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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "RL 221"
COURSE NAME: "The Popes of Rome: History of the Catholic Church"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session II 2017
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Erik Walters
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 2:00PM 5:45PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The history of the Catholic church is essentially intertwined with the history of Western Civilization over the past 2,000 years. The aspirations and struggles of Christendom constitute the fabric of the Christian tradition as it unfolds throughout time. This course represents an historical survey of the Church from its primitive beginnings in Jerusalem (c. 33 A.D.) to the Pontificate of John Paul II (1920-2005). The development of the course will trace the major events, ideas and people that went into the shaping of the Western Church, without ignoring the fundamental importance and influence of the doctrine of Jesus Christ regarding the institution he founded.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Christianity remains the world's largest religious body among human beings claiming some degree of affiliation (32%), though Islam rapidly is closing that gap at a current 23% of human beings claiming religious affiliation. Judaism,  traditionally the origin of these other two monotheistic religions, has fewer than 14 million members across the globe. How did the Christian religion gain such predominance? How does it maintain such predominance today? How does it continue to find itself embroiled in all global religious and secular conflicts? One cannot understand the reasons for this situation or, and perhaps more importantly, the current global state of affairs (economic, political, religious, etc.) without some understanding of the history of the Catholic Church. This course seeks to address these questions and more in three parts (more explicitly detailed in the "Course Schedule" below): 1) Roman Antiquity and the Rise of Chirstianity (e.g. how 3rd century Roman Emperors gradually were replaced by 4th century Christian bishops to hear legal cases in courts of law!); 2) The End of Ancient Civilization and the Rise of the Catholic Church (e.g. how ambassadors of the infamous "Mongolian Horde" of Genghis Khan managed to be present at a Church Council in medieval Europe…and become baptized Catholics!); 3) Humanity Makes, the Papacy Takes (e.g. how NASA sent two Vatican space probes beyond our own solar system…on U.S. taxpayers' expense!). The course foresees an intense amount of lecture material and readings as indicated below.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completing the course, students will be expected to have acquired a general yet adequate understanding of the history of the Church and Papacy from both religious and secular perspectives: the Church as it experiences itself; the Church as experienced from the outside; and that grey area which constitutes the confluence of Church-State relations and ramifications. Students’ comprehension of the fundamental ideas, events, persons, and places that have shaped the Church and its relationship with Western Civilization through an objective and unbiased study will be evaluated through two research projects (mid-term and final exams), one in class project presentation, and class participation. Students will gain greater familiarity with the evolution of ideas that have influenced the inseparable Church-Civilization interplay through the preparation and presentation of an in class research project presentation, which analyzes the progression of historical situational conflicts, synthesizes their resolutions, and identifies their consequences. All four assessment methods aim to assist the student in learning, perfecting, and absorbing the art of critical thinking for wherever life's destiny may take one.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
A Concise History of the Catholic ChurchBOKENKOTTERNew York: Image Books, 1990; reprint, Doubleday, 2003), 624p.0385516134, 9780385516136  
The PopesNORWICHChatto & Windus9780701182908  
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Research ProjectThis WRITTEN Research Project (mid-term exam) will test students' research and note-taking skills through an analysis of class lecture notes based on material "in aula" and "in situ". This assessment method/assignment is worth 25% of the final course grade. Projects are to be type-written in Times New Roman font size 12, double-spaced, with fully justified margins, and are due in class on Tuesday, 18 July 2017. Errors in grammar, punctuation, syntax, diction, and composition will be deducted for a total of 11 points out of 100. Student names are to appear nowhere on the written project. Rather, students will submit written projects using their JCU ID number. This process is to ensure transparency and impartiality in evaluating and grading written projects. Late, emailed, and hand-written projects will not be accepted and will result in a failing grade for the assignment. In case of legitimate and documented emergency situations, late submissions will be accepted and will result in one full letter grade deduction beyond the actual grade awarded for the project. NO "EASY A's"!!! Graded projects will be returned in class on Thursday, 20 July 2017.25%
