Assessment

Essay of 5,000 words on an agreed topic (75%), Continuous Assessment - bibliographic exercise, source criticism, state-of-research exercise, etc (25%)

Module Aims

This module provides learners with a thorough introduction to the most significant issues in the evolution of Christian thought from the beginnings of Christianity to the aftermath of the sixteenth-century Reformations. By means of immersion in the relevant scholarly literature, source criticism, and the exploration of key theological and historical themes, it enables learners to adopt a critical approach to the reading of primary source texts in the history of the Christian tradition. It also involves a thorough formation in the writing up of scholarly research, the confident use of scholarly apparatuses, and a critical evaluation of the usefulness of historical sources.

Indicative Syllabus

Learning Outcomes

• — LO1: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the general evolution of Christian thought from the beginnings of Christianity to the seventeenth century, and a familiarity with the contributions of the major Christian thinkers of each period.
• — LO2: Critically evaluate the relationship between the development of philosophical and theological thought and the historical and political events which formed the backdrop to these developments.
• — LO3: Formulate clear research questions based on a close reading of key primary source texts, situating them appropriately in the thought-world of the Christian past.
• — LO4: Demonstrate a proficiency in written communication and in the correct use of scholarly apparatuses, with a particular emphasis on adhering to the Chicago Style, with regard to the presentation of footnotes and bibliography.
• — LO5: Integrate insights drawn from relevant scholarship within areas within theology and cognate disciplines – Patristics, Classics, History, etc – and demonstrate a broad knowledge of the most up-to-date relevant secondary literature.
• — LO6: Extrapolate from key sources in the Christian tradition relevant perspectives through which lens the current mainstream Christian theological tradition can better understood and demonstrate a willingness to “attentively listen to” the diverse arguments of a range of individuals / groups in key historical debates.

Bibliography

• — Bettenson, Henry and Chris Maunder (eds), Documents of the Christian Church. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011
• — Ehrman, Bart D., After the New Testament: a Reader in Early Christianity. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
• — Ehrman, Bart D., Christianity in Late Antiquity, 300-450CE. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
• — Janz, Dennis, A Reformation Reader: Primary Texts with Introductions (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2nd ed., 2008)
• — Lehner, Ulrich L., and Shaun Blanchard, The Catholic Enlightenment: a Global Anthology. Washington: Catholic University of America Press, 2021.
• — Stevenson, J (and revised by W.H.C. Frend), A New Eusebius: Documents Illustrating the History of the Church to AD 337. 3rd edn. Baker Academic, 2013.
• — Stevenson, J. (and revised by W.H.C. Frend), Creeds, Councils and Controversies: Documents Illustrating the History of the Church, AD 337-461. Revised edn. London: SPCK, 1989.
• — Early Christian Writings: New Testament, Apocrypha, Gnostics, Church Fathers (www.earlychristianwritings.com)