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BTI Consortium | Last Updated November 14 - 9:00AM
CHURCH HISTORY & HISTORY OF RELIGIONS
School
Harvard Divinity School
HDS 2785
Lived History of the Church in Latin America: Global Perspectives and Dimensions
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
This course explores the lived history of the Church in Latin America, with primary focus on Roman Catholicism, from European invasion and the so-called “spiritual conquest” to the present. The class considers the church as an institution of empire and its colonial legacies, and also as it is lived and practiced in communities across Latin America. Moving chronologically through time, readings and discussion explore how subject communities and their descendants have responded to Christianity, with particular attention to how these communities worked to transform and reshape the imposed religion. In the last weeks of the semester, we will consider the place of Latin America in the emerging study of global Christianities: topics will include the significance of the first Latin American Pope, the practice of Peruvian religion in Rome, the influence of Latin American Liberation Theology in Africa, among others. There will be an opportunity or option to write a research paper for students preparing for advanced research in the topic.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Jennifer Hughes
R
12:00-2:59 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F
Credits
4
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
Y
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
Students should submit a statement of interest to the professor via email (jscheperhughes@hds.harvard.edu) including providing relevant preparation or background in the subject matter before September 3, 2024. Those selected to enroll will be notified by the professor during the first week of instruction.
School
Harvard Divinity School
HDS 3186
History of Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
This course is a historical overview of the global Pentecostal/Charismatic movement from the 18th century to the present. It traces key movements, people, events, experiences, and theological ideas in the development of what is now the fastest-growing movement within World Christianity. The course will emphasize 20th century developments and discuss, among other topics, Pentecostal historiography, the Azusa Street Revival, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Latin America, gender roles, and expressions of Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity in the global South. Given the experiential nature of Pentecostalism, students will be introduced to the tradition not only in written texts, but also in audio, film, music, and an in-person visit to a Pentecostal/Charismatic worship service. All course materials (assignments, announcements, readings, grades, etc.) can be found on Canvas, and students will have the opportunity to write a final research paper.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Zurlo
T
12:00pm-01:59pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
4
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton
CH500
Survey of Church History
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
A general survey of the history of the Christian church from its founding at Pentecost to the present day.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Cuthbert, Christian
TBD
TBD
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
Synchronous
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton
WM601
World Mission of the Church
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
Recognizing the responsibility of all Christians to complete Christ’s commission, this course gives an overview of the strategic and historical progress of worldwide missions today. The ways in which a local congregation can fulfill its worldwide biblical mandate are also considered.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Yao, Xiyi
See notes
Fri 6:30-9:30pm; Sat 8:30am-4:30pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
Synchronous
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
Sept. 13-14, Nov. 8-9, Dec. 13-14
School
Hartford International
HI-523-2
A Global History of Christianity: Defining Moments and People that Shaped a Faith
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
This course will explore some of the most significant moments and persons in the history of Christianity. These moments produced shared understandings that have endured for centuries, while others fractured Christianity into divergent and often opposing forms. To investigate both the unity and diversity of Christianity, we will examine the diverse cultural settings where Christians planted themselves, and how Christians interacted with other religious traditions. We will also pay particular attention to the forms of Christianity that have been used to legitimate dominance and oppression, even as other forms have been used to resist and thrive under oppression.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Grafton
R
5-7pm
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Online?
Y
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
CHST 5011
Church History I/Ecum. Patriarchate
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
This course offers a general introduction to the history of the Church up to the year 787. Emphasis will be laid on the main ecclesiastical and theological issues and personalities and on the study of certain key texts. Special attention will be given to the history and role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Professor
Class Day & Time
TO BE ANNOUNCED
TR
10:40 AM - 12 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
PATR 5011 Z1
Patrology
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
This introductory core-course serves as a general introduction to the Fathers and the main periods of Patristic Literature from post-apostolic times to the Council of Nicaea in the fourth century. The course combines an introduction to the central Fathers of this period, with attention not only to the doctrinal issues, but also the literary, historical, and cultural context of this period.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Dr. Tikhon Alexander Pino
ASYNC
ASYNC
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
Y
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMHC7026
History of Western Christianity I: 100-850
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
Through lectures and primary source readings, the course surveys the major cultural, institutional, and theological developments of ancient Christianity from the time of the persecutions to the break-up of the Carolingian empire and the rise of medieval Christendom.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Michael McCarthy, S.J.
Stephen Molvarec, S.J.