Final ExamThis final comprehensive ORAL exam will test students' critical thinking skills through a synthesis of class lecture material both "in aula" and "in situ". The exam is divided into four questions, which will be provided to students on Tuesday, 1 August 2017. More unannounced detailed follow-up questions will be asked of students during the exam. This final exam is worth 25% of the overall course grade. The final comprehensive oral exams will last 10 minutes and will be administered in the examination room during the designated time slot (to be indicated by JCU's Registrar's Office) on Friday, 4 August 2017.25%
Class attendance, participation, and site visitsClass attendance and participation is mandatory including 5 "in aula" lectures and 5 "in situ" visits. This assignment/assessment method is worth 50% of the final course grade. Each site visit actually includes several venues: 1) ancient Roman necropolis (a.k.a. "scavi") and the Basilica of Saint Peter "in Vaticano"; 2) domus, mithraeum, basilica, and church of "Saint Clement"; the chapel of "Saint Sylvester" at the monastery church of Santi Quattro Coronati; the "Baptistery" and "Basilica of Saint John Lateran"; the "Holy Staircase"; domus "in Coelio" of Saints John and Paul; 3) catacombs and church of Saint Agnes and basilica and mausoleum of Princess Constance; 4) Stadium of Domitan; Pantheon; Santa Maria sopra Minerva; Palazzo Porcari; 5) Vatican Museums including the Rooms of Raffaello and the Sistine Chapel. Entrance fees for site visits are the responsibility of each student. This course meets for a total of only ten lecture sessions over five weeks. Class attendance is strongly encouraged due to the intense amount of lecture material. Missing class will affect negatively not merely this "class participation" grade (assessment method/assignment). Absence from class lectures negatively will affect student learning of lecture material. Students arriving 15 or more minutes late for class will receive a marked "absence" for that class lecture period. Active class participation is encouraged and desired. One absence (including legitimate documented "emergency situations") will result automatically in a grade of 75% "C" for this assessment method/assignment. Two absences (including legitimate documented "emergency situations") will result automatically in a grade of 69% "D" for this assessment method/assignment. Three or more absences (including legitimate documented "emergency situations") will result automatically in a grade of 59% "F" for this assessment method/assignment. Compliance with these guidelines gets you that guaranteed "C" if not that "EASY A" for this assignment.50%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.(95-100% A; 90-94% A-)
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.(88-89% B+; 83-97% B; 80-82% B-)
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.(78-79% C+; 73-87% C; 70-72% C-)
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.(60-69% D)
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.(59% F)
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Class attendance and participation is mandatory including 5 "in aula" lectures and 5 "in situ "visits: 1) ancient Roman necropolis (a.k.a. "scavi") and the Basilica of Saint Peter "in Vaticano"; 2) domus, mithraeum, basilica, and church of Saint Clement; the chapel of Saint Sylvester; domus "in Coelio" of Saints John and Paul; 3) catacombs and church of Saint Agnes and basilica and mausoleum of Princess Constance; 4) Pantheon, Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Palazzo Porcari; 5) Vatican Museums including the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. Entrance fees for site visits are the responsibility othe each student. This course meets for a total of only ten lecture sessions over five weeks. Class attendance is strongly encouraged due to the intense amount of lecture material. Missing class will affect negatively not merely this "class participation" grade (assessment method/assignment). Absence from class lectures negatively will affect student learning of lecture material. Active class participation is encouraged and desired. One absence (including legitimate documented "emergency situations") will result automatically in a grade of 75% "C" for this assessment method/assignment. Two absences (including legitimate documented "emergency situations") will result automatically in a grade of 69% "D" for this assessment method/assignment. Three or more absences (including legitimate documented "emergency situations") will result automatically in a grade of 59% "F" for this assessment method/assignment. Compliance with these guidelines gets you that "EASY A" for this assignment. You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

