. Do not try to figure out which questions the teacher is going to ask. All the material

        is important.
    7. Seek help if you need it.
    8. Adopt a good reason for taking the course. You want to become an educated person.
    9. Be proud to be a student. It is honorable. The knowledge and skills you acquire now will help you

        throughout life in unexpected ways. Continue to learn throughout live.
   10. Be confident. Think of yourself as successful in this course.

XII. ASSIGNMENT SHEET
Aug. 31       INTRODUCTION
Sep.  2        Chapter 1 The Fullness of Time
                  Chapter 2 On This Rock

Sept. 7       Chapter 3 To the Jew First
                  Chapter 4 Also to the Greek

 9                Chapter 5 The Books and the Parchments
14               Chapter 6 With the Bishops and Deacons
16          TEST I
21              Chapter 7 Christ or Caesar
                     
23              Chapter 8 Fables or Sound Doctrine

28              Chapter 9 Earnestly Contending for the Faith
30              Chapter 10 The Church Closes Rank

Oct.5      TEST II

7                Chapter 11 The Church faces the Empire

                                   and the Barbarians
                      *GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS ON MAP*
12                Chapter 12 Conciliar Controversy and

                                   Creedal Development

14               Chapter 13 The Golden Age of Church Fathers

19               Chapter 14 The Christianity of the Cloisters

21               Chapter 15 Hierarchical and Liturgical

                                    Developments

26          TEST III

28             Chapter 16 The First Medieval Pope
                  ***BOOK OR ARTICLE REVIEW***

Nov. 2         Chapter 17 Christian Losses and Expansion
                      Contextual Reading: Byzantium and Islam
4               Chapter 18 The Revival of Imperialism in

                                   the West
9                Chapter 19 The Emergence of the

                                   Holy Roman Empire
                     
11                Chapter 20 Revival and Schism in the Church

16          TEST IV
      
18              Chapter 21 The Zenith of Papal Power
                       ****ESSAY******

              Chapter 22 Crusaders and Reformers

23          Chapter 22 -“ -
30          Chapter 23 Medieval Learning and Worship
                     
                 ***DEFINITIONS OF NAMES AND TERMS*
Dec. 2     Chapter 24 Attempts at Internal Reform
                     

Dec. 7        Chapter 25 The Papacy Faces

                                    External Opposition
9               Review

DEC. 13  12:00 noon FINAL (Last unit and names and terms)


Chart and definition terms
FROM CONTEXTUAL READING: Solon, Darius, Herodotus, Pericles, Euripides, Alexander the Great, Ptolemies, Archimedes, Hippocrates, Octavius, Mark Anthony, Byzantine, Justinian, Corpus Juris Civilis, Umayyad, Ali, Shi'ites, Sunnis, King John, Magna Carta, Nibelungenlied, Maimonides, Bubonic Plague (1347-48), Wat Tyler rebellion, Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Donatello, Brunelleschi, Palladio.
FROM THE TEXT BY CAIRNS:
Pompay, Caesar Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Tacitus, Suetonius, Sophists, Socrates, Polycarp, Isis, Cybele, Koine, Septuagint, PLATO, MITHRAISM, EPICUREANISM, AGAMEMNON, TRAJAN, JOSEPHUS, Didache, Justin Martyr, IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, IRENAEUS, AUGUSTUS, DOMITIAN, DECIUS, Tertullian, Gnosticism, Monarchianism, Nero, Marcus Aurelius, Diocletian, Edict of Milan, Ebionites, Docetism, Marcion, Mani, PLOTINUS, Montanus, Donatus, Philo, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Constantine, Nicea(325), Goths, Huns, Franks, ULFILAS, COLUMBA, PATRICK, Arius, Athanesius, Nicene Creed, Apollinarius, Nestorius, Eutyches, Council of Chalcedon, Pelagius, Eusebius (church historian), Vulgate, Ambrose , De Civitate Dei, St. Basil, Benedict of Nursia,LEO I, GREGORAY I, VALENTINIAN III'S EDICT, Petrine Theory, Sacrament, Muhammad, Mecca, HEGIRA, Quran, Bagdad, Boniface, Cyril & Methodius, BOETHIUS, BEDE, BONIFACE, CLOVIS, Donation of Constantine, Charles Martel, Pepin, Charlemagne, TREATY OF VERDUN, Louis the German, Charles the Bald, Lothair, Otto, Alcuin, Trivium, Quadrivium, John of Damascus, Feudalism, MANORIALISM, Investiture, Slav, Cluny, Mass, Nicholas I, LEO IX, COLLEGE OF CARDINALS, CANOSSA, Gregory VII & Henry IV, Filoque, Iconoclasm, SCHISM OF 1054, SAINT SOPHIA, OLGA AND VLADIMIR, John & Magna Carta, Innocent III, Urban II, Alexius, Saladin, FIRST CRUSADE, Fourth Crusade, BERNARD, Cathari (Albigenes), Dominican, Waldenses, Canossa, Boniface VIII, Unam Sanctam, Philip the Fair, Avignon, Avignonese Papacy (Babylonian Captivity), Crusades, Templars, John de Monte Corvino, Dominic, Francis of Assisi, CATHERINE OF SIENA, Meister Eckhart, Savonarola, Joachim, Scholasticism, Averoes, Maimonides, Syllogism, HELOISE, Abelard, Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Dante, Roger Bacon, William of Ockham, Nominalism, BYZANTINE, Romanesque, Gothic, Notre Dame, Dogma, Great Schism, Mysticism, BREHTEREN OF THE COMMON LIFE, THOMAS A KEMPIS, Wycliffe, Lollards, Hus, UTRAQUISTS, J.A. Comenuis, Council of Pisa, Council of Constance, John XXIII, Execrabilis, SANCTION OF BOURGES, Renaissance, Lorenzo de Medici, JULIUS II, LEO X, Lorenzo Valla, Humanism, Marsilio Ficino, Pico della Mirandola, Erasmus, Lefevre, Copernicus, MACHIAVELLI, MICHELANGELO, JOHN COLET, Vasco da Gama, MODEL PARLIAMENT, HUNDRED YEARS WAR, WAR OF ROSES, JOAN OF ARC, GUTENBERG, Tudors, Ferdinand & Isabella, Estates General, Asceticism, Canon, Eucharist, Exegesis, Excommunication, Eschatology, Flagellants, Hermit, Indulgences, Hellenism, Liturgy, Penance, Relics, Transcendence, Transubstantiation.

