REL 322

History of Christianity II

Christianity in the Medieval West

MW, 14:00-15:50

Professor: Dr. Stephen Shoemaker
Office: 348 Susan Campbell Hall ; Office Hours: MW 4-5 (or by appointment) Telephone: 346-4998; Email: sshoemak (at) uoregon (dot) edu

Course Description and Objectives

This course will introduce students the history of the Christian traditions in Western Europe during the middle ages, from ca. 400-1500. We will focus especially on the development of Christian thought, the structures of the medieval church, and the interplay of church and politics. We will also concentrate on the historical diversity of the early Christian tradition, in an effort to understand better its contemporary complexity. Only minimal attention will be given to the Eastern Christian traditions during this period, since these are the subject of a separate course. In the course of the term, students will read and write reflective essays on several primary sources, each selected to represent the historical and confessional diversity of Christian traditions, as well as to present certain basic problems from the history of Christianity.

Textbooks

Joseph H. Lynch and Philip C. Adamo, The Medieval Church: A Brief History, 2nd ed. Routledge, 2014 (ISBN: 978-0-582-77298-4)
Marcia L. Colish, Medieval Foundations of the Western Intellectual Tradition: 400-1400, Yale University Press, 1999 (ISBN: 978-0300078527)
Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, Penguin, 1999 (ISBN: 978-0140446739) [optional]

Several other items are to be found on the internet, as indicated below.

There are several “handouts” that should be printed out and brought to class. They are available as HTML and Word files

Handout 1 (HTML) (Word)

Handout 2 (HTML) (Word)

Handout 3 (HTML) (Word)

Handout 4 (HTML) (Word)

Assignments

Attendance at all class sessions is expected. Since class sessions will involve a fair amount of student discussion, students should read all the assignments carefully before coming to class. Assignments will generally involve about 100 pages of reading per week. Everyone should be prepared to contribute both ideas and questions to the class discussions. Assignments and grading are as follows:

A. Two exams 10/25 & 14:45, Wednesday, December 6 (60%)

B. Class attendance and participation (10%)

C. One 5-6 page (double-spaced: approx. 1500 words) essays (30%), chosen from the following options. To be turned in on Canvas. You only have to do one of the paper assignments. Students may NOT use Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) in preparing these assignements.

1. Due 11/1. Read these selections from Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People and answer the following questions: “How were the English people converted to Christianity? What roles did the king and queen play? To what extent did the English people themselves make this decision? What was the status of the traditional ‘pagan’ religion after the conversion? What do you think about the fact that this was the way in which Christianity was often spread in early Medieval Europe?”

2. Due 11/22. Read Anselm’s Proslogium, his argument for the existence of God, along with Guanilo’s objections and Anslem’s response, and Thomas Aquinas’ arguments for the existence of God and answer the following questions: “Explain Anselm’s argument for the existence of God. What are its strengths and its weaknesses? What are the strengths and weaknesses of Guanilo’s criticism and Anselm’s response? Does Aquinas offer a better set of arguments? Which of these three opinions do you most agree with, or do you instead think that God’s existence cannot be proven? Explain the reasons for your answer.”

3. Due 11/27. Read these selections from the Little Flowers of St. Francis and answer the following questions: “What is the essence of Christianity for Francis and his followers? What does it mean in their understanding to follow Christ? What is the importance of imitation? Do you think that their interpretation somehow recaptures the original spirit of Christ’s teaching, or do you find it somehow too one-sided or idealistic?”

4. Due 11/27. Read Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, revelations 13 & 14 (Long Text 27-63; in Files on Canvas) and answer the following questions: “How does Julian reconcile God’s forgiving love with human sinfulness? What is her understanding of sin and of divine judgment and punishment? What sort of tensions exist between her own thoughts and the teaching of the Church? How does she resolve them? What do you think of her conclusions?”

Format of Essays:

In answering the questions, first of all, briefly summarize the contents of the text(s) regarding the questions asked: what do the texts say? Then, take a clear position in response to the texts and defend it: imagine that your reader believes the opposite and that you are trying to persuade him or her. Your assignment for this paper is to write from a perspective outside of the traditions in question. Do not make the mistake of giving a spiritual autobiography or a narrative of how this text relates to your own personal spiritual life and faith.

