Universität Wien

020022 VO-L Lecture on the History of the Ancient Church (Patristics) or Early Middle Ages (2022S)

"Mission" und Ausbreitung des Christentums in den ersten drei Jahrhunderten

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 2 - Evangelische Theologie

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: German

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

The course takes place on-site in a face-to-face setting!

  • Wednesday 09.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 16.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 23.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 30.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 06.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 27.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 04.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 11.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 18.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 25.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 01.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 08.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 15.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 22.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG
  • Wednesday 29.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 1 Schenkenstraße 8-10 5.OG

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The so-called "mission and spread" of early Christianity in the Roman Empire was an exciting and complex process, at the end of which the Roman Empire had become Christian.
Since Adolf von Harnack's book "Mission und Ausbreitung des Christentums in den ersten drei Jahrhunderten" (4th enlarged edition, Berlin 1924), which has now become a standard work, the circumstances of the spread of early Christianity in the Roman Empire have been discussed again and again. More recent and provocative models that seek to explain the successful spread of Christianity come primarily from social history.
Other processes and events are connected with this Christianization of the Roman Empire:
When and how is a separation of Christianity from Judaism apparent?
What was the impact of persecutions (and revered martyrs) on Christianity?
What impression did non-Christians have of Christianity?
By what means was Christianity able to spread at all?
Were Christians characterized by an attractive social commitment?
What role did women have in this process?
Why was Christendom ultimately successful despite the situation of persecution?

In the module, selected source texts (Greek and Latin, with translation) on the individual questions will be discussed together. Short presentations on recent essays on these topics will extend and enrich the discussion.

The aim of the lecture together with the exercise is the knowledge of the subject matter as well as the methodical ability to deal with ancient sources and secondary literature: Students will learn about the history of Christianity through a significant issue. They gain experience in reading original source texts and learn in-depth scientific work in the subject of church history. They practice controversial discussion of central theological statements.

Assessment and permitted materials

The evaluation is based on the assessment of participation (30%), the presentation of a research question (30%) and the writing of a seminar paper (40%).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The lecture is assessed with 3 ECTS (1 ECTS = 25 h working time):
Attending the lecture (about 14 units of 1.5 h) results in (just under) 1 ECTS. Accompanying reading assignments are given (per unit/topic both source texts and secondary literature [about an essay of 10-20 p.)], which serve to deepen and secure what has been heard (about 1-2 h = 1 ECTS).
In the accompanying exercise 020021-1 (2 ECTS) this is analyzed and discussed together (1 ECTS).
The student's own seminar paper will deepen the acquired knowledge by means of a self-selected topic (2 ECTS).

Examination topics

Reading list

Adolf von Harnack, Mission und Ausbreitung des Christentums in den ersten drei Jahrhunderten, 4. vermehrte Auflage, Berlin 1924; R.L. Wilken, Die frühen Christen – wie die Römer sie sahen, Graz 1986; R. Stark, Der Aufstieg des Christentums: neue Erkenntnisse aus soziologischer Sicht, aus dem Amerikan. von W. F. Müller, Neue wissenschaftliche Bibliothek, Weinheim 1997; A. Jensen, Gottes selbstbewußte Töchter. Frauenemanzipation im frühen Christentum?, Freiburg – Basel – Wien 1992, 2. aktualisierte Aufl. Münster 2003; W. Löhr, Die Ausbreitung des antiken Christentums als historiographisches Projekt – Vorschläge, Probleme, Perspektiven, Zeitschrift für Neues Testament 15, 2005, 22-34; A. Fürst, Christentum als Intellektuellen-Religion. Die Anfänge des Christentums in Alexandria, Stuttgarter Bibelstudien 213, Stuttgart 2007; H.A. Drake, Models of Christian Expansion, in: The Spread of Christianity in the First Forur Centuries. Essays in Explanation, hg.v. W.V. Harries, Leiden / Boston 2005, 1-13.

Association in the course directory

[MW]KG-Patr

Last modified: Tu 11.10.2022 17:48