SUBJECT DESCRIPTION

This subject is an overview of the history of the church over the five centuries from the Reformation to the present. As the continental Reformations were dealt with in Church History Survey A, this subject begins with the English Reformation and the Catholic Reformation. Please note

• this is a survey course, and you are expected to cover the whole syllabus. You will do this by reading methodically through J Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity vol 2 The Reformation to the Present Day (New York: HarperCollins, 1985) using the reading log program as a guide. (note that no attempt has been made to co-ordinate the set readings for each lesson).
• the lessons are ‘soundings’ or snapshots of key events or themes; they are representative not exhaustive
• the extra readings in the text will introduce you to primary and secondary material. Take the time to read them; they will add to your comprehension
• if possible you are encouraged to study/discuss with others. If there is no one studying this subject near you, why not ask a few friends if you can explain/share what you are studying each week.

Assessment procedures shall allow for a certain amount of generalisation, so that candidates are not expected to study each general topic in detail.

SUBJECT CONTENT

The lessons covered are (inluded are lesson number, topic, and reading log reference)

1. the catholic reformation 6-38
2. the English reformation: a different kind of reformation 38-70
3. puritanism in England and America 70-102
4. pietism & the Moravians 102-134
5. challenges to faith 135-163
6. forms of renewal 1 164-195
7. forms of renewal 2 196-230
8. the 19th century American experience 238-273
9. the church and politics in Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and America 274-302
10. the ecumenical movement 303-337
11. the Roman Catholic church in the 19th and 20th centuries 338-371
12. the beginnings of Christianity in Australia 372-397

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the subject, students should have:

• an awareness of the major developments in the history of the Christian churches over the last five centuries;
• been introduced to selected topics in the life and thought of the Christian churches, and come to appreciate the problems, opportunities and attitudes of past Christians in their interaction with the societies in which they lived;
• become aware of the many faceted, rich and complex tapestry that is the church, and developed a critical appreciation of your own and other traditions
• a basic grasp of historiographical method, and research skills, and been encouraged to use primary documents and begun more specialised study of particular movements, issues and periods.
  

ASSESSMENT

There are three instruments of assessment:

1. Lesson reports (10%)
2. Essay of 2000-2500 words (30%). The essay allows the student to cover a topic not covered in the lessons and to develop research skills.
3. Examination of 2 hours (60%)
   

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Textbooks :

The only required textbook is J. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity Vol. 2: The Reformation to the Present Day (New York Harper and Collins, 1985).

All Students are required to read diligently and systematically through Gonzalez to obtain a good overview of the syllabus. Dowley (see below) is also very useful at the beginning level.

Highly recommended

1. Certain editions of the journal Christian History. Students will find this journal very user-friendly.
2. H Bettenson ed, Documents of the Christian Church (Oxford: Oxford Univ Press, 1963)
3. T Dowley ed, The History of Christianity {A Lion Handbook} (Oxford: Lion, 1990)
4. K S Latourette, A History of Christianity vol II Reformation to the Present (New York: HarperCollins, 1975)
5. M Noll, Turning Points. Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997)