Introduction to Church History
Course Summary
The Christian church is an evolving institution, which has constantly acted and reacted in terms of its own developing sense of identity, and in terms of its historical and social context. In this way, the theology and the ecclesiology of the church have come to assume their current shapes. This survey of church history introduces students to methods of historical inquiry and provides an overview of the church’s doctrinal and institutional evolution as a framework for other theological study and more advanced historical study. It is a Core unit and forms part of a Major in Church History within the Bachelor awards.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit students will be able to:
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trace the major developments in the history of the Christian churches from their origins to the present;
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explain the issues which have shaped the developments within the
Christian churches throughout history;
3. analyse the contribution of selected people and movements to the
development of the church’s thought and structures;
4. interpret individual primary historical documents in their social context;
5. utilise appropriate methods of historical inquiry to construct a coherent historical argument in
written form.
Course Content
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Approaches to Historical Inquiry
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The Early Church (to 500)
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Expansion of the Church
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Doctrinal Development
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Institutional Development
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Relation of Church and State
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The Medieval Church (500-1500)
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The Holy Roman Empire and the Conversion of Europe
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The Church of the East and Crusades
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Institutional Decline and Renewal
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The Reformation (16th century)
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Renaissance and Reform
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Protestant Reformation: Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Radicals, English Reformation
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Catholic Reformation: Councils, Popes, Monastics
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Challenges and Responses (1600-1900)
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Spiritual Challenges: Puritanism, Pietism, Evangelical Revivals, Oxford Movement
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Intellectual Challenges: Deism, Biblical Criticism, Science and Religion
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Social Challenges: Christian Socialism, Salvation Army, Vatican I
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The Modern Era (1900-present)
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Universal Christianity: Missions, Ecumenism, Vatican II
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Church and Society: Confronting Totalitarianism, Secularism, Globalism
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The Church in Australia or New Zealand: an Overview
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