There is a mandatory student activity fee of €25.00 for this course as per the on site visits. Student participants are required to carry on their persons a valid University ID and another form of ID with their date of birth for all on site visits.

WEEK ONE: Roman Antiquity and the Rise of Christianity (in Class Lecture 1 & Site Visit 1)

in aula: Thursday, 6 July 2017
1) Introduction: overview of course prospectus, syllabus, and expectations; paradigms and hermeneutics/methodologies employed
2) Pontifex Maximus: the office from the Roman monarchy, through the Republican SPQR, to the Imperial Period; Roman Law and Religion
3) Jewish and Roman: Mosaic Law; "Church" and "Peter" in the Christian New Testament; Roman Citizenship (1st century CE - Apostolic Period)
4) Roman and Christian: reaction to early Christianity and its "doctrines" (2nd century CE - Sub-Apostolic Period)
5) Competing Cults and Philosophies: Bacchus/Dionysos, Mithras/Sol Invictus, and Christus; Epicureanism, Platonism, and Stoic "unitas"
6) Tertullian's Turn: Stoic "oneness/unity", Christian "trinity", and the emergence of a state within a state (turn of the 3rd century CE)

in situ: Friday, 7 July 2017
1) domus, mithraeum, basilica, and church of Saint Clement
2) the chapel of Saint Sylvester at the monastery church of Santi Quattro Coronati
3) the Baptistery, Basilica, and "Holy Staircase" of Saint John Lateran
4) domus "in Coelio" of Saints John and Paul

WEEK TWO: The End of Ancient Civilization and the Rise of the Catholic Church (in Class Lecture 2 & Site Visit 2)

in aula: Tuesday, 11 July 2017

7) Third Century Crisis I: Culture Clash: the Roman Response to the Christian Universal Assembly: supplications or persecutions
8) Cyprian's Solution: an alternative model of government in the Christian "Universal Assembly" (mid-3rd century CE)
9) Third Century Crisis II: Power Grab: lapsed catholics and the baptismal controversy
10) A New "Deal": Roman policy shift regarding religion and the dawn of a different empire (turn of the 4th century CE)
11) Constantinian Turn: religious "freedom", Christian promotion, Nicaea I, and the "Collegium Pontificium" (4th century CE)
12) Theodosian Shift: Julian the "Apostate"; Constantinople I; Ambrose of Milan; Theodosius I and the identification of church and state

in situ: Thursday, 13 July 2017

1) 2nd-4th century catacombs of Saint Agnes "outside the walls"
2) 4th century basilica of Saint Agnes
3) 4th century mausoleum of Princess Constance
4) 7th century church of Saint Agnes

WEEK THREE: The Rise of Christendom and the Consolidation of Papal Authority and Power (in Class Lecture 3 & Site Visit 3)

in aula: Tuesday, 18 July 2017

13) Eastern Confusion and Western Concussion: barbarians at the gates; Augustine of Hippo; the Council of Ephesus (5th century CE)
14) Eastern Clarification and Western Paralization: barbarians breach the gates; Leo the Great; Council of Chalcedon
15) Dark Ages I: Rome's Fall and its Repercussions: Christian elites: Boethius; Benedict; Gregory; monasticism; Islam (6th-7th cents. CE)
16) Dark Ages II: Gettin' Byzantine and Medieval: Charles the Hammer, Charles the Great, a new empire, and the largest "donation" in human history (8th and 9th centuries CE)
17) Middle Ages I: Papal and Imperial Showdown: Great Schism; Gregory VII; medieval universities; crusades (10th through 12th centuries)
18) Middle Ages II: King of the Mountain: Magna Charta; Franciscans and Dominicans; Inquisition; Scholasticism; Boniface VIII (12th and 13th centuries CE)

in situ: Thursday, 20 July 2017

1) Pantheon
2) Santa Maria sopra Minerva
3) Palazzo Porcari

WEEK FOUR: The Rise and Fall of the Papacy (Lessons 19-28)

in aula: Tuesday, 25 July 2017 (Research Project DUE!)

