GREA RSBY 340 - From Christ to Constantine and Beyond

Institution:

Arcadia University

Subject:

Description:

This course examines the rise and development of Christianity to approximately 500 CE. How did Christianity go from being an obscure and dissident Jewish sect to the official religion of the Roman Empire? In what ways did it change over time to accommodate new circumstances and realities? Chief topics to be addressed include: the formation of doctrine and structures of authority, persecution and martyrdom, evolving definitions of orthodoxy and heresy, relationships between 'Church and State', the role of women, and the rise of asceticism and monasticism. In particular, it investigates the roots of all existing Christian denominations from a common source in antiquity, as well as the nature of the relationship between early Christianity its Judaic and Greco-Roman origins. The format of the course centers almost exclusively on the reading and discussion of primary texts. The course is primarily intended for religion majors and minors, but for those in others fields, e.g., history, will also discover content relevant to their respective discipline. (Athens, Greece, http://www.arcadiacenter.edu.gr/)

Credits:

4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.arcadia.edu

Phone Number:

(215) 572-2900

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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