SAMPLE CHART

_______________________________________________

Geographical locations to know (and to place on outline map):
ANTIOCH, SAMARIA, TARSUS, CORINTH, Persian Gulf, Euphrates, Tigris, Mediterrameam, Nile, Red Sea, Turkey, Palestine, Iraq, Mesopotamia, Assyria, Syria, Crete, Persia, Jericho, Babylon, Memphis, Lebanon, Tyre,* Canaan, Sinai, Judah, Jerusalem, Dead Sea,* Aegean Sea, Asia Minor, Athens, Hellespont (Dardanelles), Sicily,* Macedonia, Pergamum, Alexandria, Italy, Tiber, Carthage, Spain, Sardinia, Alps, Po, Gaul, Britain, Rome, Masada, Vesuvius, Pompeii, Armenia, Balkans, Rhine, Danube, Constantinople, Bosporus, Adrianople,* Milan, Bethlehem, Hippo, Adriatic, Appennines, Byzantium, Coth, Cyprus, Damascus, Gaza, Marseilles, Nicaea (Council of), Nineveh, Numidia, Rhodes, Sidon, Thebes (Egyptian), Thebes (Greek), Sardis, Cadiz, Delphi, Pyrenees, Prague, Avignon, London, Ireland, Granada, Castile, Baltic, Chartres, Cologne, Saxony, Bavaria, Dalmatia, Flanders, Lyon, MECCA, MEDINA, CAIRO, BAGHDAD, NETHERLANDS, AACHEN, BOHEMIA, PRUSSIA, CANOSSA, WORMS, CLAIRVEAUX, CLUNY, TOLEDO, CANTERBURY, Florence, Venice, Papal States, Wittenberg, Saxony, London, Spain, France, Paris, Hungary, Austria, Bohemia, Black Sea, Egypt.


SAMPLE OUTLINE AND LECTURE NOTES

ALSO TO THE GREEKS: PAUL'S WORK
Chapter 4

I. Paul's Environment

Good Religious Education:      At Feet of Gamaliel Good
Intellectual Education:        Urban & Intellectual Environment of Tarsus
Politically Astute:                    Roman Citizen

Political Situation:
      Paul Grows Up Under Tiberius, Caligula
      Works Under Claudius--A Good Ruler
      Dies Under Nero

Social and Moral Situation:
     Booty, Slaves, etc., Ruin Upper Classes

Competing Systems of Religion & Philosophies:
     Roman Tolerance for all Religions, if they accepted also state religion
    Mithraism, Isis Cult, etc.
    Stoicism
    Epicureanism

Dates in Paul's Career:
   18 months into Gallio's Pro-consulship Paul was in Corinth (A.D. 50)

Conversion:

II. Paul's Work

A. Propagator
--From Strategic Urban Centers Converts Go to Surrounding Areas
--Begins in Synagogue
--Organizes Church for Self-Governance and Self-Support
--Supervised--Revisiting
--Letters

B. Publications
--Keeping in Touch
--Deal with Particular Problems
            Thessalonian: Misunderstanding about Second Coming
            Corinthian: Church in Large Pagan City (Human Wisdom, Morality,
                              Marriage Problems)
             Galatians: Jewish Law vs. Faith
             Four Epistles from Prison: Ephesus, etc.
             Philemon: Master-Slave Relations
             Timothy & Titus

C. Principles of Paul's Thought
     Formulated Christian Teachings: Theology?
     Works of Law Lead to Knowledge of Sin, but Leave Man Helpless
     Faith in Christ's Work Saves

   Ethics:

     Love Basis of Conduct. Love Involves Separation from Defilement and Service to Others

  Philosophy of History:
    Cataclysmic Supernatural Linear View

D. Paul as a Polemicist

    Jerusalem Council (A.D. 49-50)
    Paul vs. Judaizers
    Methods for Resolution:--Church Meeting
                                         --Private Meeting with Apostles & Elders
                                         --Church Meeting & Decision

   Outcome: Gentiles Freed from Jewish Law--
                    Only Salvation Through Faith
                    Compromise on Secondary Issues
                           Gentiles--Don't Eat Blood --Avoid Idolatry
                           Problem: What is a Secondary Issue?

   Fight with Incipient Gnosticism: Colossians
          Dualism: Spirit - Matter
          Hierarchy of Beings: From Pure Spirit to Matter / Christ Lower, Since Spirit & Body
          Salvation: Ascetic Denial of Body & Gnosis of Elite. Faith Low Down on Scale.
          Paul's Answer: Christ Full Manifestation of God