Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "RL 225-2"
COURSE NAME: "Mystics, Saints, and Sinners: Studies in Medieval Catholic Culture"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Erik Walters
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: T2:15 PM 5:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Partially on-site; activity fee: €30 or $35
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Through a close study of both primary and secondary materials in theology, spirituality, aesthetics, and social history, this course will introduce students to the major forms and institutions of religious thought and practice in medieval, Christian Europe (from Saint Augustine to the rise of humanism). The course will begin by studying the theological foundations of self and world in the work of Augustine and Pseudo-Dionysius, before turning to an elucidation of central religious institutions such as the papacy (and its relationship to imperial Rome), the monastery (we will study the rule of Saint Benedict and visit a Benedictine monastery), the cathedral (we will visit San Giovanni in Laterano and Saint Peter’s), and the university (and the scholastic philosophy to which it gave rise). We will then turn to alternative expressions of medieval religious faith in the work of several mystics, notably Meister Eckhart and Angela of Foligno. Finally we will study the reactions of the Church to the rise of science in the fifteenth century (we will look at the trial of Giordano Bruno) and will end with an appraisal of the continuity and renewal of Renaissance Humanism and its influence on the humanities as studied in a Liberal Arts Curriculum today.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Christianity remains the world's largest religious body among humans claiming some degree of affiliation (32%), though Islam rapidly is closing that gap at a current 23%. 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 prominance today? How does it continue to find itself embroiled in all global sectarian 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 and its Popes.

This course reviews the ancient Judeo-Roman foundations of the Christian religion from the 8th century BCE through the 1st cenury CE throughout the Mediterranean basin. Following a thorough review of early Christianity in the ancient Roman Empire between the 2nd and 5th centuries CE and the latter's metamorphosis into medieval "Christendom" between the 6th and 14th centuries CE, the course delves into the two schisms within Christianity (the Orthodox and Protestant Reformation breaks) and its development into the Roman Catholic Church, its own counter-Reformation, and the modern age of the "Enlightenment" and "Scientific Revolution" between the 15th and 17th centuries CE. Each of the mid-term and final exams are 3,000 word essay responses to 10-20 questions based on lecture material, course texts, and some combination of the two. These exams will test the student's capacity for analysis and synthesis of course lecture and textbook material and develop critical thinking and its comprehensible communication through English composition. The more recent and contemporary periods of the Popes and the Catholic Church will be addressed directly through individual course participants' in aula oral and visual "Project Presentations" based on outside research and sources annotated by the intructor's further lecture material covering the 18th through the 21st centuries CE. This will examine students' capacity for using current multimedia platforms in demonstrating and communicating the results of that outside research through public speaking.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completing the course, students will be expected to have acquired a general 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 the global context are the aim and goal. Moreover, students' capacity for analyzing and synthesizing in class lecture material, course texts, and outside research and the coherent and comprehensible communication of that material through the written and spoken word serves to developing the skill of critical thinking.

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Midterm Exam	The "Midterm Exam" will test students' research skills through an analysis of assigned readings and class lecture notes. The assignment is divided into two parts: 1) Twelve Questions to be answered directly from the required readings from the textbooks and those handed out in class: Christian New Testament selected readings; T. Bokenkotter's "A Concise History of the Catholic Church"; Norwich's "The Popes"; Duffy's "Saints and Sinners". Students are expected to cite the page/verse number from which they are providing answers; 2) Eight questions to be answered directly and only from class lecture notes. "Midterm Exams" are to be type-written in Times New Roman 12-point font, single-spaced, and with fully justified margins and are due exclusively in PDF format in the designated drop-box on JCU's "Moodle" platform no later than 23,59 CET (11:59 PM Rome time) on Wednesday, 02 March 2022. Errors in grammar, punctuation, syntax, diction, composition, and formatting will