Christian Tradition Schedule

Spring 2016

 

 

 

 

 

Page last updated 4/12/2016 9:35 am

NOTE: major changes starting on 3/29

 

 

Students please note:

 

There are some digital tutorials, such as map making, that are not listed on the syllabus, yet. We will do them in class. Dates TBD.

 

This schedule is subject to change at the Professor's discretion. It is the responsibility of each student to keep up with schedule changes, even if absent.

 

Assignments should be completed in time for class on the day on which they are listed on the syllabus. 

 

Students should bring to class any texts assigned for the day or detailed notes.

Week 1: January 18-22
T Introduction to the Course
Welcome and Introductions

About the course

Mini lecture on the Roman Empire

Th Beginnings
Before Class

Study Guide

Read

During Class
  • Discussion based on Study Guide
  • Mini lecture

Week 2: January 25-29

T Boundaries and Appearances
Before Class

Study Guide

Read

  • ANT pp. 320-328
    • 1 Clement (text 55)
    • Didache (text 56)
    • Ignatius’s letters to the Ephesians, Magnesians, and Smyrnians (text 57)
  • On Canvas
    • Ignatius’s letter to the Trallians
    • Shepherd of Hermas (selections)
  • ANT pp. 309-316 (Scriptures & Canonical Lists)
    • Chapter 9 Introduction
    • Muratorian Canon (text 51)
    • Irenaeus (text 52)
    • Origen (text 53)
    • Eusebius (text 54)

Quiz on Canvas (will focus on 1 Clement, Didache, Ignatius, and Hermas) -- UPDATE

During Class
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture
Th Mission and Expansion
Before Class

Study Guide

Read:

  • ANT pp. 7-24; 353-56
    • Chapter 2 Introduction
    • Acts of John (text 1)
    • Acts of Thomas (text 2)
    • Dialogue with Trypho (text 3)
    • Hippolytus:  the Apostolic Tradition (text 65)

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Student discussion facilitation
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture

Week 3: February 1-5

T Early Persecution and Martyrdom
Before Class

Study Guide

Read:

  • ANT Chapter 3: pp. 25-41/26-46
    • Chapter Introduction
    • Ignatius’s letter to the Romans (text 4/5
    • Martyrdom of Polycarp (text 5/6)
    • The Letter of the Churches of Vienne and Lyons (text 6/7)
    • Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs (text 7/8)
  • map of persecutions

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture
Th Early Persecution and Martyrdom Part 2
Before Class

Study Guide

Read:

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Student discussion facilitation
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture

Week 4: February 8-12

T Justin and Early Christian Apology
Before Class--UPDATED

Study Guide

Read:

  • ANT Chapter 4:  pp. 51-71, 75-82/rev ed: 56-58, 74-87
    • Chapter 4 Introduction
    • Minucius Felix:  Octavius (text 9)
    • Justin:  First Apology  (text 10/13)
    • Athenagoras:  Plea Regarding the Christians (text 11/14)
    • Tertullian:  Apology (text 13)
    • Justin selections on Canvas

Quiz on Canvas

 

During Class
  • Student discussion facilitation
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture
Th Christian Diversity Part I—Jewish-Christian Self-Definition & Early Christian Anti-Judaism
Before Class--UPDATED

Study Guide

Read:

  • ANT pp. 131-135;
    • Chapter 6 Introduction
    • Gospel According to the Ebionites (text 19)
    • Chapter 5 Introduction
    • Epistle of Barnabas (text 15/18): SELECTIONS: intro, chapters 1, 4, 7, 10, 14:1, 15, 17
    • Justin:  Dialogue with Trypho (text 16)
    •  Melito of Sardis:  On the Passover (text 17/20) SELECTIONS: intro, verses 1-10, 68-84, 94-105
    • Tertullian: Answer to the Jews (text 18/21)

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture

Week 5: February 15-19

T Christian Diversity Part II—Gnosticism
Before Class--UPDATED

Study Guide

Read:

  • ANT
    • On the Origin of the World (text 26 / 33 rev ed.)
    • The Gospel of Truth (text 24 / 28 rev ed.)
    • The Gospel of Philip (text 30 / 30 rev ed.)