Do not make the mistake of just dismissing the ideas of a text because you have different religious beliefs: if you disagree, give convincing reasons why. In all instances, strive for an impersonal and objective tone: you need to represent the contents of the text(s) fairly and accurately and give thoughtful reasons for your response. Your goal for this assignment is to approach and consider these religious traditions as objects of study from the outside, NOT from the perspective of an insider, legitimate as this perspective is in other contexts. Even if one is a believer in a particular tradition, the purpose of taking this class is to learn how to see and study the same phenomena from a perspective outside of the tradition.

In general, it is good to avoid using “I,” “me,” “my,” “we,” “our,” “you”, “your” (except in quotations of course); you should give your opinions, but write them using the third person. Also, while you should cite examples from the texts, be sure to explain and contextualize any quotations made, and be sure that your own voice is not lost in a sea of quotations. All quotations must be identified as such, and references to the text should be given parenthetically either as a page number or section number, as appropriate. Take care to write correctly and well: you will be graded for grammar and style as well as content. Finally, please number your pages. For extra help and advice on writing your paper, the University Teaching and Learning Center in PLC is an invaluable resource.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course should be able to:

describe the history of medieval western Christianity from the fourth through fifteenth centuries and understand its complexity and relation to the broader social, cultural, and political elements of this period that shaped it
analyze primary texts critically and discuss their significance for understanding Christianity in the medieval world
evaluate the role of cultural exchange and religious dialogue within Christianity, as well as in relation to other religious traditions
demonstrate the ability to write a formal academic paper on a topic related to the history of medieval western Christianity.

Expectations and Regulations

1. Preparation: You are expected to come to class having completed the reading assignments for that session. You should be prepared to discuss and ask questions about the assignments in your discussion group. Note also that some material from the readings that is not covered in class may be included on the examinations.

2. Participation and Class Attendance: You should come to class prepared to ask questions and to discuss the readings for that session. Regular class attendance is required, and attendance will be taken. If you expect to miss class doe to illness, observance of religious holy days, or other extenuating circumstances, please notify the instructor in advance at sshoemak (at) uoregon (dot) edu.

3. Late Papers: Unless an extension has been arranged in advance, late papers will be marked down one full letter grade for each day after the due date. Late papers will not be accepted more than three days after the due date.

4. Make-up or Early Exams: will be allowed only in truly exceptional circumstances, in the case of unforeseeable events beyond the student’s control and must be approved by the instructor in advance.

5. Cell phones may not be used in class. If I see you using a cell phone, it will affect your final grade.

6. Plagiarism or Cheating: Students caught plagiarizing or cheating on any assignment will be reported to the Student Conduct Coordinator in the Office of the Dean of Students. Students who are aware of cheating or plagiarism are encouraged to inform the instructor. If you are uncertain as to what constitutes plagiarism (or other forms of academic dishonesty), please consult this helpful guide from the UO library concerning plagiarism, as well as the UO’s Policy on Academic Dishonesty.

All students are subject to the regulations stipulated in the UO Student Conduct Code http://conduct.uoregon.edu). This code represents a compilation of important regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to student life. It is intended to inform students of their rights and responsibilities during their association with this institution, and to provide general guidance for enforcing those regulations and policies essential to the educational and research missions of the University.

7. Completion of Assignments: Completion of all required assignments is necessary to pass and receive credit for the course. Incompletes will be granted only at the discretion of the instructor and only in case of circumstances beyond the student’s control.

8. Appropriate accommodations will be provided for students with documented disabilities. If you have a documented disability and require accommodation, arrange to meet with the course instructor within the first week of the term. The documentation of your disability must come in writing from the Accessible Education Center in the Office of Academic Advising and Student Services. Disabilities may include (but are not limited to) neurological impairment, orthopedic impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, chronic medical conditions, emotional/psychological disabilities, hearing impairment, and learning disabilities. For more information on Accessible Education Center, please see http://aec.uoregon.edu

9. Mandatory Reporting: UO employees, including faculty, staff, and GTFs, are mandatory reporters of child abuse and prohibited discrimination. This statement is to advise you that that your disclosure of information about child abuse or prohibited discrimination to a UO employee may trigger the UO employee’s duty to report that information to the designated authorities. Please refer to the following links for detailed information about mandatory reporting:

https://hr.uoregon.edu/policies-leaves/general-information/mandatory-reporting-child-abuse-and-neglect/presidents-message

http://around.uoregon.edu/mandatoryreporting

Grading Scale

A: Excellent. Assignment is without errors in both technical matters and content, with distinction. Shows high degree of fluency with content and technical skill, with evidence of creativity and originality. A grade of A+ is rare, and indicates work that demonstrates rare mastery, originality, and polish.