be deducted for a total of 15 points out of 100. Each of the questions is worth ten points. Lack of proper citations for readings merits point deductions in addition to inaccuracies, imprecisions, and lack of elaboration. This assignment is worth 25% of the final course grade. Student names are to appear nowhere on the exam. Rather, students will submit the "Midterm Exam" using their JCU ID number. This process is to ensure transparency and impartiality in evaluating and grading written projects. Late, emailed, and hand-written exams will not be accepted and will result in a failing grade of 00% F for this assessment method. Questions and clarifications as per the prompts/instructions should be addressed in class for the benefit of all course participants. No such emailed questions or clarifications will receive a response. Only in the case of legitimate and documented emergency situations communicated formally by JCU's Academic Dean's Office to the course instructor via email will late submissions be accepted submission as a PDF document via email. The "Midterm Exam" will be posted on JCU's "Moodle" platform at the beginning of the Spring Semester 2022.	25%
Research Project Presentation	Each student will be assigned randomly one topic from a list on Monday, 31 January 2022, which list and further directions, guidelines, and prompts for this assignment will be available on JCU's "Moodle" platform as "Research Project Presentation" at the beginning of the semester. Students will present their “Research Project Presentation” in aula on either Monday, 22 or Wednesday, 24 November 2021. Presentations are to be five minutes in duration and will address the following six points regarding the selected topic in question: 1) Historical and geographical contextualization of the selected topic (When and where?); 2) Biographical overview of the topic (Who?); 3) Three major issues, contributions, and/or controversies surrounding this topic (What?); 4) Reasons this topic is considered to be important during or after his or her lifetime (How?); 5) What, if any, relevance does this figure have today? (Why?) Presentations will be evaluated on the quality of the research itself as communicated in the oral presentation as well as the quality of public speaking and communication skills. “Research Project Presentations” must use some form of visual/audio media (PowerPoint, etc.). Research Project presentations may not be presented on any other day. Only in the case of legitimate and documented emergency situations communicated formally by JCU's Academic Dean's Office to the course instructor via email will late and/or non in aula presentations be accepted with submissions made via email as an accessible, current, and viable link to their presentation no later than Wednesday, 24 November 2021 at 23,59 CET (11:59 PM Rome time). If a student is unable to present or does not submit their project, then a grade of 00% "F" will be awarded for this assessment method.	25%
Final Exam	The "Final Exam" will test students' skills of analysis and synthesis with an end to a demonstration of exercising the art of critical thinking through a synthesis of assigned readings and class lecture notes. The exam is comprised of questions to be answered from class lecture notes and incorporating citations from the required readings from the textbooks (J.J. Norwich's "The Popes"; T. Bokenkotter's "A Concise History of the Catholic Church"; Duffy's "Saints and Sinners"). Students must cite the page number from which they are providing answers. Exams are to be type-written in Times New Roman 12-point font, single-spaced, and with fully justified margins. Errors in grammar, punctuation, syntax, diction, composition, and formatting will be deducted for a total of 15 points out of 100. Each of the questions is worth ten points. This exam is worth 25% of the course grade. Student names are to appear nowhere on the exam. Rather, students will submit exams using their JCU ID number. This process is to ensure transparency and impartiality in evaluating and grading written projects. “Final Exams” are due in the designated drop-box on JCU's "Moodle" platform no later than 23,59 CET (11:59 PM Rome time) on Friday, 06 May 2022. Late, emailed, and hand-written exams will not be accepted and will result in a failing grade for the assignment. Only in the case of legitimate and documented emergency situations communicated formally by JCU's Academic Dean's Office to the course instructor via email will late submissions be accepted as a PDF document. The "Final Exam" will be posted on JCU's "Moodle" platform during WEEK 7 of the Spring Semester 2022.	25%
Outlines and Worksheets	Students must take notes directly on both “Outlines and Worksheets” and, consequently, students should use their laptops during in aula (in classroom) lecture sessions for this purpose. This assignment is worth 15% of the overall final course grade. Recorded video lectures for each session are available with embedded links provided on the “Outlines and Worksheets”. This assessment method directly assists student performance on the Midterm and Final exams and circumvents unforeseen circumstances that potentially prevent the course or any of its participants from meeting physically in aula for any reason. “Outline and Worksheet One” is due in the designated drop-box through JCU’s “Moodle” platform no later than 23,59 CET (11:59 PM Rome time) on Monday, 28 February 2022. “Outline and Worksheet Two” is due in the designated drop-box through JCU’s “Moodle” platform no later than 23,59 CET (11:59 PM Rome time) on Friday, 29 April 2022. Both assignments must be submitted exclusively as PDF documents.	15%
