This unit explores dangerous and creative memories within the Christian community from the second century until the 1400s, noting that history is always in dialogue with the contemporary world. It equips you with skills, approaches and new perspectives to tell nuanced and interesting stories. Using historical case studies that still resonate today, we will explore how and why some assumptions about the church and people of faith proved widely popular, while other Christian histories have been forgotten, neglected or distorted. We will focus in particular on disagreement and divergence of opinion in order to understand the impact of particular kinds of source material and how historical tradition can serve particular purposes. We will explore how memories of people and events have been shaped and show how new work drawing on different sources and asking new questions can enrich, enliven and challenge understandings of the past. Within a timeline that covers the Early Church and Middle Ages, we will explore key events and ideas that shape and re-shape the church's memory and identity.
Unit code: CH8020P
Unit status: Approved (Minor revision)
Points: 24.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational
Unit discipline: Church History
Delivery Mode: Blended
Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Discuss the development of "standard accounts" of the history of the Christian community from the Jesus movement to the present; |
| 2. | Analyse the reasons for differing interpretations or emphases in the interpretation of a historical controversy or neglected area |
| 3. | Analyse and articulate the contributions of key works to the interpretation of a historical controversy or neglected area |
| 4. | Articulate key principles of interpretation of a range of historical evidence (including varieties of documents, artefacts, music and art); |
| 5. | Demonstrate the ability to interpret a range of historical sources; |
| 6. | Discuss the implications of historical understanding for ministry in the contemporary Christian church. |
An foundational unit in Church History, designed to provide an overview of key controversies in the history of Christianity and an introduction to historical method.
Guided seminar reading and discussion, lecture input,
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document Study | Study of a historical source relating to a key controversy, forgotten question or new interpretation in the history of the Christian community |
1500 | 20.0 |
| Literature Survey | Survey of the literature relating to a key controversy, forgotten question or new interpretation in the history of the Christian community. |
1500 | 20.0 |
| Essay | Essay demonstrating an understanding of reasons for change over time in interpretation of a key controversy, forgotten question or new area in history of the Christian community |
3000 | 50.0 |
| Interview | Respond to questions and discussion on the significance of a key controversy, forgotten question or new interpretation in the history of the Christian community. |
1000 | 10.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 10 Jul, 2024
Unit record last updated: 2024-07-10 14:58:50 +1000