RELS 133: COURSE OUTLINE AND READING:

Note: Materials listed under “Exploring the Web” ar optional. All other readings listed are required

EARLY CHRISTIANITY

January 18
Introduction to the Course;
The Historical Setting

Exploring the Web

Exploring Ancient World Cultures: Near East, Greece, Rome
Scrolls from the Dead Sea”-Library of Congress Exhibit

January 25
The Historical Jesus, Paul and Christianity in the First Century;
Using the Web and Email: A Brief Introduction

Kee 44-93
The New Testament: Matthew chapter 3-7 ; Mark 14-16 ; Acts 15 ; Romans 4 ; 1 Thessalonians 4-5
Note: Biblical texts can be read in any modern translation of Bible...or...just click on the chapter and read them online!

February 1
First Century Christianity-Continued

Kee 93-128; Ware 11-42
Web: Gospel of Thomas

Exploring the Web

The Ecole Project (Online Encyclopedia of Early Christianity and a Large Collection of Early Christian Texts)
The “Non-Canonical” Home Page (Early Jewish and Christian Texts)
"Non-Canonical" Home Page: Gospels
Gospel of Thomas Home Page

February 8
Early Issues and Controversies (2nd-6th centuries)

Kee 128-202
Web: Nicene Creed , Definition of Chalcedon , Creed of Athanasius

Exploring the Web

The Didache (An example of early Christian ritual and instruction)
Jim O’Donnell’s Augustine Home Page

CHRISTIANITY IN THE MIDDLE AGES

February 15
Monasticism, Philosophy and Popular Religion in Medieval Christianity

Kee 207-282

Exploring the Web

Exploring Ancient World Cultures: Medieval Europe
Renaissance Dante in Print (1472-1629)
Renaissance Dante in Print: Dante’s Hell
Exploring Ancient World Cultures: Islam

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY

February 22
Catholicisms: Orthodox and Roman

Ware 43-72, 195-238

Exploring the Web

Byzantine Studies on the Internet
Orthodox Icons
The Orthodox Christian Page in America
Mt. Athos

Febraury 29
Orthodox Christianity-Beliefs, Ritual, Practice

Ware 239-306

PROTESTANT CHRISTIANITY

March 7
First Half of Class: Mid-Term Exam
Second Half of Class: Reformations: Lutheran

Kee 282-329
Web: Luther’s Tower Experience

Exploring the Web

Project Wittenburg
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Home Page

March 14
Spring Break!-No Class.

March 21
Reformations: Anglican, Calvinist, Anabaptist, Catholic

Kee 330-416

Exploring the Web

The Calvinism Page
The Menno Page
Documents of the Council of Trent
Anglicans Online
Presbyterian Church USA
United Church of Christ
The Bruderhoff Communities
Mennolink

March 28
Varieties of Protestant Christianity

Kee 602-688

Exploring the Web

The John Wesley Page
Wesley Information Page
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Christian and Missionary alliance
Church of the Nazarene Beliefs
United Methodist Church Home Page(Official Site)
United Methodist Online (Unofficial Page)
The Quaker Corner
Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) Page
SDA Net (Seventh Day Adventist)

April 4
Fundamentalists, Evangelicals, Pentecostals and Charismatics

Kee 688-754

Exploring the Web

Baptist Bible Fellowship International ( Example of a Fundamentalist Group)
Baptist Faith and Message (Southern Baptist)
The Assemblies of God
Association of Vineyard Churches
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel(Official Page)
Foursquare Gospel (Includes Short Bio. of Amy Semple Mcpherson)
International Pentecostal Holiness Church
Margaret M. Poloma (University of Akron), "Charisma and Institutions: A Sociological Account of the `Toronto Blessing'
Toronto Airport Vineyard (Site of the Recent “Toronto Blessing” Movement)
D.C. Talk

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY

April 11
Roman Catholic Thought and Practice

To Prepare for this Class Explore the Following Web Sites:

The Vatican Web Page ; Vatican City (Photographs) ; Christus Rex
Catholic Information Center on the Net ; Catholic Resources on the Net
The Baltimore Catechism

April 18
Issues, Movements and Themes in Modern Roman Catholicism

Ware 307-327

Issues:
Web: Apostolic Letter on Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men
National Coalition of American Nuns on Women’s Ordination
Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life-Encyclical Letter from March 25, 1995)
On the Pastoral Care of Gay Persons
Humanae Vitae (On the Regulation of Birth)

Exploring the Web

Radical Catholic Page
Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church

Popular Movements: Devotion to Mary
To prepare for this section of the class explore the following Web sites:
Apparitions of Jesus and Mary ; Medjugorje ; Conyers, GA
Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje
Pictures of the Medjugorje Visionaries

EXAMPLES OF NEW, “NON-TRADITIONAL” OR SYNCRETISTIC FORMS OF CHRISTIANITY

April 25
Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Santeria

Kee 757-764

Exploring the Web

MormonNet
Space Mormons: An Internet Guide
Jehovah's’ Witnesses Links at Yahoo.Com
Santeria
Orisha Net (Santeria)

May 2
Final Exam

Last Modified April 25, 1996
Kenneth J. Banner
kbanner@ccat.sas.upenn.edu