Attendance and Participation	Class attendance is mandatory due to the intense amount of lecture material. Active class participation is encouraged and desired. Class attendance and participation is worth 10% of the overall course grade. One to two absences merit a grade respectively of 97.5% and 95% ("A") including legitimate documented absences. Three to four absences merit a grade respectively of 92.5% and 90% ("A-") including legitimate documented absences. Each additional absence will be deducted an additional five points per absence (5 absences = 85% "B", 6 absences = 80% "B-", etc.). "Legitimate documented absences" are those communicated directly to the course instructor from JCU's Academic Dean's Office via email and include "permit of stay appointments". MANDATORY SITE VISIT OF THE VATICAN (Vatican Museums and Basilica, Dome, and Tomb of Simon Peter, a.k.a. "the Scavi") on SATURDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2022. Meeting time is at 08:00 AM SHARP in front of the obelisk in St. Peter's Square, and the finish time is at 05:00 PM in the Vatican Museums. Round-trip travel time is an additional 75 minutes. Early online reservations, ticket purchases, and service fees are made several months in advance. Failure to attend this site visit will result in THREE absences. MANDATORY SITE VISIT OF CASTEL GANDOLFO (Julius Caesar's hometown and the Popes' Summer residence) on MONDAY, 25 APRIL 2022. Meeting time is at 08:00 AM SHARP in Piazza Trilussa, and the finish time is at 03:00 PM in Piazza Trilussa. Round-trip travel time is two hours. Early online reservations, ticket purchases, and service fees are made several months in advance. Failure to attend this site visit will result in THREE absences.	10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
A Excellent. Highly competent work of this quality directly and completely addresses the questions and issues raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information and content. This type of work demonstrates a thorough analysis and synthesis of material and a capacity for critical thinking. (94-100% A; 90-93% A-)
B Above Average to Very Good. This is a competent level of performance and directly addresses the questions and issues raised. There is demonstration of some ability to analyze and synthesize coherently the material and to think critically. The work does not suffer from major errors, omissions, imprecisions, and/or inaccuracies. (87-89% B+; 84-86% B; 80-83% B-)
C Average to Good. This is an acceptable level of performance and demonstrates work that is clear but limited with errors, omissions, imprecisions, inaccuracies, and/or a basic anaylisis and synthesis of the material and the process of critical thinking. (77-79% C+; 74-76% C; 70-73% C-)
D Below Average to Unsatisfactory. This is an unacceptable level of performance and demonstrates work that is replete with errors, omissions, imprecisions, inaccuracies and/or a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted and irrelevant information is included. (60-69% D)
F Failure. This work demonstrates little to no engagement with the material. The work is irrelevant, incomprehensible, incomplete, or is the result of unsubmitted and/or penalized assignments. (0-59% F)

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
Class attendance is strongly encouraged due to the intense amount of lecture material. Active class participation is encouraged and desired. Class attendance and participation is worth 25% of the overall course grade. Refer to "Assessment Method" guidelines above for details on grade calculations for absences and participation.

MANDATORY VISIT of the Vatican (including the Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica and Dome, and the "Scavi", i.e. the tomb of Simon Peter) on SATURDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2022. Meeting point and time is in front of the obelisk in St. Peter's Square at 08:00 AM SHARP. Failure to attend will count as THREE FULL ABSENCES. MANDATORY VISIT of Castel Gandolfo (including the Apostolic Palace and Papal Gardens) on MONDAY, 25 APRIL 2022. Meeting point and time is in Piazza Trilussa at 08:00 AM SHARP. Failure to attend will count as THREE FULL ABSENCES.

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 from 06 December through 10 December 2021.

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

Session	Session Focus	Reading Assignment	Other Assignment	Meeting Place/Exam Dates
WEEK 14 Wednesday 27 April	Class formally will not meet due to make-up day on Monday, 25 April.	All readings previously indicated on the syllabus.	DOMICILIO	Make-up day will be compensated by the site visit of Castel Gandolfo on Monday, 25 April 2022.
