Early Christianity In Context (CH1011W)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit introduces students to some of the key themes and people in the history of the church from the first to the fifteenth century. Students will engage with primary and secondary sources to explore the spread of Christianity, the apostolic tradition, church-state relations, accusations of heresy, the rise of the Christian empire, monasticism, and the culture and theology of the medieval church.

Unit code: CH1011W

Unit status: Approved (Minor revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 1

Unit discipline: Church History

Proposing College: Whitley College

Show when this unit is running

Learning outcomes

1.

Outline key aspects of the Christian story from early to late-medieval times
2.

Identify some of the social, political, and cultural factors influencing the development of Christianity
3.

Demonstrate basic skills in interpreting historical documents
4.

Assess the significance of selected movements and personalities for the church’s history

Pedagogy

Face to Face

Indicative Bibliography

  • Bradley, James E and Robert A. Muller. Church History: An Introduction to Research Methods and Resources. 2nd edn. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2016.
  • Clark, Elizabeth A. Women in the Early Church. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2017.
  • Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity, Volume 1. New York: HarperOne, 2010. (recommended for purchase)
  • Hall, Stuart G. Doctrine and Practice in the Early Church. 2nd edn. London: SPCK, 2005.
  • Hinson, E. Glenn. The Early Church: Origins to the Dawn of the Middle Ages. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996.
  • McGrath, Alistair. Christian History: An Introduction. Wiley: New York, 2012.
  • Miles, Margaret. The Word Made Flesh: A History of Christian Thought. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2005.
  • Muir, Elizabeth Gillan. A Women's History of the Christian Church: Two Thousand Years of Female Leadership. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2019.
  • Noll, Mark A. Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity. 3rd edn. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2012.
  • Young, Frances. The Making of the Creeds. London: SCM Press, 2002.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Essay of 1,500 words

 1500 40.0
Document Study

Document study of 1,000 words

 1000 25.0
Tutorial Paper/Seminar Paper

Tutorial Paper of 1,000 words

 1000 25.0
Forum

Five 100-word forum posts or equivalent

500 10.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 26 Oct, 2023

Unit record last updated: 2023-10-26 10:40:42 +1100