This course is a basic introduction to the three classical divisions of Christianity:: Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant The methods used will be: 1) Historical-Examining the major events, figures, issues and movements that have shaped the history of the religion and its development. 2) Phenomenological- Focusing upon the beliefs, rituals and practices in the variety of Christian traditions. A primary goal will be to attempt to understand each tradition from the point of view of those who are a part of that expression of Christianity. What is their world view? How do they understand their religion? What issues do they consider important to their interpretation of Chrstianity? A special emphasis will be placed upon popular/folk movements in the Christian religion. The course will begin with a historical review of the early history of Christianity from the beginnings into the Middle Ages. At this point an attempt will be made to combine history and phenomenology by exploring the different modern divisions and movements of Christianity as they developed in their historical setting from the split between East and West, through the diverse paths of the Reformation up to the end of the 20th Century. Finally, we’ll take a brief look at some new and non-traditional forms of the Christian religion

The course will utilize a combination of discussions, lectures, films, special speakers, and field trips to observe different styles of Christian ritual/worship. A special feature will be the exploration of some of the exciting resources available on the Internet and the World Wide Web for the study of various aspects of Christianity! Students will also have the opportunity to participate in online class discussions by email No previous experience with the Internet or computers is assumed. All programs are extremely simple and easy to use and can be accessed in the library or in the numerous computer labs across campus. The instructor will hold a special session during class to teach everyone how to use these resources.