WEEK 14 Monday 25 April	Vatiland: “Castel Gandolfo”: MANDATORY Site Visit of the Apostolic Palace and Papal Gardens in Julius Caesar's hometown and Summer residence of the Popes (a.k.a. "the little Vatican"). Mandatory Site Visit of the Vatican: Meeting Point, Date, and Time: in Piazza Trilussa on Monday, 25 April at 08:00 AM SHARP! End Time at 02:00 PM (plus 2 hour round-trip travel time).	All readings previously indicated on the syllabus.	IN SITU	Monday, 25 April 2022 at 08:00 AM SHARP in Piazza Trilussa!
WEEK 13 Wednesday 20 April	Class formally will not meet due to make-up day on Monday, 25 April.	All readings previously indicated on the syllabus.	DOMICILIO	Make-up day will be compensated by the site visit of Castel Gandolfo on Monday, 25 April 2022.
WEEK 13 Monday 18 April	"Pasquetta" (Easter Monday) is a national holiday in Italy. JCU is closed. No class.	All readings previously indicated on the syllabus.	JCU CLOSED	Make-up day will be compensated by the site visit of the Vatican on Saturday, 12 February 2022.
WEEK 12 Wednesday 13 April	The Contemporary Papacy (20th – 21st century CE). "Research Project Presentation".	Previous Lecture Notes • Bokenkotter, “Chapters 22-37” • Duffy, “Chapter 5-6” • Norwich, “Chapters 22-28”	IN AULA	Wednesday, 13 April 2022 - RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATION DUE!
WEEK 12 Monday 11 April	The Modern Papacy (18th – 19th century CE) - "Research Project Presentation".	Previous Lecture Notes • Bokenkotter, “Chapters 22-37” • Duffy, “Chapter 5-6” • Norwich, “Chapters 22-28”	IN AULA	Monday, 11 April 2021 - RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATION DUE!
WEEK 7 Wednesday 02 March	MID-TERM EXAM: to be completed “on your own time and at home”. Six weeks in addition to exam time is afforded to the completion of this assignment (25% or course grade). The course formally will not meet. RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATION DUE IN SIX WEEKS!	Previous Lecture Notes and assigned Readings	DOMICILIO	Wednesday, 02 March 2022 - MIDTERM EXAM DUE! Class will not meet formally in order to compensate for site visit of the Vatican on Friday, 12 February 2022. RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATION DUE IN SIX WEEKS!
WEEK 4 Saturday 12 February	Vatiland: “Top to Bottom”: MANDATORY Site Visit of the Rooms of Raffaello, the Sistine Chapel, the Basilica of, the Dome above, and the “Scavi” beneath St. Peter (Simon Peter’s tomb). Mandatory Site Visit of the Vatican: Meeting Point, Date, and Time: in front of the obelisk in St. Peter's Square on Saturday, 12 February at 08:00 AM SHARP! End Time at 05:00 PM (plus 1 hour round-trip travel time).	Previous Lecture Material and Assigned Readings	IN SITU	Saturday, 12 February 2022 at 08:00 AM SHARP! Meeting Point: in front of the obelisk in St. Peter's Square. No backpacks, rucksacks, bookbags, or long umbrellas. SACRED SITE DRESS CODE.