B: Good. Assignment is technically sound and accurate in content. Shows all-round solid grasp of methods and subject matter.

C: Satisfactory. Errors in technical matters and/or content that are limited in scope. Shows essentially sound grasp of subject matter and methods.

D: Inferior. Significant flaws in technical matters and/or content that are wide-ranging. Shows weak grasp of subject matter and/or methods.

98-100
94-97
91-93
88-90
84-87
81-83
78-80
74-77
71-73
68-70
64-67
61-63
0-60

A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Course Outline

Week 1

9/27 Introduction

Read: Lynch, 1-11

Week 2

10/2 Christianity and the Roman Empire

Read: Lynch, 12-32; Colish, 3-15; Ammianus Marcellinus on the decadence of Rome; Some important Biblical passages in the Trinitarian Controversy

Handout 1 (HTML) (Word)

10/4 Augustine of Hippo and the Medieval Theological Tradition

Read: Colish, 25-37; Augustine, selections from The City of God; The Confessions Book 8 ; The “Vincentian Canon”

Week 3

10/9 The “Fall of Rome” & the Rise of the Papacy

Read: Lynch, 24-29; 35-45 Colish, 37-41; Pope Leo the Great; Pope Gregory the Great: Letters showing Papal Activity; The Papal Estates; Pope Gregory the Great and the Lombards; The Conversion of Clovis

10/11 Monasticism in the Christian West

Read: Lynch, 29-35; Colish, 42-55; The Rule of St. Benedict

Handout 2 (HTML) (Word)

Week 4

10/16 Christianity in the British Isles

Read: Lynch, 45-64; Colish, 56-65 Rule of St. Columba; St. Columban (d. 615): Boat Song; The Heavenly Banquet; Bede, The Conversion of England;

10/18 Charlemagne and the Carolingian Dynasty

Read: Lynch, 65-96; Colish, 66-75; Gregory III, Letter to Charles Martel; Einhard, Life of Charlemagne (selections); Gottschalk, Shorter Confession

Week 5

10/23 The Breakup of the Carolingian Empire

Read: Lynch, 97-107; 116-32; Colish, 160-74 Three Sources on the Ravages of the Northmen in Frankland; Fidelity Oaths; Fulbert of Chartres, Letter on mutual obligations

10/25 EXAM 1

Week 6

10/30 The Monastery of Cluny and the Reform Movement

Read: Lynch, 107-15; 136-50; Charter of Abbey of Cluny; Papal Election Decree; Gregory VII: Bans on Lay Invesititures; first and second decrees excommunicating Henry IV; The Concordat of Worms

Handout 3 (HTML) (Word)

11/1 The “Great Schism” between East and West

Read: Colish, 113-28; Patriarch Photius of Constantinople, Encyclical to the Eastern Patriarchs; The Great Schism, from Timothy Ware, The Orthodox Church

First Paper Due

Week 7

11/6 The Crusades

Read: Lynch, 151-67; Pope Urban II’s speech at Clermont; Capture of Jerusalem; Sack of Constantinople; Map of the Mediterranean world at the time of the first Crusade (ca. 1092); Map of the Crusader states

11/8 The Rise of Scholastic Theology: Anselm & Abelard

Read: Lynch, 239-55; Colish, 265-88; Richer of Rheims: Journey to Chartres; Tables: Population in Europe; Adelard of Bath, Natural Questions; Abelard’s Sic et Non (selections); History of My Calamities (selections)

Week 8

11/13 Francis of Assisi and the Mendicant Religious Orders

Read: Lynch, 228-38; Colish, 234-39 Life of Francis (selections); Francis, Testament

11/15 Scholastic and Mystical Theology in the High Middle Ages: Aquinas and Julian of Norwich

Read: Colish, 239-44; 289-301; Summa Theologica (selections); Gregory IX, Statutes of the University of Paris, 1231; Jacques de Vitry, Life of the Students at Paris, 13th century; Julian of Norwich, Revelations, Chap 51

Week 9

11/20 Online Lecture

Hildegard and Bernard (in files on Canvas)

11/22 Online Lecture

Peter Lombard, Ockham, and Duns Scotus (in files on Canvas)

Second Paper Due

Week 10

11/27 Religious Dissent in the Middle Ages: Medieval Heresies

Read: Lynch, 216-27; Colish, 245-52; Peter Waldo: medieval accounts of his conversion and of his “errors.”; Raynaldus, Annales; The Book of John the Evangelist; Cathar ritual of initiation; Bernard Gui’s Inquisitor’s Manual