Historical Courses for the Fall and Winter Sessions of 2012-2013

This course offers an opportunity to explore the history of the Christian Church from its origins in Judaism through to its monastic expansion beyond the boundaries of the Western Roman Empire in the sixth and seventh centuries.  It will examine the conflicts, individuals, social movements and theologies that shaped Christianity during this formative period.  Two Document Analyses, Seminar Presentation, Seminar Paper, Final Examination.

Offered On-Line: From the subapostolic age to the “Triumph of Orthodoxy” in the East and the Carolingian revival and Treaty of Verdun in the West. Geographical expansion of the church; the relation of Christian faith to cultural settings and other religions; the development of doctrinal and ethical positions; forms of Christian life and worship; the rise of Islam. Weekly on-line participation, short papers, research paper.

A survey of the history of Christianity and an introduction to the study of Christian history. Lecture. Book review, seminar participation, mid-term exam, final exam. Mandatory seminar.

The course aims to provide a general knowledge of mediaeval church history (600 - 1500) presented in a text and by exercising critical reasoning through analysing 3 primary texts chosen by the student. The reality of the church's life shown by the clergy, laity and in its worship is made tangible through manuscript, artistic and architectural material from videos and Power Point presentations. Teaching methods: seminars, audiovisuals, lectures.

Development of thought and piety; monasticism and mendicants; crusades, parish life; papacy, princes and church councils; Byzantium; East-West relations; relations with Jews and Muslims; Renaissance and reformations; reformers; missionary expansion; confessionalism.  The course will consist of lectures and class discussions.  GRADING PROCEDURES:  In-class discussions, short essay, long essay.

Development of thought and piety; monasticism and mendicants; crusades, parish life; papacy, princes and church councils; Byzantium; East-West relations; relations with Jews and Muslims; Renaissance and reformations; reformers; missionary expansion; confessionalism. Lectures and class discussion of readings. One research essay, one reflection paper. NOTE: Students who have taken --H2002H Medieval Christianity (600-1500) and/or --H2003H Reformation & Early Modern Christianity may not take Christianity II (843-1648).

An introduction to Patristic thought to 451 AD, surveying principal writers East and West. Detailed study of Athanasius On the Incarnation and The Tome of Leo. Lectures, readings, four short reports and a final oral examination.

A survey of Medieval and Reformation Theologies, from 843 to 1648. The Carolingian Revival and Monastic Schools; Anselm and Cur Deus Homo; Peter Lombard and the Cathedral Schools; Abailard and the Universities; the rediscovery of Aristotle; the Friars: Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, William of Occam; Gregory Palamas; the Reformation: Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer; the Synod of Dort; Richard Hooker; Second Scholasticism.

This course will examine how Christianity has both contributed to the emergence 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. Students who have taken --H2004H Modern Christianity (1750 to the present) may not take this course. Prerequisites: History of Christianity I or History of Christianity II, or with the permission of the instructor.

This course will examine how Christianity has both contributed to the
emergence 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 describe and analyze the settings, ideas, and personalities that shaped first generation Anabaptism (1525 – 1561) within the context of late medieval and sixteenth century church and society. This includes comparisons and contrasts with Spiritualism, another stream of the Radical Reformation. The secondary thrust of this course is to study the transition of Anabaptism from a many sided revolutionary movement shaped by martyrdom into three sectarian denominations (Hutterites, Swiss Brethren, Mennonites and their sub-sets) seeking a settled existence (1561 – 1660).   There is an increasing diversity of views concerning the theological and geographical range of Anabaptism. This course focuses largely on leaders and teachings that became the foundation of Anabaptism’s three descendent denominations, Hutterites, Amish, and Mennonites; it confines itself to developments in Dutch and German speaking territories.

This introductory course examines the influence of, and contemporary reaction to, natural theology, evolution theory, and Charles Darwin's "natural selection" theory, from the late eighteenth century until the Scopes Trial (1925). Although the course focuses on England and the United States, we will also make a tertiary examination of defenders and critics of natural theology, evolutionary theory, and natural selection theory in Continental Europe and Canada. Two short research summaries submitted online (40%), participation (20%), final exam submitted online (40%)

Outlines the history of Christian missions from its beginnings in Pentecost to the end of the 20th century, followed by area studies of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe, and concluding with a consideration of the transition from missions to development to post-development. Short papers and collaborative internet project.

