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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 2024
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Brenton Riffel
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MTWTH 9:00 AM 10:50 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
8:30-9:30 AM, M-TH
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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.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course covers the history of the Catholic Church and the papacy from its emergence in late antiquity to the contemporary era. Beginning with the origins of the Christian faith from the 8th century BCE through the 1st century CE, we utilize relevant primary documents to uncover key developments. The course continues with an examination of the expansion of early Christianity during the Roman Empire, tracing the emergence of the papacy amidst medieval Christendom between the 6th and 14th centuries. The course also explores schisms within Christianity; the Protestant Reformation; Counter Reformation and its consequences, the Enlightenment; the Scientific Revolution; along with the Roman Catholic Church’s responses to the onset of modernity. The course concludes with a wide-ranging discussion of the papacy in the current age and its place within a globalized 21st century marketplace of ideas.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
As part of the final exam, students will be assessed based on the following Learning Outcomes:
Learning Outcomes:
- Students will acquire basic skills in methodologies involved in religious/historical research, writing, and communication, also by working with primary sources (in English);
- Students will acquire a progressively more deepened grasp of Christian and Catholic developments by advancing from identifying and recognizing historical issues to classifying, interpreting, analyzing, comparing, and explaining them, to finally generating their own reflections;
- The nature of the issues addressed and discussed encourages students to apply and develop analytical and critical thinking skills
Through lecture, interactive discussion, and multi-media presentations, this course aims to provide a thorough overview of the history of the Catholic popes, from the early Christian era to the present day. Through the study of this topic, students will gain a deeper understanding of the Catholic Church and its role in shaping the course of world history. Throughout the course, students will analyze primary and secondary sources, including papal encyclicals and historical documents, to gain a deeper understanding of the history of the Catholic world. Assignments will include research papers, in-class discussions, and group presentations.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Quizzes (2) | Two quizzes will be given at the end of the first and third weeks of the semester. They will be cumulative, covering all of the course material to that point. Students will compose written responses to prompts that will be aligned with the learning outcomes and that address key themes discussed in class. We will have a review session on the day before each quiz. | 33% |
| In-class Student Responses to Primary Source Documents: 100 points (Due July 13 and 27) | Primary Source Analysis Response Papers
Students will also write two in-class response papers that require a deeper reading of primary sources and historical writings. These brief essays will take the place of what might constitute a standard research essay in a longer-form course. With this assignment, students will be expected to demonstrate that they understand some of the broader themes covered over the previous weeks and in the assigned readings. Due dates for these responses are noted in the class schedule. Specific writing prompts along with further instructions for this assignment will be distributed in class, although here are some general guidelines:
• Develop a thesis statement in your opening paragraph, one that states what you aim to examine in the following sections of your response.
• Create an outline prior to beginning your first draft, to better organize your thoughts.
• Refer to and demonstrate that you understand the assigned readings.
| 33% |
| Final Exam | The Final Exam will be cumulative and as such will cover each of the major themes discussed during this course. We will hold in an in-class review session the day prior to the exam: Friday, August 2. | 33% |
-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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
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 ____________
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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Class Schedule
Unit I: The Emergence from Antiquity
Week One (July 1-3)
- M Course Intro: History and the History of the Church
- TU: The Jesus Movement: The Beginnings of the Christian Community
- W: Faith and Life in the Early Christian Experience / Quiz One
- TH: Class will not meet (Holiday)
Readings: Bokenkotter, pp. 7-84
QUIZ ONE: Thursday, July 5
Unit II: The Rise of Christendom
Week Two (July 8-12)
- M: The Fall of Rome and the Emergence of Christendom
- TU: Pope Gregory and the Medieval Papacy
- W: Monastic Europe and Its Contributions
- TH: Schism and Its Consequences
- F: Class will meet (Makeup for July 4 holiday): Jerome and Augustine / In-class Exercise
Readings: Bokenkotter, pp. 97-158
IN-CLASS PRIMARY SOURCE ANALYSIS: Friday, July 12
Unit III: The Challenge to Order
Week Three (July 15-18)
- M: The Crusades
- TU: The Renaissance and Reformation Era
- W: Science, the Enlightenment, and the Papacy’s Response
- TH: The Council of Trent and Counter-Reformation / Quiz Two
Readings: Bokenkotter, pp. 173-239
QUIZ TWO: Thursday, July 18
Unit IV: The Church Under Siege
Week Four (July 22-25)
· M: Internal Strife within the Church
- TU: The French Revolution and Its Consequences
- W: Nationalism, Italian Unification and the Papacy
- TH: Prisoner of the Vatican: Pius IX and Vatican I / In-class Exercise
Readings: Bokenkotter, pp. 259-317
IN-CLASS PRIMARY SOURCE ANALYSIS: Thursday, July 25
Unit V: The Papacy in Modernity
Week Five (Jul 29-August 2)
- M: The Papacy Meets Modernity
- TU: World War II, Vatican II, and its Impact
- W: Pope John Paul II and the Cold War
- TH: The Catholic Church in its Third Millennium / Final Exam Review
- F: Final Exam (cumulative)
Readings: Bokenkotter, pp. 383-467
FINAL EXAM (cumulative): Friday, August 2
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