Universität Wien

010057 SE Monks, Monasteries and Orders. Religious life in the medieval and early modern periods (2023W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 1 - Theologien und Religionswiss.
Continuous assessment of course work
ON-SITE
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 02.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 09.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 16.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 23.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 30.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 06.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 13.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 20.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 27.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 04.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 11.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 08.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 15.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 22.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG
  • Monday 29.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 1 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The emergence of monasticism in Christianity arose from the desire for uncompromising asceticism in following Christ and a strict realization of the Gospel understood as a rule of life. Over the centuries such vita religiosa found different forms and expressions, as individual charismatics interpreted traditional monasticism in new ways and as religious communities were confronted with specific expectations on the part of the Christian society and the church. The seminar will examine, the most important forms of monastic life in the Latin Church in the Middle Ages and the early modern period as well as their integration into the respective ecclesiologies and the life of the church. The study of basic monastic texts (regulae, constitutiones) shall introduce the students to the respective spiritual ideal of the orders as well as to the social forms and the (self-)organization of these communities. Students will learn the most important religious orders in their theological self-understanding as well as their constitutions. Finally, the participants shall understand from a historical perspective the significance of religious orders for an ever-renewing Church.
In terms of method, the seminar will primarily analyze and discuss source texts. Additionally, students will be introduced to current research on the history of religious orders and monasticism. The participants have to prepare short introductory presentations for individual topics.

Assessment and permitted materials

Active and informed participation based on text assignments; one short presentation; final research paper.
Written component: research paper (ca. 30.000 characters, or 12-15 pages, font 12 pt Times New Roman or equivalent; incl. bibliography)
By enrolling in this course, participants agree that their papers will be checked against plagiarism.
To ensure good academic practice, the professor may require an oral reflection on the submitted seminar paper, which has to be passed successfully.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Regular class attendance; three absences will result in a failed grade.
Active participation in discussions and text interpretations (20%);
one short presentation (20%);
research paper (60%)

Examination topics

For the seminar paper and the presentations students must be familiar with the content of the most recent handbook and survey literature as provided in the literature list. For the paper, students are expected to search for additional literature pertinent to the topic of the seminar paper.

Reading list

Karl Suso Frank, Geschichte des christlichen Mönchtums, Darmstadt 62010.

Mönchtum, Orden, Klöster. Von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart. Ein Lexikon, hrsg. v. Georg Schwaiger, München 1993.

The Cambridge History of Medieval Monasticism in the Latin West, ed. by Alison I. Beach and Isabelle Cochelin, Cambridge: University Press, 2020 (online re
source)

Gert Melville, Die Welt der mittelalterlichen Klöster. Geschichte und Lebensformen, München 2012.

Richard DeMolen, Religious Orders of the Catholic Reformation, New York: Fordham University Press, 1994 (also available as online resource)

Association in the course directory

für 011 (15W) FTH 17 oder FTH 26, 198 418 BA UF RK 16, 199 518 MA UF RK 02 oder RK 05, 033 195 (17W) BRP 18krp, BRP 12ktb oder 18ktb

Last modified: Sa 01.03.2025 00:07