010067 VO Introducing Christianity (2023W)

The various forms of Christianity together make up the religion with the largest number of members in the world. The Christian religion looks back on a 2000-year history, in which the retention of traditions on the one hand is contrasted with both the adaptation of the older churches and many new foundations and religious communities arising from reform movements on the other. The lecture gives a first introduction to this diversity: What are the basic beliefs, rites and ethical norms that the different Christianities have in common? What distinguishes the individual churches, denominations and denominations from one another? The cultural and religious situation of the developing Christianity in late antiquity is taken as a starting point and individual significant periods (ecumenical councils, medieval church, Reformation) are presented in their main features. Exemplary the life and work of some formative figures in the history of Christianity is presented. Special emphasis is placed on denominational studies.
A detailed outline for each section will be given out in lecture (on the e-learning platform).
Topics:
1. introduction; Bible 1: canon formation, differences of the canon in Judaism, Catholicism and Protestantism.
2. bible 2: gospels: origin, structure, content
Bible 3: Jesus in the Bible and extra-biblical. Paul's letters, consensually believed to be genuine: content, main theological themes.
Christianity in the 2nd and 3rd centuries: confrontation of early Christianity with Hellenistic philosophy and Gnostic systems; doctrinal development, formation of ministry structures; persecution, martyrs, emerging veneration of saints.
5. the "Constantinian turn"; state religion, doctrinal decisions of the 7 ecumenical councils
6. further developments in the Western and Eastern Churches in the 5th to 8th century; emergence of the ancient Oriental churches
7th Middle Ages in the Western Church I: Investiture Controversy, Crusades, Cathedral Schools, Scholasticism
8th Middle Ages in the Western Church II: Deviant religious groups (Cathars, Waldensians), founding of religious orders (Dominicans, Franciscans), crisis of the papacy at the end of the Middle Ages
9 Reformation I: precursors (Wycliff, Hus); motives; reformers (short portraits): Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin; development of the doctrine of the sacraments, Reformation criticism of it. Decisions of the Council of Trent.
Reformation II: Anabaptism; emergence of Anglicanism and further denominational fanning out (Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Quakers, Methodists).
11. Christian churches that emerged in the USA: Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Pentecostal churches.
12. doctrinal development in the Catholic Church until the 20th century (Vatican II)
13. monasticism and religious orders: short historical overview
14. rituals: Christian festivals during the year
Frontal lecture supported by power point presentations.
Hybrid format: lectures are available as audio files on Moodle. Face-to-face sessions are used for discussion and answering questions.
Presentations and other materials will be made available on the e-learning platform as the lecture progresses. Key lexicons and resources for the study of Christianity will also be presented.