Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This introductory course examines the history of Christianity from the Peace of Westphalia (1648) to the end of the twentieth century. As will be demonstrated throughout the course, the major catalyst for change has been, and continues to be, the constant tension between the inherently static nature of the historic Church and the forces of modernity. Throughout the course we will see how modern culture, which includes but is not limited to, contemporary politics, philosophy, literature, and painting, exercised an overwhelming influence on the development of eighteenth-century, nineteenth-century, and twentieth-century Christianity. Two short research summaries submitted online (40%), participation (20%), final exam submitted online (40%)

This introductory course examines the history of Christianity from the Peace of Westphalia (1648) to the end of the twentieth century. As will be demonstrated throughout the course, the major catalyst for change has been, and continues to be, the constant tension between the inherently static nature of the historic Church and the forces of modernity. Throughout the course we will see how modern culture, which includes but is not limited to, contemporary politics, philosophy, literature, and painting, exercised an overwhelming influence on the development of eighteenth-century, nineteenth-century, and twentieth-century Christianity. 

This course will examine how Christianity has both contributed to theemergence of the modern world and has responded to some of the major developments that characterize modernity. Topics may include the impact of new ways of thinking on Christian world views; movements of religious renewal; Christian responses to new social trends and development; the geographic expansion of Christianity; developments in Christian practice and worship; Christianity and public life; new trends in Christian thought.

This course will examine how Christianity has both contributed to theemergence of the modern world and has responded to some of the major developments that characterize modernity. Topics may include the impact of new ways of thinking on Christian world views; movements of religious renewal; Christian responses to new social trends and development; the geographic expansion of Christianity; developments in Christian practice and worship; Christianity and public life; new trends in Christian thought.

St. Benedict's "Little Rule", written in the fourth century, is the primary source of Anglican spirituality, liturgy and ecclesiology. Since the mid-twentieth century it has had a profound influence on the "New Monasticism", Fresh Expressions, and the Emergence movement. The course will examine the historical roots of Benedictine spirituality in the desert tradition, the spread of the Benedictineÿ radition across Europe and the British Isles, theÿclash between the Roman Benedictine tradition and Celtic spirituality, the profound influence of Benedictine liturgy during the English Reformation especially in the shaping of the Book of Common Prayer, and the influence of Benedict's Rule on the development of Anglican and ecumenical religious communities. As we follow the tradition into the 20th and 21st centuries we will examine the increasing interest in Benedictine monastic spirituality among lay people, and the evolution of monastic life into the "mixed economy" of traditional and emerging "new monastic" communities and fresh expressions of monasticism.

St. Benedict's "Little Rule", written in the fourth century, is the primary source of Anglican spirituality, liturgy and ecclesiology. Since the mid-twentieth century it has had a profound influence on the "New Monasticism", Fresh Expressions, and the Emergence movement. The course will examine the historical roots of Benedictine spirituality in the desert tradition, the spread of the Benedictine  radition across Europe and the British Isles, the clash between the Roman Benedictine tradition and Celtic spirituality, the profound influence of Benedictine liturgy during the English Reformation especially in the shaping of the Book of Common Prayer, and the influence of Benedict's Rule on the development of Anglican and ecumenical religious communities. As we follow the tradition into the 20th and 21st centuries we will examine the increasing interest in Benedictine monastic spirituality among lay people, and the evolution of monastic life into the "mixed economy" of traditional and emerging "new monastic" communities and fresh expressions of monasticism.

St. Benedict's "Little Rule", written in the fourth century, is the primary source of Anglican spirituality, liturgy and ecclesiology. Since the mid-twentieth century it has had a profound influence on the "New Monasticism", Fresh Expressions, and the Emergence movement. The course will examine the historical roots of Benedictine spirituality in the desert tradition, the spread of the Benedictineÿ radition across Europe and the British Isles, theÿclash between the Roman Benedictine tradition and Celtic spirituality, the profound influence of Benedictine liturgy during the English Reformation especially in the shaping of the Book of Common Prayer, and the influence of Benedict's Rule on the development of Anglican and ecumenical religious communities. As we follow the tradition into the 20th and 21st centuries we will examine the increasing interest in Benedictine monastic spirituality among lay people, and the evolution of monastic life into the "mixed economy" of traditional and emerging "new monastic" communities and fresh expressions of monasticism.