A History of Eastern Christian /Orthodox Church(es) from Chalcedon to the present, and their relationship to Western Church history and world ecumenical movements. Major developments in the life and experience of the various Christian churches of the eastern Tradition, including Chalcedonian, Oriental and Eastern Catholic Churches, identifying the seminal issues that have shaped and formed the contemporary situation of the Eastern Christian Churches throughout the world.

Exploration of Amerindian and French interface, baroque spirituality, arrival of the Irish and Scots, ultramontane spirituality, Confederation and Catholic education, messianic language groups, Canadians cope with the Depression, church unity and the CCCB, the Asbestos Strike, Quiet Revolution, Vatican II, women, and Aboriginal People. Presentation, paper, and open exam.

History and leading themes in Orthodox spiritual - pastoral writing by monks, bishops, laymen and laywomen, from the hesychast period until the present. Filling in of background and developments from 1300 through the 18th and 19th c. revival, but concentration on 20th C. writers. Readings (from a kit of excerpts) will include monastic writings, spiritual anthologies and inspirational texts, catecheses, sermons, and letters, and some diaries.

In the course I plan to bring forth the pre-Crusader descriptions of the Holy places by the pilgrim. Show the total change in sites because of Moslem restrictions on the Christians and bring, again the descriptions of the Holy Place by the pilgrim in the post-Crusader periods. Discuss the reason for the change and thus show how today the sites are venerated, and in case there is a dispute about their authenticity

The course will look at developments in Scotland during the Reformation era. The failure of early attempts at reformation, both Lutheran and Catholic, will be discussed as will the eventual success of a model of reformation derived from Calvin's Geneva. The course will look at the evolution of this vision within Scotland and the nature of the reformed Church of Scotland. The course will continue up through the seventeenth century and will look at what scholars are beginning to see as a second reformation. Lectures, seminar discussions. Class participation; primary document study; major research essay. 

In this course we will explore various facets of the United Church, such as the context of the union movement; the founding traditions; the search for denominational identity; the challenges of the post-WW II era; and transitions in its theology, social teaching, congregational life, and organizational cultue.  We will be working mainly with primary sources.  Lectures, group discussions. Mid-term writing projects and research paper.

The scope of what was understood as 'liturgy' in the middle ages went far beyond the bare words used in the Mass, daily prayer and baptism and descriptions of how the services were performed. It included knowing the names and functions of the grades of ordained clergy (which varied from place to place) and their dress, the design of churches, their furnishing and consecration, the calendar of the liturgical year and of course the nature of the music which accompanied the liturgy.Teaching methods: lectures, DVDs of manuscripts, video, musical recordings.

Canada is a nation of immigrants, and the Canadian religions are the religions of immigrants. The waves of religious immigrants will be studied including 17C French, 18C Irish and Scottish, 19C German, Polish, Jewish, and Ukrainian immigrants; 20C English, Italian, and Portuguese to the more recent Caribbean, Filipino, Chinese, Tamils, Vietnamese, and Korean religionists. The attitudes of Euro-Canadians will be examined as they progress from Anglo-Celtic Calvinism to Canadian secular multiculturalism. The techniques of archival research, historical analysis, and historiography will be explored. Seminar presentation and research paper. Class Presentation 30%; Research Essay 40%; Collaborative Recapitulation (open book exam) 30%.

Studies in the theory of history and methods of historical study and writing, related mainly to Christianity. Required of all AD students in the History Dept. Discussions in class (10%) and on-line (30%) of select historical works representing diverse approaches and interests; two short class presentations; two mid-length papers (30% each).

Historical context and enduring influence of key theologians during the Silver Age of Russian culture: Vladimir Soloviev, Sergei Bulgakov, Pavel Florensky. Reading and analysis of representative works. Seminar, major essay. Lectures, seminars and discussion of texts.

This seminar examines that philosophical approach to the history of philosophy that travels under the name of genealogy. It does so in terms of close readings of selected texts of the tradition's two major figures: Friederich Nietzsche and Michel Foucault against the backdrop of a number of ancient and medieval examples of protreptic rhetoric. It thereby attests the thesis that contemporary genealogy is the latest manifestation of the protreptic tradition in the history of philosophy, i.e., a deliberative rhetoric designed to exhort recipients to turn ( convertere )from harm to health, from falsehood to truth, from the base to the noble. The course will run as a seminar in which students will be asked to produce weekly papers of 400 to 600 words on the weekly readings to prime class room discussion. In addition, each student will be required to prepare a seminar on one required text which involves written material of between 1200 and 1800 words. Finally, each student will be required to submit a course paper on a topic mutually agreed upon with the class instructor. The course paper should be 4500 to 7500 words in the case of a Master's level student and 6000 to 9000 words in the case of a ThD/ PhD level student. The grade will be the result of weekly papers (25%), seminar presentation (15%) and course paper (60%). 

