CH1/212.15 Christianity through the Centuries: From Reformations to the Modern Era

Foundational Unit for MDiv


This unit will introduce students to the main features of the development of Western Christianity from the late Middle Ages to the present. Topics will include 16th century reformation movements, 17th century Puritanism and Pietism, the impact of enlightenment and revolution upon the church, the development of Christianity in the modern era.

Upon successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
      Undergraduate
1.  Outline key aspects of the Christian story in the west from the 16th century to the present;
2. Identify some of the social, political and cultural factors influencing the development of Christianity in the modern era;
3.  Demonstrate basic skills in interpreting selected historical documents and an appreciation of their contribution to theological study;
4.  Demonstrate an understanding of the major theological controversies of the emerging modern era and an ability to discuss their significance for the church (Level 2).
Graduate
1. Outline some key aspects of the variegated Christian story in the west from the 16th century to the present.
2. Identify some of the social, political and cultural factors influencing the development of Christianity in the modern era.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the major theological controversies of the emerging modern era and an ability to discuss their significance for the church
4. Demonstrate basic skills in interpreting selected historical documents and an appreciation of their contribution to theological study.
 

Second level prerequisite: 15 Points in Church History


Faculty : Stephen Curkpatrick


Class Time : Three hours per week


Offered : at CCTC in 2011, Semester 1 (Mondays 6.00pm-9.00pm)


Assessment :
           Undergraduate
    First level:
Two document studies 500 words each (25%)
One 2,000 word essay (50%)
Two half hour class tests (25%)
    Second level:
Two 1250 word essays 60% (relating to outcomes 1, 2 & 4)
Four 500 word document studies 40% (relating to outcomes 3 & 4)
   
    Graduate
Four document studies 750 words each (50%)
One 3,000 word essay (50%)


Select Bibliography:
Bettenson, H (ed.) Documents of the Christian church. London: OUP, 1999.
Chadwick, O The Reformation. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1972.
Chadwick, O The Christian church in the cold war. London: Penguin, 1992.
 Chidester, D Christianity: a global history, London: Penguin, 2001.
Cragg, G R The church and the age of reason. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1987.
Hastings, A (ed.) A world history of Christianity, London, Cassell, 1999.
Jensen, D Reformation Europe: age of reform and revolution. 2nd edn, Lexington, MA: D C Heath & Co., 1992.
Gonzalez, J L The story of Christianity. Vol. 2, San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1984.
Hillenbrand, H J The Reformation: a narrative history. Grand Rapids:Baker, 1978.
MacCullough, D Groundwork of Christian history. London: Epworth, 1987.
MacGrath, AE Christianity's Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution - A History from the Sixteenth Century to the Twenty-First. New York: HarperOne, 2007.
McManners, J (ed.) The Oxford illustrated history of Christianity. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990.
Noll, M Turning points: decisive moments in the history of Christianity, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1997.
Shelley, B C Church history in plain language. Waco: Word, 1995.