Patrology - 5121A
Historical Theology
A. Course Description:
A historical and thematic exploration of the contributions made to the Tradition by writers of the first seven centuries known as the "Fathers of the Church". Attention will be paid to their contributions in such areas as the formation of the biblical canon, the development of Christian doctrine, and the picture of Christian life in the ancient period. This is a seminar course.
B. Goals
This course will assist students to grow in the following knowledge, skills and attitudes:
- Knowledge:
- To understand the centrality of the Paschal Mystery and God’s action within salvation history and as expressed in the ancient Church.
- To learn of the key writers and theologians from the ancient period of the Church, through study of their lives, writings, and historical context.
- To understand the service rendered to the development of theology in the first centuries, especially in the “Golden Age” of the era.
- To gain a sense of the continuity of orthodox theology, making connections with other branches of theology, such as biblical, systematic and liturgical theology.
- Skills:
- To be able to integrate the various realms of theology as found within the ancient Church.
- To be able to enter into theological dialogue, to listen to other opinions, to use philosophical concepts, and be able to see the large footprint of the ancient wisdom of the Fathers in the Church today.
- To be able to apply the historical-critical method to the ancient texts of the Patristic Era.
- To situate the writings in their context and to draw out their theological significance.
- Attitudes:
- To embrace a sense of wonder in the mysteries of the faith and to accept that our comprehension will never be complete in light of the nature of theology.
- To embrace the ecumenical and universal spirit found in the ancient Christian Church
- To foster a profound appreciation for the Church Fathers, their holiness, their insight, and their extreme efforts to articulate and defend the faith.
C. Assessment
- Mid-Term Test (25% of final mark)
- Short answer format and in-class.
- Date: Monday, November 10th
- Presentation (45% of final mark)
- Seminars will take place during the last part of the course and will be an individual effort.
- Each student will do one seminar. Each 50-minute seminar will be based upon the life of one Church Father and one theological issue or breakthrough for which he is famous.
- A two-page class summary handout is required for distribution on the day of your seminar (point form is acceptable). Free photocopying is available, if the material is submitted to rperei@uwo.ca by the Thursday before your seminar.
- Topic sign-up will be done in-class, based upon a lottery system, on Monday, September 15th.
- You are NOT required to submit an essay related to your seminar.
- Final Exam (30% of final mark)
- Take-home exam format.
- Exam will have a pastoral focus.
- The exam will be discussed and distributed in-class on Monday, December 1st.
- Due Date: digital copy due no later than Monday, December 8th at 5pm
D. Readings or Textbooks
- Required (on hold at the A.P. Mahoney Library)
- Boniface, Ramsey, Beginning to Read the Fathers (New York: Paulist Press, 2012). Either the revised (2012) or original (1985) edition will be acceptable for the course readings.
- All the various books containing the primary documents written by the Fathers.
These same or similar English translations are available for free on-line at: http://www.newadvent.com/fathers/
Any student who is competent in ancient languages, is highly encouraged to download the primary documents for free in their Greek or Latin text at: http://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/
E. Structure of the Course
| Date: | Course: |
|---|---|
| Sept 8 | Introduction to the Course/ Introduction to Patrology |
| Sept 15 | Introduction to Patrology (con’t) The Apostolic Fathers (Ignatius of Antioch) + Seminar lottery |
| Sept 22 | The Apostolic Fathers (Ignatius of Antioch) – con’t The Status of the non-Christians (Barnabas) The Letter to Diognetus |
| Sept 29 | Salvation (Origen of Alexandria) Scripture (Jerome and Origen) |
| Oct 6 | Christian Initiation (Cyril of Jerusalem) Liturgy (Maximus the Confessor) |
| Oct 13 | Thanksgiving (No Classes) |
| Oct 20 | Hagiography (Sophronius of Jerusalem) Martyrdom (Polycarp) |
| Oct 27 | The Church and Hierarchy (Clement of Rome) The Trinity (Tertullian) |
| Nov 3 | Monasticism (Benedict, Basil, and Climacus) |
| Nov 10 | Midterm Examination (in-class) |
| Nov 17 | Mysticism (Gregory of Nyssa) Pneumatology and Theosis/Deification (Gregory of Nazianzus) |
| Nov 24 | God (Athanasius) Christ (Cyril of Alexandria) |
| Dec 1 | The Human Condition (Augustine) Poverty and Wealth (John Chrysostom) + Take-Home exam distributed |
| Dec 8 | Take-home exam deadline To be e-mailed to rperei2@uwo.ca via PDF or Word attachment by 17:00. |
F. University Regulations
Students are responsible for knowing the University’s academic policies and regulations and any particularities of their own course of study. These can all be found at the University’s website (http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholoff.pdf). Ignorance of these policies is not an excuse for any violation thereof. The following policies are particularly important to note:
- Submission of Assignments: It is the responsibility of the student to organize his or her work so that the assignments are completed on time. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment will be deducted for each day it is overdue without permission.
- Seminars cannot be late or rescheduled. Be prepared to present on your scheduled day. A missed seminar (or partially missed seminar) will earn a zero.
- Plagiarism: Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students take an idea or a passage from another author, they must acknowledge their debt by quotation marks and/or footnotes. Plagiarism is a major academic offense. Students may be required to submit their work in electronic form for plagiarism checking.
- Selection and Registration of Courses: Students are responsible for ensuring that their selection of courses is appropriate and accurately recorded, that all prerequisite course(s) have been successfully completed, and that they are aware of any anti-requisite course(s) that they have taken.
Historical Theology 5121A: Assigned Readings (Fall 2014)
Sept 15 – The Apostolic Fathers
Ramsey, Boniface, Beginning to Read the Fathers (New York: Paulist Press, 2012), 1-18.
Sept 22 – Christians in the World
Ramsey, 210 - 228.
Sept 29 – Salvation and the Scriptures
Ramsey, 19-40; 229 - 246.
Oct 6 – Initiation and the Liturgy
Oct 13 – Thanksgiving Holiday
Oct 20 – Hagiography and Martyrdom
Ramsey, 129 - 156.
Oct 27 – Church and Trinity
Ramsey, 99 - 128.
Nov 3 – Monasticism
Ramsey, 157 - 173.
Nov 10 – Midterm Exam
Nov 17 – Mysticism and Deification
Ramsey, 174 - 193
Nov 24 – God and Christ
Ramsey, 41 - 56; 75 - 98.
Dec 1 – Human Condition and Poverty
Ramsey, 57 - 74; 194 - 209.