Most people, when the subject of mediaeval liturgy is mentioned, think of the old service books which have the words spoken (sacramentaries, lectionaries, missals, breviaries) and descriptions of the action (ordos). There is another class of book entirely, the liturgical commentaries, which goes through the public services, explaining the elements they contain. They were also interested in the ministers of the liturgy, their orders and dress, in the structure of church and altar, in the calendar (temporal and sanctoral), and of course in the vexed question of how a priest computed the date of Easter (no diocesan journals in those days). Teaching methods: shared reading of 5 commentaries with explanations by the instructor.

The role of religion in times of war and unrest: religious interpretations of conflict and violence, peace movements, and national identity in times of crisis. Responsible participation, mid-term written assignment, research paper.

In the course I plan to bring forth the pre-Crusader descriptions of the Holy places by the pilgrim. Show the total change in sites because of Moslem restrictions on the Christians and bring, again the descriptions of the Holy Place by the pilgrim in the post-Crusader periods. Discuss the reason for the change and thus show how today the sites are venerated, and in case there is a dispute about their authenticity

The course will look at developments in Scotland during the Reformation era. The failure of early attempts at reformation, both Lutheran and Catholic, will be discussed as will the eventual success of a model of reformation derived from Calvin's Geneva. The course will look at the evolution of this vision within Scotland and the nature of the reformed Church of Scotland. The course will continue up through the seventeenth century and will look at what scholars are beginning to see as a second reformation. Lectures, seminar discussions. Class participation; primary document study; major research essay. 

The scope of what was understood as “liturgy” in the middle ages went far beyond the bare words used in the Mass, daily prayer and baptism and descriptions of how the services were performed. It included knowing the names and functions of the grades of ordained clergy (which varied from place to place) and their dress, the design of churches, their furnishing and consecration, the calendar of the liturgical year and of course the nature of the music which accompanied the liturgy. Teaching methods: lectures, DVDs of manuscripts, video, musical recordings.

Canada is a nation of immigrants, and the Canadian religions are the religions of immigrants. The waves of religious immigrants will be studied including 17C French, 18C Irish and Scottish, 19C German, Polish, Jewish, and Ukrainian immigrants; 20C English, Italian, and Portuguese to the more recent Caribbean, Filipino, Chinese, Tamils, Vietnamese, and Korean religionists. The attitudes of Euro-Canadians will be examined as they progress from Anglo-Celtic Calvinism to Canadian secular multiculturalism. The techniques of archival research, historical analysis, and historiography will be explored. Seminar presentation and research paper. Class Presentation 30%; Research Essay 40%; Collaborative Recapitulation (open book exam) 30%.

Development of teaching ministry of the Church from New Testament times to present. Special attention to various forms of teaching as they emerged in particular historical contexts and to their relationship with other ministries of the church for perspective on current situation. Lectures, readings, reflection paper (20%), seminar leadership (30%), final project or essay (50%).

This course will study the documents of the Second Vatican Council with a view to understanding their theological foundations, their histroical context and development, and their pastoral implications for today's church. One book report, total 20%; one discussion facilitation, total 10%; one document analysis paper, total 30%; one disputed issue paper, total 40%.

A careful study of a book of the Summa contra Gentiles, where Aquinas explores Christian doctrines as an exercise in personally appropriating divine wisdom. The course teaches a method of close textual reading, and will interest students seeking an accessible introduction to Aquinas, those seeking an overall view of his methodology, and those preparing comprehensive exams in theology. Lectures and seminars. Assignments for 3551: 2 short papers, 2 learning reports, final take home exam. Assignments for 6551: 2 short papers, preparing and giving a 1 hour lecture, final exegetical essay.

This course of lectures will examine Luther's writings on the theology of the cross and on human freedom; and Calvin's writings on Scripture and the Christian life. Weekly readings and final examination (oral or written).

A careful study of a book of the Summa contra Gentiles, where Aquinas explores Christian doctrines as an exercise in personally appropriating divine wisdom. The course teaches a method of close textual reading, and will interest students seeking an accessible introduction to Aquinas, those seeking an overall view of his methodology, and those preparing comprehensive exams in theology. Lectures and seminars. Assignments for 3551: 2 short papers, 2 learning reports, final take home exam. Assignments for 6551: 2 short papers, preparing and giving a 1 hour lecture, final exegetical essay.