this syllabus is tentative and the professor reserves the right to ...

THIS SYLLABUS IS TENTATIVE AND THE PROFESSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO
CHANGE ANY PART OF THE SYLLABUS UNTIL THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS
Survey of Church History
TS5101
Providence Theological Seminary
Fall 2010
Instructor: Patricia Janzen Loewen, Ph.D. (UBC)
Office: 2H36
Office Hours: TBA
Email: patricia.janzenloewen@prov.ca
Class Meets: TBA
Course Description:
This course is intended to give students an overview of the important highlights in the history of
the church from the second century to the present. In particular, this course will emphasize key
events in which the development of the church can be traced. What was the attraction of
Christianity in each of the eras? The content of the course is intended to be rigorous yet with the
hope of increasing a life-long interest in learning about church history. It is hoped that students
will come to appreciate the rich heritage of faith that is theirs and that this inheritance may be a
resource for them in the present. The emphasis of the course will not be on the development of
theology in the history of the church but on people (both individuals and people groups) and
events of importance.
Course Objectives:
Students who take this course should be able to identify a chronology of significant turning
points in the history of the Church. They should be able to read, summarize and report on
important documents, both primary and secondary, in the history of the church. Students are
expected to participate fully in the class in both their required readings and in the class
discussions.
Required Texts: (arranged in order of due dates)
Stark, Rodney. The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became
the Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries.
HarperSanFrancisco, 1997.
The Age of Bede. Translated by J. F. Webb and D. H. Farmer. Penguin, 1965.
Endo, Shusaku. Silence. Translated by William Johnston. Taplinger Publishing, 1996.
Noll, Mark. American Evangelical Christianity: An Introduction. Blackwell Publishers, 2001.

Required Readings: (All these readings will be available in Providence library—some will be
available on reserve and may be photocopied and others will be available in the library’s bound
periodicals or available for purchase in the bookstore).
Discussion Paper 1
The Passion of the Holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas
AND
The Martyrdom of Polycarp
Discussion Paper 2
“Francis of Assisi,” Christian History, Issue 42, pg 8-42.
Discussion Paper 3
“African Apostles,” Christian History, Issue 79, pg. 10-44.
Discussion Paper 4
Philip Jenkins, “The Next Christianity,” Atlantic Monthly (October 2002).
Recommended Text:
Harrington, Joel. A Cloud of Witnesses: Readings in the History of Western Christianity.
Houghton Mifflin, 2001.
Assignments:
Book Reviews 4 x 15% each = 60% of total grade DUE: TBA
Students will write four book reviews, one on each of the books by Stark, Cahill, Endo and Noll
(as listed in the section above). Further instructions are appended to this syllabus.
Discussion Papers 4 x 10% each = 40% of total grade DUE: TBA
Students will submit four discussion papers, one on each of the discussion papers listed above.
Students will be given a list of two or three questions to which they must write and submit a
discussion paper. Class time will be set aside for group discussion of the assigned readings. The
discussion papers are intended to introduce the student to additional readings of interest and
prepare the student for in-class discussion on those readings. Discussion papers must be
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submitted at the beginning of class on the due date and answer the assigned discussion
questions. The discussion questions for each of the discussion papers will accompany the
syllabus given in the first class. All assignments must be handed in as hard copies—no electronic
submissions will be accepted. Please bring hard copies of the assigned reading to the class on
the day that the reading reports are due.
Grading Scale:
Course Policies:
1. Class Attendance Policy
Perfect attendance is expected of all students. This class has been designed to be highly
interactive and every student’s participation is essential. If you cannot be in class, you should
inform the professor before class of your anticipated absence (if possible). Attendance will be
recorded for every class. Students who miss more than the equivalent of 5 individual class
slots will automatically fail the course.
2. Late Assignment Policies
Discussion Papers
All discussion papers are due at the beginning of class on the designated due date. Any student
who has not handed in his or her discussion paper at the beginning of class will receive a zero for
that assignment. There will be no exemption from penalty except in extreme circumstances.
Book Reviews
Book reviews submitted after the due date will be penalized one letter grade increment per day—
including Saturdays and Sundays. For example, if the assignment is due on a Tuesday and is
submitted Wednesday the grade will drop one letter increment—for example from a “B+” to a
“B.” If handed in on Thursday the mark for that assignment would drop two gradations—for
example, from a “B+” to a “B-.” And so forth.
All students wishing to apply for exemption from the penalties given to late assignments must
fill in and staple a hard copy of the “Late Assignment Submission Form” (as attached to this
syllabus) to the assignment. Assignments handed in after the deadline which do not have this
form attached will not be considered for exemption from penalty.
