Historical Courses for the 2013 Winter Session

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.

Development of Church and society in the Middle Ages; its development of thought and piety. Lectures, discussions, minor paper, major paper, final exam.

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).

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.

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.

Students in the course will acquire a good basic knowledge of the rubrics and texts for Byzantine rites for Liturgy -- Chrysostom, Basil, and Pre-Sanctified -- and Office, and also of liturgical history and development of these texts, 1st - 14th C. As well, an introduction to Liturgical Theology, as defined by Fr. Alexander Schmemann is compared to Patristic mystagogical texts of 2nd - 14th C.

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).

This seminar examines the ancient and medieval discipline of rhetoric and its practitioners' claim that it represents a properly philosophical discourse. It does so in terms of a selection of texts drawn from the works of Isocrates, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine, Abelard and Heloise. In the process, it explores the relationship between affectivity and discursive validity with a view to the effect such a focus has on our understanding of Greek and Latin philosophy, patristic and medieval theology and their intertwined history. The course will run as a seminar in which instructor and students together attend closely to weekly required readings. Students will be required to write weekly papers (400- 600 words) on the weekly readings. In addition, each student will be required to make one formal seminar presentation on a weekly reading that will include written material of between 1200- 1800 words. Finally each student will be required to write a course paper on a topic agreed upon by student and instructor. MA/ ThM level students will be required to write a paper of between 4500 and 7500 words. PhD/ ThD students will be required to write a paper of between 6000 and 9000 words. Each of the three forms of writing mentioned above will be subject to evaluation and the final grade of the course will be calculated as follows: weekly papers (25%), seminar presentation (15%), course essay (60%). 

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%).

Exploration of figures and movements in Protestant Theology during the 20th century: Troeltsch, Neo-Orthodoxy (Barth, Brunner), Bonhoeffer, Bultmann, Tillich, the Niebuhrs, Political/Liberation (Moltmann, Metz, Gutierrez), Process (Cobb, Suchocki), Feminist/Womanist (Russell, McFague, Williams), Black (Cone), Asian (Pieris, Song), Postmodern and Postliberal Theologies. Lectures, discussions, student presentations, and research paper.

Exploration of figures and movements in Protestant Theology during the 20th century: Troeltsch, Neo-Orthodoxy (Barth, Brunner), Bonhoeffer, Bultmann, Tillich, the Niebuhrs, Political/Liberation (Moltmann, Metz, Gutierrez), Process (Cobb, Suchocki), Feminist/Womanist (Russell, McFague, Williams), Black (Cone), Asian (Pieris, Song), Postmodern and Postliberal Theologies. Lectures, discussions, student presentations, and research paper.