This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Undergraduate Handbook 2016-2017 (archived)
Module THMN1227: Introduction to Church History
Department: Theology and Ministry
THMN1227: Introduction to Church History
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 1 | 10 | Available in 2016/2017 | Durham |
Pre-requisites
- None
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combinations
- None
Aims
- To enable students to understand and appreciate the historical processes and contexts (social, political, economic, cultural and intellectual) by which and in which the Christian Church grew and developed.
Content
- The history of the Church from the Apostolic Age including:
- introduction to historiography and theological reflection on church history
- the growth of the early Church in the context of Judaism, Classical Culture and the Roman Empire
- the reality and significance of persecution
- an introduction to the development of doctrine and the formation of the Creeds
- the growth of monasticism
- the establishment of the Papacy
- the re-conversion of Western Europe
- the structures and spirituality of the Medieval Church
- European Reformations, Protestant and Catholic
- the Long Reformation in England
- the development of the Modern World and its impact on the Church, focused on key concepts such as Enlightenment, Revolution, Industrialisation and Secularisation
- the Church's response to Modernity.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- The key objective is that students develop an overview of the historical development of the Church in its context both as an essential ministerial skill and also as part of the foundation for further theological training. By the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate:
- an awareness of the chief movements, personalities and events which have shaped the history of the Church.
- an awareness of the use and possible abuse of evidence in developing a historical understanding.
Subject-specific Skills
- an appreciation of the significance of the historical reality of the Church for theological reflection and current action.
Key Skills
- an increased understanding of their own tradition and those of other Christians.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Lectures & Seminars (14 hours contact time)
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | |||||
| Total | 0 | ||||
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take-away paper | 100% | Take-away paper consisting of 2 essays | Total of 2500 words | 100% |
Formative Assessment
In-class exercise
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.