19) While the Pope's Away: Avignon; Black Death; Catherine of Siena; John Wycliffe; Jan Hus; Western Schism (14th century CE)
20) Return of the King: Council of Florence; Eugene IV; Nicholas V; Constantinople's Fall; Alexander VI; a new world (15th century CE)
21) Rinascimento I: Corruption at Home and Abroad: slavery; Savonarola; Julius II; Michelangelo and Rafaello (16th century CE)
22) Rinascimento II: Papal Propaganda: The Rooms of Rafaello
23) Rinascimento III: "Catholic" Catechesis: Michelangelo's ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
24) Rinascimento IV: Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther; Henry VIII; Charles V; Clement VII; Michelangelo's "Last Judgment"

in situ: Thursday, 27 July 2017

Vatican Museums including the Rooms of Raffaello and the Sistine Chapel

WEEK FIVE: Humanity Makes, the Papacy Takes (Lessons 19-28)

in aula: Tuesday, 1 August 2017

25) Barocco/Enlightenment I: Revolutions Above: conquistadores; Jesuits; Council of Trent; Pius V; Copernicus, Kepler, and Bruno (16th and 17th centuries CE)
26) Barocco/Enlightenment II: Revolutions Below: Galilei, Bernini, Urban VIII, Alexander VII (17th century CE)
27) Who Needs a King?: U.S. Constitution; Napoleon and Pius VII; U.S. Civil War and Pius IX (18th-19th centuries CE)
28) Stronger Than Ever: To Each His Own because They Will Not Prevail: Italian "unification"; l'Osservatore Romano; Fascism; Pius XII; the I.O.R.; Vatican City State; Second Vatican Council; a Vatican "Constitution" (20th-21st centuries CE)

in situ: Thursday, 3 August 2017

the "scavi" and Basilica of Saint Peter's in Vaticano

FINAL EXAM: Friday, 4 August 2017

FURTHER INFORMATION THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST: (all texts available in JCU’s Frohring Library)

 

Adler, Mortimer J.

-          Aristotle for Everybody: Difficult Thought Made Easy, ISBN 0-684-83823-0.

-          Ten Philosophical Mistakes, ISBN 0-684-81868-X.

 

Craig, William Lane.

 

-          Creation Out of Nothing: a Biblical, Philosophical, and Scientific Exploration, ISBN 0-8010-2733-0. - --

-          Reasonable Faith, ISBN 978-0-89107-764-0.

 

Dawkins, Richard.

-          The God Delusion, ISBN 0-618-68000-4.

-          The Greatest Show on Earth: the Evidence for Evolution, ISBN 0-593-06173-X.

 

Dennett, Daniel.

-          Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon, ISBN 0-670-03472-X.

-          Science and Religion, ISBN 0-199-73842-4.

 

D’Souza, Dinesh.

-          What’s So Great About Christianity? ISBN 1-596-98517-8.

-          Godforsaken: Bad Things Happen. Is there a God Who Cares? YES. Here’s Proof, ISBN 978-1414324852.

 

Harris, Sam.

-          The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason, ISBN 0-393-03515-8.

-          The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Moral Values, ISBN 978-1-4391-7121-9.

-          Letter to a Christian Nation. ISBN 0-307-26577-3.

-          Free Will, ISBN 978-1451683400.

 

Hitchens, Christopher.

-          Is Christianity Good for the World? ISBN 1-59128-053-2.

-          The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Non-Believer, ISBN 978-0-306-81608-6.

-          The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice, ISBN 1-85984-054-X.

-          God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, ISBN 0-446-57980-7.

-          Thomas Jefferson: Author of America, ISBN 0-06-059896-4.

-          Thomas Paine’s “Rights of Man”: A Biography, ISBN 1-84354-513-6.

 

Hirsi Ali, Ayaan.

-          The Caged Virgin: An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam, ISBN 978-0-7432-8833-0.

-          Infidel, ISBN 0-7432-9503-X.

 

Jaki, Stanley L.

-          Means to Message: a Treatise on Truth, ISBN 0-8028-4651-3.

-          The Savior of Science, ISBN 0-8028-4772-2.

Krauss, Lawrence.

-          A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather Than Nothing, ISBN 978-1-4516-2445-8.

 

Turek, Frank.

-          I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, ISBN 978-1581345612.

 

Schönborn, Christoph.

-          Chance or Purpose? Creation, Evolution, and a Rational Faith, ISBN 978-1-58617-212-1.

 

VIDEO ONE: “Is Islam a Religion of Peace?”