I will not personally accept any late assignments. All late submissions must be handed in to the
front office where they will be date-stamped and put into my mailbox by a staff member. This
means that an assignment must be handed in before the close of the front office to be considered
handed in on that day.
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3. Plagiarism
Full text to the academic policies, procedures and regulations of Providence College can be
found online in the Student Handbook
(http://www.providencecollege.ca/college/student_life/) and the College Academic Calendar
(http://www.providencecollege.ca/college/programs/registrars_office/calendar/).
4. Information and Communication Technologies in the Classroom
Student use of information and communication technologies for purposes other than class notetaking
is not allowed in the classroom, as students are expected to give their total attention to
class activities. Use of cell-phones or iPods is never appropriate in the classroom, and use of
laptop computers to play games, chat with others, browse the internet, or engage material not
related to the class is always distracting to classmates and disrespectful to the instructor. Unlike
some other post-secondary institutions, Providence has not yet found it necessary to ban laptops
from the classroom, or prevent wireless internet access in classrooms. Only judicious use of them
will keep it that way.
Course Schedule:
(This schedule is from Fall 2010—given as a sample)
Sept. 10
Sept. 14
Sept. 17
Sept. 21
Sept. 24
Sept. 28
Oct. 1
Oct. 5
Oct. 19
Oct. 22
Oct. 26
Oct. 29
Syllabus and Introductions
The Early Church—The Context of the Roman Empire
The Early Church—The Experience of Martyrdom
DUE: Discussion Paper—Polycarp and Perpetua
Constantine and the Great Reversal of the Fourth Century
DUE: Book Review—The Rise of Christianity by Stark
Early Middle Ages
Middle Ages
DUE: Book Review—How the Irish Saved Civilization by Cahill
Middle Ages
Eastern Orthodoxy
Late Middle Ages
DUE: Discussion Paper—Francis of Assisi
Reformation—Luther and Calvin
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Nov. 2
Nov. 5
Nov. 9
Nov. 12
Reformation—Zwingli and Anabaptists
Reformation—England and France
Reformation—Catholic
DUE: Book Review—Silence by Endo
Nov. 23 Christianity 1600-1800
Nov. 26 Christianity 1600-1800
Nov. 30
Dec. 3
Dec. 7
Dec. 10
Dec. 14
Dec. 17
Christianity 1800-1900 as Global Mission
DUE: Discussion Paper—African Apostles
Christianity 1800-1900 as Social Reform
Christianity 1900-2000 in America
DUE: Book Review—The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Noll
Christianity 1900-2000 in Europe
Christianity 1900-2000 in a Global Context
DUE: Discussion Paper—“The Next Christianity” by Jenkins
NOTE: The course schedule is subject to change
Bibliography:
Balling, Jakob. The Story of Christianity from Birth to Global Presence. Grand Rapids, MI:
William B. Eerdmans, 2003.
Bradley, James E and Richard A. Muller. Church History: An Introduction to Research,
Reference Works, and Methods. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1995.
Bynum, Caroline Walker. Holy Feast, Holy Fast: The Religious Significance of Food to
Medieval Women. Berkeley, CA: University of California, 1987.
Chadwick, Henry. The Early Church. New York: Penguin, 1990.
Chadwick, Owen. The Reformation. New York: Penguin, 1990.
Clark, Gillian. Christianity and Roman Society. Cambridge: Cambridge University, 2004.
Cragg, Gerald. The Age of Reason, 1648-1989. New York: Penguin, 1990.
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Dowley, Tim, ed. Introduction to the History of Christianity. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress,
1995.
González, Justo L. The Story of Christianity: The Early Church to the Dawn of the
Reformation. Vol. 1. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 1984.
________. The Story of Christianity: The Reformation to the Present Day. Vol. 2.
New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 1985.
Hastings, Adrian, ed. A World History of Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: William B.
Eerdmans, 2000.
Neill, Stephen. A History of Christian Mission. New York: Penguin, 1990.
Noll, Mark A. A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada. Grand Rapids, MI:
William B. Eerdmans, 1992.
Noll, Mark A. Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity. Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1997.
Peterson, R. Dean. A Concise History of Christianity. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1999.
Southern, R. W. The Middle Ages. New York: Penguin, 1990.
Vidler, Alec R. The Church in an Age of Revolution. New York: Penguin, 1990.
Wilken, Robert Louis. The Spirit of Early Christian Thought: Seeking the Face of God. New
Haven, CT: Yale University, 2003.