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture
Th Unity, Diversity, and Liturgy
Before Class--UPDATED

Study Guide

Read:

  • ANT pp. 193-211/ pp. 224-242 rev. ed
    • Chapter 7 Introduction
    • Irenaeus:  Against the Heresies (text 31/ rev ed. 35)
    • handout

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Student discussion facilitation
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture

Week 6: February 22-26

T Tertullian and Controversies in the Church
Before Class--UPDATED

Study Guide

Read:

  • ANT on heresy and women
    • Tertullian:  Prescription of the Heretics (text 32/rev ed text 36): intro, chapters 1, 6, 7, 13, 19, 38
    • Tertullian:  On the Flesh of Christ (text 33/rev ed text 37): intro, chapters 1, 2, 17
    • Tertullian:  Against Praxeas (text 34/rev ed text 38)
    • Tertullian: On the Dress of Women (rev ed text 88)
    • Tertullian:  To His Wife (text 72/rev ed text 92)
    • Irenaeus: On Heresies (rev ed text 86)

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Student discussion facilitation
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture
Th Christian Philosophers as Theologians -- Clement & Origen
Before Class

Study Guide

Read

  • ANT texts 71, 69, 74, 14/ 2d ed. texts 91, 70, 94 + 67, 17,
    • Clement:  The Educator Book 2 chapters 1, 2, 5, 7, 10
    • Origen:  Commentaries on Genesis (OPTIONAL) 
    • Origen:  On First Principles (text 74; 2d ed. texts 94 & 67)
      • on God, the trinity, Christ:  beginning-ch 2, section 2
      • on the soul, creation, and Christ:  ch. 8-Book II, ch 6
      • on interpreting scripture: Book IV ch 2: sections 4-9, ch 3: sections 1-5  (In 2nd ed. of ANT this is in text #67 pp 394, 396-402)
    • Origen:  Against Celsus chapters 1-3, 28, 30-32, 39-40, 68
  • Selection from Porphyry

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Student discussion facilitation
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture

Week 7: February 29-March 4

T The Great Persecution and the End of Persecutions
Before Class--UPDATED

Study Guide

Read

  • Chadwick, The Early Church (Canvas --read this first)
  • A New Eusebius selections (Canvas)
  • CLA 8-18
    • Chapter 2 Introduction
    • Acts of Saint Felix (text 1)
    • Lactantius:  The Deaths of the Persecutors (text 2) through chapter 17

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Student discussion facilitation
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture
Th Constantine 
Before Class

Study Guide

Read:

  • CLA pp. 24-25
    • Chapter 3 Introduction
  • Handout from previous class (also on Canvas)
  • CLA pp. 25-44, 68-74
    • The Origin of Constantine (text 3)
    • Eusebius:  Life of Constantine (text 4)
    • Chapter 4 Introduction
    • Theodosian Code:  On Religion—pick out laws by Constantine (text 6)

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture

Week 8: March 7-11

T Church and State:  The Council of Nicaea and Arianism
Before Class

Study Guide

Read

  • CLA pp. 155-167, 242-256, 190-200
    • Chapter 7 Introduction
    • Trinitarian Controversy Introduction
    • Arius:  Thalia (text 20)
    • Alexander of Alexandria:  Letter to Alexander of Constantinople (text 21)
    • Arius:  Letter to Alexander of Alexandria (text 22)
    • Chapter 8 Introduction
    • Creed and Canons of Nicaea (text 33)
    • Athanasius on the Incarnation of the Word

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Debate on orthodoxy and the Council of Nicaea
  • Mini lecture
Th After Nicaea--Julian the "Apostate," The Cappadocians, and the Defense of Orthodoxy
Before Class