WEEK 15 Monday 02 through Friday 06 May 2022	Whether you study hard or hardly study, I sincerely wish you all the best!		DOMICILIO	Friday 06 May 2022
WEEK 11 Wednesday 06 April	Papal Posturing: “The Writing on the Wall”: From Reformation to Revolution (16th – 17th century CE). CounterReformation and Revolution: Pope Pius V, the Jesuits, and the Council of Trent; Copernicus and Galileo; Popes Urban VIII and Alexander VII; Bernini.	Previous Lecture Notes • Duffy, “Chapter 4.3-4.4” • Norwich, “Chapter 21”	IN AULA
WEEK 11 Monday 04 April	Papal Paralysis: “The Wall that Haunts”: Final Judgment "a fresco" (16th century CE). Protestant Reformation: Luther, Calvin, and Henry VIII; the Sack of Rome; Michelangelo and his wall that almost condemned him.	Previous Lecture Notes • Bokenkotter, “Chapters 19-21” • Norwich, “Chapter 20”	IN AULA
WEEK 10 Wednesday 30 March	Papal Presumption: “The Room that Taunts”: Papal propaganda "a fresco" (16th century CE). Papal Rinascimento III: Raffaello and his room that almost killed him.	Previous Lecture Notes • Duffy, “Chapter 4.2”	IN AULA
WEEK 10 Monday 28 March	Papal Prowess: “The Ceiling that Daunts”: “Catholic” catechesis "a fresco" (16th century CE). Papal Rinascimento II: Michelangelo and his ceiling that almost wasn’t.	Previous Lecture Notes • Norwich, “Chapters 17-19”	IN AULA
WEEK 9 Wednesday 16 March	Papal Power: “Forged in Fire and Gold”. Papal Rebirth of Rome (15th – 16th century CE). Papal Rinascimento I: Pope Sixtus IV and his Chapel; Savonarola, Pope Alexander VI, and a New World; Pope Julius II, a reluctant sculptor, and an ambitious architect.	Previous Lecture Notes • Duffy, “Chapter 4.1”	IN AULA
WEEK 9 Monday 14 March	Return of the King: “Living Sinners”. Rome’s Claim of the Papacy (15th century CE). Proto-Rinascimento & Proto-Reformation: The “Black Death”; Pope Martin V and the Council of Florence; Pope Eugene IV; John Wycliffe and Jan Hus; Slavery; Pope Nicholas V and the “Fall” of Constantinople.	Previous Lecture Notes • Bokenkotter, “Chapters 17-18” • Norwich, “Chapters 14-16”	IN AULA
WEEK 8 Wednesday 09 March	Retreat of the Papacy: “Living Saints”. The Papacy’s Claim of Rome. (13th – 14th century CE). Papal “Middle” Ages: Lateran Council IV and the Mendicant Orders; Second Council of Lyons; the “Unam Sanctam” and the first “Jubilee”; the “Avignon Papacy”, and the “Western Schism”.	Previous Lecture Notes • Duffy, “Chapter 3”	IN AULA
WEEK 8 Monday 07 March	The “Crusdaes”, the “indulgentia”, and the “buying and selling of indulgences”. Role of the Papacy: Pope Gregory VII vs. H.R.E. Henry IV and the “Dictatus Papae”; the “Magna Charta”. (11th-13th cent. CE)	Duffy, “Chapter 2” • Norwich, “Chapters 9-13”	IN AULA
WEEK 7 Monday 28 February	OUTLINE AND WORKSHEET ONE: to be completed “on your own time and at home”. Six weeks in addition to class time is afforded for the completion of this assignment (15% or course grade). The course formally will not meet. RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATION DUE IN SIX WEEKS!	Previous Lecture Notes and assigned Readings	DOMICILIO	Monday, 28 February 2022 – OUTLINE AND WORKSHEET ONE DUE! Class will not meet formally in order to compensate for site visit of the Vatican on Saturday, 12 February 2022. RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATION DUE IN SIX WEEKS!