92Y Talks (5 October 2010)

Moderator: Laurie Goodstein

Motion For: Tariq Ramadan

Motion Against: Christopher Hitchens

(video length 1:31:21) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMraxhd9Z9Q

VIDEO TWO: “Is Islam a Religion of Peace?”

Intelligence Squared – U.S. (6 October 2010)

Moderator: John Donvan

Motion For: Zeba Khan; Maajid Nawaz

Motion Against: Ayaan Hirsi Ali; Douglas Murray

(video length 1:46:35) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh34Xsq7D_A

VIDEO THREE: “Islam: A Religion of Peace or Violence?

The Richmond Forum (26 November 2013)”

Moderator: John Donvan

Ayaan Hirsi Ali; Maajid Nawaz; Feisal Abdul Rauf

(video length 1:57:31) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2prB3weT4c

VIDEO FOUR: “The Catholic Church Is a Force for Good in the World”

Intelligence Squared – UK (2009)

Moderator: Zainab Badawi

Motion For: John Onaiakin; Anne Whitaker

Motion Against: Stephen Fry; Christopher Hitchens

(video length 1:59:09) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrIHw0fZNOA

VIDEO FIVE: “Is Religion the Problem?”

The Henkels Lecturer Series,

The Center for Philosophy of Religion and the

Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts – Notre Dame University (2010)

Moderator: Michael Ray

Motion For: Christopher Hitchens

Motion Against: Dinesh D’Souza

(video length 1:48:03) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V85OykSDT8

VIDEO SIX: “Atheism, Theism, Antitheism” 92Y Talks (2008)

Moderator: Neil Gillman

Motion for Theism: Shmuley Boteach

Motion for Atheism and Antitheism: Christopher Hitchens

(video length 1:33:55) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnMYL8sF7bQ

VIDEO SEVEN: “Is Good from God?”

The Henkels Lecturer Series, The Center for Philosophy of Religion and the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts – Notre Dame University (2011)

Moderator: Michael Ray

Motion For: William Lane Craig

Motion Against: Sam Harris

(video length 2:06:54) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqaHXKLRKzg

VIDEO EIGHT: “What Best Explains the Universe:

Theism or Atheism?”

The College of New Jersey – (2011)

Moderator: James Taylor

Motion for Theism: Frank Turek

Motion for Atheism: Christopher Hitchens

(video length 2:06:18) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlozGOXJNFg

VIDEO NINE: “Is it Reasonable to Believe that God Exists?”

The City Bible Forum – Australia (August 2013)

Moderator: Graham Oppy

Motion For: William Lane Craig

Motion Against: Lawrence Krauss

(video length 1:46:24) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol-A_SU3m5c

VIDEO TEN: “Science Refutes God”

Intelligence Squared – U.S. (2012)

Moderator: John Donvan

Motion For: Lawrence Krauss; Michael Schermer

Motion Against: Dinesh D’Souza; Ian Hutchinson

(video length 1:48:54) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKNd_S3iXfs

VIDEO ELEVEN: “Evolution or Creationism/Intelligent Design?” Q&A – Australia (2012)

Moderator: Tony Jones

Motion for Evolution: Richard Dawkins

Motion for Creationism/Intelligent Design: George Pell

(video length 1:00:29) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8hy8NxZvFY

VIDEO TWELVE: “Something from Nothing”

The Origins Project – Arizona (2012)

Lawrence Krauss

(video length 54:11) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUH77mYBUtM

VIDEO THIRTEEN: “Does God Exist?”

Biola University – California (2009)

Motion For: William Lane Craig

Motion Against: Christopher Hitchens

(video length 2:27:24) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxvalmFOgAc

VIDEO FOURTEEN: “Is God Great?”

Samford University – USA (2009)

Motion For: John Lennox

Motion Against: Christopher Hitchens

(video length 1:53:24) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Al3Y8Lssps

VIDEO FIFTEEN: “Christopher Hitchens”

Festival of Dangerous Ideas – Sydney (2009)

Interlocutor: Tony Hawkins

As Himself: Christopher Hitchens

(video length 1:43:50) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwiHkM126bk