STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 1. Acquire information from many sources.*

 2. Break complex and multiple sources of information down into parts to create clearer understanding*

 3. Articulate the impact of time and space on perspective.*

 4. Develop narrative structures and arguments based on evidence.*

 5. Measure the impact the historical development of significant Christian sects and denominations (i.e., the Orthodox Church, Catholicism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and other expressions of Christianity) had on the development of the modern world.

 6. Explain and criticize the general development of the history of the Christian religion.

 7. Compare and Contrast knowledge of the development of significant Christian theological tenants, beliefs and practices, beginning with their origins in Judaism, until the present.

 8. State and evaluate the impact Christian theology and practices of the religion had on the development of law, science, medicine, labor theory, political theory, warfare, music, literature, and the nation-state, in both the western and the non-western world.

 9. Assess and synthesize the extent of Christianity’s history with global religious and cultural diversity, including the contributions of the significant women and non- westerners and their impact.

 10. Evaluate the significant historical, political and cultural relationships and interactions between the Christian world and Judaism, Islam, and other non-Christian religions.

 11. Interpret current political and social tensions and cooperation among Christianity, Islam and Judaism, in light of their history.

 12. State and evaluate the basis for morality, faith, ethics, and behavior,  throughout the period covered in the course.

 13. Research and then present an argument based on an analysis of the various historical interpretations and multiple viewpoints of a significant or controversial event (e.g.  the Christianization of the Roman Empire, the Crusades, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, Colonialism, Development of anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism, missionary enthusiasms, nationalism, evangelicalism, political activism, environmentalism, denominationalism, the development of secularism and postmodernism, the Christian position on current social issues, or another approved topic.)

 14. Assess and criticize sources and perspectives on Christian history and historiography.

 15. Identify, explain and evaluate key questions and problems that exist in the historiography of the history of Christianity.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.  I. Overview of the historiography of Christian History (1,14,15)

 II. The Context (1,6,7)

 A. Jewish Origins of Christianity

 B. Hellenism and  Paganism

 C. Roman Empire

 III. Classical Era developments (1,7,8,10)

 A. Kingdom Christianity

 B. Pauline Christianity

 C. The emergence of the Christian church in the Mediterranean region

 D. Church Councils and key doctrinal from Augustine to the Crusades (312-1250 AD)

 IV. Church in the Middle Ages: Orthodox, Roman, Coptic variations (1,4,5,6,7,8)

 V. Relationship with Islam & Judaism (1, 8, 9, 10, 5).

 VI. Reformation and origins of Protestantism: Luther (1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,13)

 A. Denominationalism: theology and politics

 VII. Enlightenment, Rationalism (1,3, 4,8,9,12)

 A. Scientific Revolution

 B. The Church -State Debate?

 VIII. 17th and 18th Century: The Encounter with Latin America, Asia, New France, and Africa (1, 8,9,10,14,15)

 IX. The 19th C: Christianity and its response to “Modernity” (1,5,6,8)

 A. Relationship with secularism, multiculturalism, atheism.

 X. Christianity in the 20th C

 A. Worldwide Christianity: Missions, Ecumenism, and Globalization (1,5,6,8, 9,10,12)

 XI. Selected topics in Contemporary Christianity (1,8,9,10,12)

 A. Understanding Christian theology and practices

 B. The Impact on law, science, medicine, labor theory, political theory, warfare, music, literature, or the nation-state, in both the western and the non-western world.

 C. The expression of Christian values and beliefs in the visual arts, music, literature, and media (9,10,11,12)

 D. Current political and social relationship with Islam and Judaism (11)

 i. Current political and social relationship with or other religious systems. (9,10)

 XII. Focus on significant or controversial events in Christian history  (i.e.. the Christianization of the Roman Empire, the Crusades, development and practices of anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism, messianic and missional emphasis, nationalism, evangelicalism, political activism, environmentalism, denominationalism, the development of secularism and postmodernism, the Christian position on current social issues.) (1,2,3,4,13)

 XIII. Presentation of student research (2,3,4)

 XIV. Examinations (midterm and Final) (6,7,8,10,11,12)