St. Benedict's "Little Rule", written in the fourth century, is the primary source of Anglican spirituality, liturgy and ecclesiology. Since the mid-twentieth century it has had a profound influence on the "New Monasticism", Fresh Expressions, and the Emergence movement. The course will examine the historical roots of Benedictine spirituality in the desert tradition, the spread of the Benedictine  radition across Europe and the British Isles, the clash between the Roman Benedictine tradition and Celtic spirituality, the profound influence of Benedictine liturgy during the English Reformation especially in the shaping of the Book of Common Prayer, and the influence of Benedict's Rule on the development of Anglican and ecumenical religious communities. As we follow the tradition into the 20th and 21st centuries we will examine the increasing interest in Benedictine monastic spirituality among lay people, and the evolution of monastic life into the "mixed economy" of traditional and emerging "new monastic" communities and fresh expressions of monasticism.

St. Benedict's "Little Rule", written in the fourth century, is the primary source of Anglican spirituality, liturgy and ecclesiology. Since the mid-twentieth century it has had a profound influence on the "New Monasticism", Fresh Expressions, and the Emergence movement. The course will examine the historical roots of Benedictine spirituality in the desert tradition, the spread of the Benedictineÿ radition across Europe and the British Isles, theÿclash between the Roman Benedictine tradition and Celtic spirituality, the profound influence of Benedictine liturgy during the English Reformation especially in the shaping of the Book of Common Prayer, and the influence of Benedict's Rule on the development of Anglican and ecumenical religious communities. As we follow the tradition into the 20th and 21st centuries we will examine the increasing interest in Benedictine monastic spirituality among lay people, and the evolution of monastic life into the "mixed economy" of traditional and emerging "new monastic" communities and fresh expressions of monasticism.

St. Benedict's "Little Rule", written in the fourth century, is the primary source of Anglican spirituality, liturgy and ecclesiology. Since the mid-twentieth century it has had a profound influence on the "New Monasticism", Fresh Expressions, and the Emergence movement. The course will examine the historical roots of Benedictine spirituality in the desert tradition, the spread of the Benedictine radition across Europe and the British Isles, the clash between the Roman Benedictine tradition and Celtic spirituality, the profound influence of Benedictine liturgy during the English Reformation especially in the shaping of the Book of Common Prayer, and the influence of Benedict's Rule on the development of Anglican and ecumenical religious communities. As we follow the tradition into the 20th and 21st centuries we will examine the increasing interest in Benedictine monastic spirituality among lay people, and the evolution of monastic life into the "mixed economy" of traditional and emerging "new monastic" communities and fresh expressions of monasticism.

This course introduces students to the expansion, proliferation, and transformation of Christian movements from 1491 to the present day. It focuses primarily on the context of the Americas to illustrate the centrality of colonialism to the last five hundred years of Christian history, and argues that Christian movements which Reinforce, resist, and adapt to colonialism are the rule, not the exception. We will explore this relationship through specific historical case studies, focusing on the particularities of specific ‚¬Å“Christianities‚¬ to hone our skills in historical analysis. As we learn how to study Christian history, we will also learn why these histories matter. Regularly throughout the course, we will examine how contemporary Christian communities understand the histories we learn, why they understand them in this way, and how we hold the tension between those understandings and our historical studies. This course requires no previous grounding in Christian history or theology. Prior experience with the study of history at the undergraduate or graduate level is helpful, but not a prerequisite.

This course introduces students to the expansion, proliferation, and transformation of Christian movements from 1491 to the present day. It focuses primarily on the context of the Americas to illustrate the centrality of colonialism to the last five hundred years of Christian history, and argues that Christian movements which reinforce, resist, and adapt to colonialism are the rule, not the exception. We will explore this relationship through specific historical case studies, focusing on the particularities of specific Christianities to hone our skills in historical analysis. As we learn how to study Christian history, we will also learn why these histories matter. Regularly throughout the course, we will examine how contemporary Christian communities understand the histories we learn, why they understand them in this way, and how we hold the tension between those understandings and our historical studies. This course requires no previous grounding in Christian history or theology. Prior experience with the study of history at the undergraduate or graduate level is helpful, but not a prerequisite.