Course Catalogue 2026-2027

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 Benedictine tradition 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 ecumencial 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. Slide lectures, small group and plenary discussion. Reflection papers, research paper.

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 tradition 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 ecumencial 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. Slide lectures, small group and plenary discussion. Reflection papers, research paper.

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.

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.

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.

Through our close reading of authors contributing to the Western tradition of Christian mystical theology from origins to the present, students willleam to recognize the concerns, methods and forms of expression used by mystical theologians. Students will hone their skills for thinking theologically while practicing tasks such as introducing the writings of the mystics to lay people through teaching and preaching.

Surveys the history of Christianity from the mid-seventeenth century to the present. Highlights the impact of rationalist and revivalist movements, the rise of Christian mission, developments in Roman Catholicism, the Church and modernity, the rise of global Christianity, the churches and development, Christianity and other religions.

Surveys the history of Christianity from the mid-seventeenth century to the present. Highlights the impact of rationalist and revivalist movements, the rise of Christian mission, developments in Roman Catholicism, the Church and modernity, the rise of global Christianity, the churches and development, Christianity and other religions.

An examination of the concept of martyrdom and its literature during the early modern period, its political and theological causes, and its inspirational and polemical role in the consolidation of early modern religious traditions. The course will also discuss methods of approaching martyrology across various denominations and regional settings including England, Reformation Europe, the Americas and the Orthodox Church in various countries. Evaluation: short assignments, participation, short presentation and final exam or research paper.

This course explores the meaning of sainthood in different Christian traditions and cultures through the centuries by emphasizing the lives of unsuccessful candidates for sainthood. Some of these many and diverse failures are venerated regardless of official opinions of their heroic virtue, while others are relics of forgotten events and struggles. Some may yet achieve formal recognition, and at least one is nobody at all!