Introduction to Church History

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Overview

Instructor: TBD
Course Code: ICH 101
Semester: Spring 2025

Course Introduction:

Welcome to “Introduction to Church History: Tradition, Reform, and the Future of the People of God”! In this course, we will embark on a journey through the rich, complex, and transformative history of the Catholic Church. From its beginnings in the early Christian communities to its role as a global faith in the 21st century, the Church’s story is one of both profound faith and, at times, deep struggle.

This class is designed not simply to recount events but to reflect on how the Church, as the People of God, has navigated its mission through growth, persecution, reform, and renewal. Central to our exploration will be an emphasis on how the Holy Spirit has continuously moved the Church forward, even amid human frailty, and how history can guide us toward a more just, inclusive, and compassionate future.

Our progressive Catholic context calls us to critically engage with Church history. This means celebrating the Church’s achievements—its role in shaping culture, education, and social justice—while also confronting difficult chapters, such as its involvement in colonialism, gender inequality, and systemic sin. Throughout, we will draw on the Church’s tradition of reform, from early Church councils to Vatican II, exploring how this history informs our vision for a Church that is both faithful to the Gospel and open to the signs of the times.

What You’ll Learn

  • Understand the key events, figures, and movements in the history of the Catholic Church from its origins to the present.
  • Critically analyze the Church’s role in historical and social contexts, including its contributions and challenges.
  • Explore the Church’s tradition of reform, and consider how this can inspire ongoing renewal today.
  • Reflect on how historical awareness deepens our theological understanding and engagement with contemporary issues.
  • Engage with Catholic history through a lens of social justice, asking how the Church can be a force for greater inclusivity, solidarity, and compassion in the modern world.

Key Topics:

    • The Early Church: Apostolic Foundations and Martyrdom
    • The Councils and Creeds: Defining Doctrine in a Growing Church
    • The Rise of Monasticism and the Christianization of Europe
    • The Medieval Church: Power, Reform, and the Mystical Tradition
    • The Great Schism and the Reformation: Division and Renewal
    • The Counter-Reformation and the Global Mission of the Church
    • The Church and Modernity: Vatican I, Vatican II, and the Age of Reform
    • The Church and Social Justice: From Rerum Novarum to Liberation Theology
    • Women, the Laity, and Marginalized Voices in Church History
    • The Global Church Today: Pluralism, Interfaith Dialogue, and the Call to Ecological Conversion

Course Structure:

This course will involve a combination of lectures, discussion-based seminars, and primary source analysis. Weekly readings will include key historical texts, Church documents, writings from significant Church figures, and perspectives from both mainstream and marginalized voices within the tradition. By studying original sources, students will develop a critical understanding of how historical events shaped theological development and vice versa.

Students will also engage in group projects, where they will explore a specific moment of Church reform or renewal, presenting how these moments continue to impact the Church today. We will also reflect on how Church history can inform our progressive vision of a Church that champions justice, inclusion, and dialogue.

Why This Course Matters:

The Church’s history is not just a record of past events but a living tradition that continues to shape who we are as Catholics today. Understanding this history allows us to see where the Church has been a beacon of light and where it has fallen short of its calling. As students in a progressive Catholic seminary, we are called to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit in our history, learning from both its successes and failures.

This course will help you critically engage with the Church’s past in order to be an active participant in its future. By understanding the historical roots of doctrine, spirituality, and social justice, you will be better equipped to participate in the Church’s ongoing mission to bring about the Kingdom of God. Together, we will ask how we can faithfully carry the tradition forward, while courageously addressing the challenges of our present world.

I am excited to explore this vibrant and challenging history with you, as we reflect on how the Church’s past can inspire a future filled with hope, renewal, and commitment to the common good.

ICH 101

Tradition, Reform, and the Future of the People of God

$50.00

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Details

Beginner

3 Months

Updated: 10/22/2024

Prerequisites

None

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