WEEK 6 Wednesday 23 February	Papal Reboot of Civilization: “Deus lo vult”. Rome’s Reboot of Antiquity, for better and for worse (11th – 13th century CE). Roman “Middle” Ages: the “universitas”.	Previous Lecture Notes - Bokenkotter, “Chapters 14-16”	IN AULA
WEEK 6 Monday 21 February	Rise of the Papacy: “Charles in Charge…or so he thought”. The West’s consolidation and the East’s dissolution (8th – 11th century CE). And Then They Were “Two”: The “Barbarians” vs. the Merovingians and Carolingians; the birth of the “Holy Roman Empire” and the “Papal States”; monasticism and the “schola”; the “Great Schism” of 1054.	Previous Lecture Notes • Bokenkotter, “Chapters 10-13” • Duffy, “Chapter 2” • Norwich, “Chapters 4-8”.	IN AULA
WEEK 5 Wednesday 16 February	Rome’s “Fall” and “Metamorphosis”: “Who’s in Charge Here?!”. The East’s complacency and the West’s precarity (6th – 8th century CE). Roman & Papal “Dark” Ages: The Councils of Constantinople II, Constantinople III, and Nicaea II; the advent of Islam; the end of Arianism and Iconoclasm.	Previous Lecture Notes • Bokenkotter, “Chapters 7-9” • Norwich, “Chapters 2-3”	IN AULA
WEEK 5 Monday 14 February	Theodosian Shift: “Church-State Identification”: Will the real “Christ”, please, stand up? (4th – 5th century CE). Ancient Roman “Identity Politics”: The Councils of Constantinople I, Ephesus, and Chalcedon; Pope Leo’s “Tome”, the “Fall” of Rome, and a new P.M..	Previous Lecture Notes • Duffy, “Chapter 1.4”	IN AULA
WEEK 4 Wednesday 09 February	Constantine’s Conundrum: “If you can’t beat them, join them”: Roman policy shift regarding religion and the dawn of a different empire (4th century CE). Ancient Roman “New Deal”: Diocletian, Roman “Toleration”, a “Nova Roma”, the Council of Nicaea I, the “Collegium Pontificium”, and Julian “the Apostate”.	Previous Lecture Notes • Bokenkotter, “Chapters 4-6” • Duffy, “Chapter 1.3”	IN AULA
WEEK 4 Monday 07 February	Third Century Crisis Two: “Persecutions or Supplications”: Roman religious revival and its consequences for Christians…and the Empire (3rd century CE). Ancient Roman “Culture Clash”: The “lapsi”, “confessors and martyrs”, “ex comunio”, the “baptismal controversy”, and Pope Stephen I.	Previous Lecture Notes • Duffy, “Chapter 1.2”	IN AULA
WEEK 3 Wednesday 02 February	Third Century Crisis One: “Tertullian’s Turn and Cyprian’s Solution”: A new monotheism and the emergence of a state within a state (2nd – 3rd century CE). Ancient Roman “Architects”: Stoic "unitas", Tertullian’s "trinitas", and Cyprian’s "ecclesiae catholicae".	Previous Lecture Notes	IN AULA
WEEK 3 Monday 31 January	The Fifth Gospel: “Incarnation & Resurrection”: Religion’s Astrological and Astronomical origins, and humanity’s most examined human artifact. Othonia, Sudarion, and Sindon: did Jesus “of Nazareth” or Jesus “Christ” exist?	Previous Lecture Notes • Mt 27, 57-61; Jn 20,1-10 • Duffy, “Chapter 1.1” • Norwich, “Chapter 1”	IN AULA
WEEK 2 Wednesday 26 January	Peter: “the Rock”: The world’s second oldest, continuously surviving, and most important title and office (2nd century BCE – 1st century CE). Ancient “Roman” Jerusalem: Mosaic Law; the “Sanhedrin”; "Church", "Peter", and “Christ” in the Christian New Testament.	Previous Lecture Notes • 1 Cor 15, 1-14; Mt 16, 13-20; Mt 27, 57-61; Jn 20,1-10; Jn 20,30-31; Jn 21,24-25 • Bokenkotter, “Chapters 1-3”	IN AULA
WEEK 2 Monday 24 January	Pontifex Maximus: “Building Bridges”: The world’s oldest, continuously surviving, and most important title and office (8th century BCE – 1st century CE). Ancient “Eternal” Rome: from the Roman monarchy, through the Republican SPQR, to the Imperial Period; Roman Law and Religion.	Previous Lecture Notes • Bokenkotter, “Prefaces” and “Introduction” • Duffy, “Prefaces” • Norwich, “Illustrations”, “Maps”, and “Introduction”	IN AULA
WEEK 1 Wednesday 19 January	Critical Thinking: the “Process”: Thinking logically, analyzing rationally, and synthesizing critically. Hermeneutics: Methodologies for studying objects of inquiry: philology, epistemology, metaphysics, history, and culture.	Syllabus and Previous Lecture Material	IN AULA
WEEK 1 Monday 17 January	Introduction One: the “Course”: Who, When, and Where? Overview: Course prospectus, syllabus, schedule and expectations; Who are “We”? Why study “Religion”, the “Popes”, “History”, or the “Catholic Church”? Introduction Two: the “Journey”: How, What, and Why? Semiotics and Paradigms: How do human societies form? How do basic needs and wants take on religious symbolism, significance, and systems?	Syllabus	IN AULA