History of Religion in Europe

Spring Semester 1998

This course is a survey of the character and role of religious institutions, ideas, and practices in European history. The primary texts are The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity edited by John McManners and The Jewish People: Their History and Their Religion by David J. Goldberg and John D. Rayner. These volumes will provide a structure for the course and a general introduction to the topic. Both are available in textbook rental. Lectures will complement the material included in the texts.

The focus of this course is on the history of religion understood in the broadest sense of that term and on its cultural and social as well as cultic, theological, and institutional dimensions. The objective of the course is to enable students to increase their understanding of the actual functions of religion in shaping Western civilization and in the history of Europe as well as the manner in which religion responds to its social and political context. Students completing the course should have an understanding of the major religious traditions that have influenced the development of Europe (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) as well as the ways in which church and state have related through history. They should be able to give a coherent explanation of the historical development of religious ideas, institutions, and practices in Judaism and Christianity. They should know something about the history of religious ideas such as law and prophecy, the relationship of Christianity to Judaism and the two of them to Islam, factors contributing to the consolidation of orthodox Christianity in the fourth and fifth centuries, the relationship of religious institutions to the Roman empire and to the European states, major elements in Protestant and Catholic reform in the sixteenth century, the impact of enlightenment and the French Revolution on European religion, and the role of religion in modern European history.

Students are expected to complete all assigned readings in order to understand the lectures and participate in the classroom discussions. A term paper will be required on a topic selected in consultation with the instructor and approved early in the term. The paper will be prepared using Turabian's Manual for Writers as a guide for style and will be graded on the basis of quality of research and historical argument as well as quality of the writing. Grades will be determined on the basis of hour and final examinations (35% each) and paper (30%). Grades on the paper will be lowered if it is submitted late. Students are expected to be present for class meetings except when excused. Up to three absences will be excused; beyond that number, each absence will lower the course grade by 1%.

The class meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:00 to 11:50 a.m. in PB 2403. My office is the Peck Building, room 2336, my telephone extension is 3685, and my e-mail address is spearso@siue.edu or samuel.pearson@internetmci.com. My office hours are from 9:00 to 10:30 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and by appointment. Students should contact me promptly if they are experiencing difficulties.

January 12

Introduction to the Course

January 14

The Beginning of Israel

Goldberg and Rayner (G&R), I, 1 and II, 1

January 16

Exodus

G&R, I, 2

January 19

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday; no class

January 21

Golden Age of Israel

G&R, I, 3

January 23

The Prophets

G&R, IV, 1

January 26

The Deuteronomic Reform

January 28

The Desctruction of Jerusalem

January 30

The Rise of the Synagogue

G&R, II, 3, 4

TERM PAPER TOPIC MUST BE SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL

February 2

Judaism in the Hellenistic World

G&R, I, 5

February 4

Cosmopolitan Influences on Judaism

G&R, I, 6

February 6

Jesus

McManners (M), 1

February 9

Apostolic Christianity

February 11

Second Century Christianity

February 13

Christianity to the Fourth Century

February 16

Impact of Christianity on the People

M, 2

February 18

Christianization of Time and Space

February 20

Assimilation of Barbarian Tribes

M, 3

February 23

Missionary Christianity

February 25

The Holy Roman Empire

February 27

FIRST EXAMINATION

March 2

Eastern Christianity

M, 4

March 4

Monasticism

March 6

Theological Schools and Schism Between East and West

March 9

The Rise of Islam

M, 5

March 11

Expansion of Islam

G&R, I, 8

March 13

Relationships among the three religions of the Book

March 16-20

SPRING BREAK

March 23

Christendom

M, 6

March 25

Conflict Between Empire and Papacy

G&R, I, 9

March 27

Monastic Reform

March 30

Late Medieval Christianity

M, 7

April 1

Antecedents of Reform

April 3

The Protestant Reformation

April 6

The Protestant Reformation

April 8

The Catholic Reformation

April 10

The Catholic Reformation

TERM PAPERS DUE

April 13

The Enlightenment Critique of Religion

M, 8; G&R, I, 10

April 15

Evangelicalism

April 17

Impact of the French Revolution

April 20

Expansion of Christianity: the Americas

M, 9

April 22

Expansion of Christianity: Asia

April 24

Religion and Modern Europe

M, 10

April 27

Science and Biblical Criticism

April 29

Conflicts Between Religion and the State

G&R, I, 12

May 1

Religion and Modern Political Movements

G&R, I, 13, 14

May 4