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Book Report --Evaluation
(This evaluation sheet will be used as the grade guide for all the book reports except Silence)
Student’s Name_________________________________________________
Note: Circled check mark means “excellent”; check mark means “good”; horizontal line means
“something was done”; blank means “nothing evident” or “not applicable.”
I.______ Explanation of title attempted
_____ Clear statement of subject and related to title
_____ Clear statement of purpose and related to title
_____ Clear statement of thesis and related to title
II._____ Discussion of argument/structure
_____ Adequate discussion of each section
_____ Clear outline of report
_____ Structure of book clearly shown
_____ Discussion problematic in the following:________________________
_______________________________________________________________
III.____ Evaluation attempted
_____ Unusually insightful and thorough evaluation
_____ Thoughtful, substantial reflection evident
_____ Some worthy thought, but too brief or otherwise flawed______________
_____ Does not show careful thought
IV.____ Personal impressions given
_____ Positive personal reflections
_____ Negative personal reflections
V._____ Writing
_____ Excellently written
_____ Clearly written for the most part
_____ Serious problems with organization, flow of argument, etc.
_____ Serious problems with grammar, spelling, etc.
VI.____ Other Requirements
_____ Correct word length
_____ Too short
_____ Too long
_____ Generally follows correct style
_____ Several problems with style
_____ Major departures from style
_____ Generally unacceptable presentation
VII._____ Miscellaneous
_____ Type is hard to read
_____ Pages not numbered
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Book Report—Content
The objectives of the book report are first to allow students an opportunity to engage serious
reading from the history of Christianity. Second, the book report provides students an opportunity to
demonstrate their ability to summarize and synthesize a text and express that process in precise writing.
Requirements:
1. Word Count
Reports must be between 2000-2500 words. Submissions which are too long or too short will be
penalized.
2. Style Guide
Reports must conform to a standard style guide (such as Chicago Manual of Style/Turabian). If
you are unsure about your choice of style guide, please consult me.
3. Content—Reports must respond to the following:
4. Title Page
Explain the title—in terms of the subject, purpose and thesis of the work
Set out the basic structure of the book—show how the parts of the work fit together
into a whole. This part should take about 30-40% of the report.
Evaluate the book—how well do you think the author achieved his goals? This part
should take about 20-30% of the report.
Impressions—what are two things that impressed you positively? What are two things
that impressed you negatively? Your impressions should be personal and specific.
You should use the first person when you write this section.
All assignments must have a title page which includes the name of the assignment, date, the
student’s name, box number, and student number, the professor’s name and name of the course.
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Book Report –Evaluation of Silence
Student’s Name_________________________________________________
Note: Circled check mark means “excellent”; check mark means “good”; horizontal line means
“something was done”; blank means “nothing evident” or “not applicable.”
I._____ Summary of Book (What happens? Can you sketch the story of the book?)
_____ Adequate discussion of each section
_____ Clear outline of book
_____ Discussion problematic in the following way:__________________________
_______________________________________________________________
II._____ Identify Themes
______ Identification of important themes
______ Explanation of theme development
III.____ Evaluation attempted
_____ Unusually insightful and thorough evaluation
_____ Thoughtful, substantial reflection evident
_____ Some worthy thought, but too brief or otherwise flawed______________
_____ Does not show careful thought
IV.____ Personal impressions given
_____ Positive personal reflections
_____ Negative personal reflections
V._____ Writing
_____ Excellently written
_____ Clearly written for the most part
_____ Serious problems with organization, flow of argument, etc.
_____ Serious problems with grammar, spelling, etc.
VI.____ Other Requirements
_____ Correct word length
_____ Too short
_____ Too long
_____ Generally follows correct style
_____ Several problems with style
_____ Major departures from style
_____ Generally unacceptable presentation
VII._____ Miscellaneous
_____ Type is hard to read
_____ Pages not numbered
9

Book Report—Content of Silence
The objectives of the book report are first to allow students an opportunity to engage serious
reading from the history of Christianity. Second, the book report provides students an opportunity to
demonstrate their ability to summarize and synthesize a text and express that process in precise writing.
Requirements:
1. Word Count
Reports must be between 2000-2500 words. Submissions which are too long or too short will be
penalized.
2. Style Guide
Reports must conform to a standard style guide (such as Chicago Manual of Style/Turabian). If
you are unsure about your choice of style guide, please consult me.
3. Content—Reports must respond to the following:
4. Title Page
Set out the basic structure of the book—show how the parts of the work fit together
into a whole. This part should take about 30-40% of the report.
Identify Themes—identify the most important themes to emerge in the story and explain
how these themes are developed. This should be about 20-30% of the report.
Evaluate the book—how well do you think the author achieved his goals? This part
should take about 10-20% of the report.