Study Guide

Read

  • CLA 48-53, 167-177, 256-59
    • Julian, Letters on Religion (text 6 only -- no need to read text 7)
    • Gregory of Nazianzus:  Third Theological Oration (text 23)
    • Creed and Canons of Constantinople (text 34)
  • Readings on Basil, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory Nazianzus on Canvas

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture

Week 9: March 14-18

SPRING BREAK

Week 10: March 21-25

T Asceticism Part IA—Life of Antony
Before Class

Study Guide

Read

  • Gregg, Athanasius pp. 29-65

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture
Th Asceticism Part IB—Life of Antony
Before Class

Study Guide

Read

  • Gregg, Athanasius pp. 65-99

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Student discussion facilitation
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture

Week 11: March 28-April 1

T Asceticism Part II—Monasteries in Egypt & Syria
Before Class

Study Guide

Read:

  • Desert Mothers, Atlas Obscura
  • CLA 291-307
    • Pachomius:  Rules (text 38)
    • Sayings of the Desert Fathers (text 39)
    • Antony:  Letter 1 (text 40, selection)
    • Theodoret:  The Religious History (text 47)  
    • Life of Pelagia (text 49)
    • (We will read Theodoret and Pelagia another day later in the semester!!)
  • Digital Tutorial Zotero homework:
    • register for account
    • join the class bibliography
    • enter one item from the class syllabus (book, website, etc. If a reading from Canvas: enter the book or website from which the reading was taken!)
    • Rewatch my Zotero video if you need a refresher

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Student discussion facilitation
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture
Th
Before Class

Study Guide

Read in CLA

  • Theodoret:  The Religious History (text 47)  
  • Life of Pelagia (text 49)

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Discussion based on Student Generated questions
  • Begin discussing final projects and second paper
  • Mini lecture

Week 12: April 4-8

T Jerome and Augustine
Before Class

Study Guide

Read

  • CLA 80-92, 377-389
    • Augustine:  Confessions (text 11)
    • Jerome: Letter to Eustochium(text 37)
  • Readings TBA on Canvas re Jerome
  • Add a a scholarly item on a topic we studied of interest to you (book or journal article) to the class Zotero page using the Zotero app (50 points)

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture
Th Pilgrimage and Cult of the Saints
Before Class --UPDATED

Study Guide

Read

  • CLA pp. 331-350, 360-65
    • Chapter 10 Introduction
    • Egeria:  Travel Journal (text 42)
    • Gregory of Nyssa:  Letter on Pilgrimage (text 43)
    • Lucianus:  On the Discovery of Saint Stephen (text 45)

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Pilgrimage activity: CLASS WILL MEET AT the FRONT of WPC

Week 13: April 11-15

T Augustine on Sin and Grace
Before Class

Study Guide

Read

  • Augustine, Selections on Canvas

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Talk more about projects
  • Mini lecture
Th Christology & the Councils of Ephesus & Chalcedon
Before Class

Study Guide

Read

  • CLA pp. 178-188, 259-262 -- UPDATE
    • Christological Controversy Introduction
    • Nestorius:  Letter to Cyril of Alexandria (text 24)
    • Cyril of Alexandria:  Third Letter to Nestorius (text 25)
    • Canons of Ephesus (text 35)
    • Definition and Canons of Chalcedon (text 36) -- UPDATE
  • Handout on Hypatia and temple destruction (on Canvas)

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Student discussion facilitation
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Final projects: groups must be formed, topics chosen by this date
  • Mini lecture

Week 14: April 18-22

T The West, the Papacy, and Power
Before Class

Study Guide

Read

Quiz on Canvas

During Class
  • Discussion based on Study Guides
  • Mini lecture
Th Work on Group Projects
Before Class

Meet in groups, project map due

During Class

Work on group projects

Week 15: April 25-29

T Work on Group Projects
Before Class

Images for at least half the slides due

During Class

Work on group projects

Th Presentations
During Class: Presentations in Pecha Kucha style

Week 16: May 2-4

T Presentations and Course Evals
During Class: Presentations in Pecha Kucha style, Course evals

Finals Week