Impressions—what are two things that impressed you positively? What are two things
that impressed you negatively? Your impressions should be personal and specific.
You should use the first person when you write this section.
All assignments must have a title page which includes the name of the assignment, date, the student’s
name, box number, and student number, the professor’s name and name of the course.
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Discussion Questions for Polycarp and Perpetua
1. Provide a brief summary of these two accounts of martyrdom. What particularly impressed
you about these accounts?
2. Speculate as to why the Christian community would think that the actions of the martyrs were
not only acceptable but good?
3. What do you think someone watching these martyrs would have thought? In your opinion, in
what ways were these martyrs effective (or perhaps ineffective) witnesses to their faith?
Discussion papers must adhere to the following style:
Typed
Double-spaced
Single-sided
1-inch margins on all sides
12-point font
Pages numbered
Fastened with a staple or paper clip
Use full sentences and paragraphs (no point-form allowed)
Have a title page (including student’s name, student number, box number, date, course
name and assignment name)
Discussion papers must be between 750-1000 words. Papers which are shorter or longer than
this word count will be penalized.
NOTE: Full citation of the text is not required, however you must put the page number(s) of any
material quoted from the reading in brackets at the end of the quote.
11

Discussion Questions for St. Francis of Assisi
1. After reading these various articles, summarize the life of St. Francis. Also summarize the
character of St. Francis. Do you think you would have liked him?
2. Compare the monasticism of St. Francis with monasticism that came before it—such as the
early desert monks and the Benedictine monks. What is the same and what is different? Why
would St. Francis and his kind of monasticism been attractive in the Late Middle Ages?
3. What, if anything, can be learned from the life and piety of St. Francis in today’s church?
Discussion papers must adhere to the following style:
Typed
Double-spaced
Single-sided
1-inch margins on all sides
12-point font
Pages numbered
Fastened with a staple or paper clip
Use full sentences and paragraphs (no point-form allowed)
Have a title page (including student’s name, student number, box number, date, course
name and assignment name)
Discussion papers must be between 750-1000 words. Papers which are shorter or longer than
this word count will be penalized.
NOTE: Full citation of the text is not required, however you must put the page number(s) of any
material quoted from the reading in brackets at the end of the quote.
12

Discussion Questions for African Apostles
1. Briefly summarize the life and work of the various individuals discussed in these pages.
2. How is the history of Christianity in Africa of this era like what we have learned so far? How
is it different?
3. What about Christianity was attractive in the African context at this time?
Discussion papers must adhere to the following style:
Typed
Double-spaced
Single-sided
1-inch margins on all sides
12-point font
Pages numbered
Fastened with a staple or paper clip
Use full sentences and paragraphs (no point-form allowed)
Have a title page (including student’s name, student number, box number, date, course
name and assignment name)
Discussion papers must be between 750-1000 words. Papers which are shorter or longer than
this word count will be penalized.
NOTE: Full citation of the text is not required, however you must put the page number(s) of any
material quoted from the reading in brackets at the end of the quote.
13

Discussion Questions for “The Next Christianity” by Jenkins
1. Briefly summarize Jenkins’s article. Do you agree or disagree with his basic thesis? Why or
why not?
2. What is attractive about Christianity in the twenty-first century?
3. Speculate about the future. What will Christianity look like in a century? How will it be the
same as or different from Christianity at present? What is the greatest challenge that twentyfirst-century
Christians must address?
Discussion papers must adhere to the following style:
Typed
Double-spaced
Single-sided
1-inch margins on all sides
12-point font
Pages numbered
Fastened with a staple or paper clip
Use full sentences and paragraphs (no point-form allowed)
Have a title page (including student’s name, student number, box number, date, course
name and assignment name)
Discussion papers must be between 750-1000 words. Papers which are shorter or longer than
this word count will be penalized.
NOTE: Full citation of the text is not required, however you must put the page number(s) of any
material quoted from the reading in brackets at the end of the quote.
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Student Information
Late Assignment Submission Form
Providence College
Name: _________________________________________________________
Student number: _________________________________________________
Course Number: _________________________________________________
Course Title: ____________________________________________________
Instructor: ______________________________________________________
Assignment information
Title of Assignment: _____________________________________________
Assignment Due Date: ___________________________________________
Assignment Submission Date: _____________________________________
Reason for Lateness: Please provide an explanation for the lateness of the assignment.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
N.B. Please provide all relevant documentation (e.g. Doctor’s note)
Student’s Signature: ____________________________________
Instructors Use Only
Date Assignment Received: ___________________
Late Penalty Waived / Assessed
Late Penalty: _______%
Faculty Signature: ___________________________
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