TR
10:00-11:30
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMHC8145
Reforms and Reformations
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
Church reformers often harken back to a real or imagined �pure� or �golden� period at various times in the history of the Christian community and attempt to reform and direct the life of the Church based on that image. This course will examine significant episodes of reform in the Church from the early medieval period (6-9th centuries) until the present day. Notably, it will treat extensively the Protestant and Catholic reform(ation)s of the 16th-century, as well as the reform of the mid-20th century, but also the Carolingian Reforms and the Gregorian Reform, among others.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Stephen Molvarec, S.J.
R
3:30-5:30
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
Y
Prerequisites?
Y
Notes
A previous church history or historical theology course is required.
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5015-01
Theologies of Love in the Middle Ages
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
TBD
Professor
Class Day & Time
Coolman
TR
1:30-2:45p
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
UNDERGRAD/GRAD SPLIT
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO7059-01
Reading Romans in the Early Church
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
St. Pauls Epistle to the Romans has been a central text in the history of Christian theology. This seminar will take a close look at a series of early Christian commentaries on Romans from Origen of Alexandria in the 3 rd century to Augustine of Hippo and Theodoret of Cyrrhus in the 5 th century. Key themes to be covered include: the relation of Jews and Gentiles, justification by faith, the law of nature and the Torah, the problem of sin and salvation, and the place of political authority. Additional commentators to be examined: Ambrosiaster, John Chrysostom, and Pelagius.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Hunter
M
4:30-6:50p
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTH 815
History of Mystical Theology and Modernity
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
The Bible was of such importance to medieval Europeans that scarcely any aspect of life remained untouched by its influence. Turning to primary source readings as well as modern scholarship, this course will consider the place of Sacred Scripture in medieval European religion and culture. Subjects to explore will include: varieties of Biblical exegesis; learned and lay interaction with the text; issues of control and dissent, including the emergence of vernacular (non-Latin) Bibles and vernacular theology in Latin Christendom; Christian, Jewish and Muslim debate; and Biblical motifs and imagery in literature, drama, art, and political thought.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rady Roldan-Figueroa
M
2:30-5:15pm
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTM 815
Christian Mission
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
Exploration of biblical, historical, theological, political, and cultural perspectives on the world mission of the church. This course is a requirement for United Methodist MDiv students pursuing ordination in the United Methodist Church.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Dana Robert
T
12:30-3:15pm
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTN 829
Enslavement and Early Christian Literature
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
This course introduces historiographical questions, historical considerations, literary explorations, and theological consequences around the topic of enslavement in Early Christian Literature and its legacy in religious discourses. First, we will consider theoretical and methodological questions about enslavement (definitions, implications, and universality). Second, we will explore the historical, political, cultural, and social contexts of enslavement in the first century Roman Empire. Here we will focus on the material conditions (archaeological evidence) of the enslaved and the cultural understandings of their existence. Third, we survey New Testament Texts that either include characters that are enslaved or refer to the topic of enslavement as a key component in the narrative. Finally, we advance the theological implications of considering enslavement a central topic in early Christian formations.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Luis Men�ndez-Antu�a�
W
8:00-10:45am
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
Y
Notes
STHTN721 NT Intro or equivalent
School
Harvard Divinity School
HDS 2390A
Colloquium in American Religious History
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
Presentation and discussion of the research of doctoral candidates in American religious history. Available, with instructors permission, to Harvard doctoral students in other fields of religious studies or American studies. Note: First half of an academic year bi-weekly course. Credit will not be earned unless both the fall and spring semester of the course is completed. Course may be taken on a Sat/unsat basis only. This course is limited to doctoral students with interests in North American religions. Jointly offered in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as Religion 3505A.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Brekus
T
06:00pm-07:59pm
Grading Option
P/F
Credits
4
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
Y
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
DOCTORAL ONLY
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
PATR 5020
Orthodox Christianity
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
A basic introduction to the history, theology, and spirituality of the Orthodox Church. Emphasis will be placed on the theology of the Ecumenical Councils, the writings of the Church Fathers, and classic works of Orthodox spirituality.
This course is limited to students in the Youth/Young Adult Ministry and Leadership Certificate program.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rev. Dr. Philip Zymaris
F
1-2:10 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
1.5
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Harvard Divinity School
HDS 1983
The Sibylline Oracles: A Female Voice of Prophetic Justice in the Ancient Mediterranean World
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
The Archaic Greek Sibyl, a respected female voice of prophecy that inspired branches of Sibylline prophecy in Roman, Jewish, and Christian traditions, spoke truth to power. This course will introduce students to the religious and gender discourses of the ancient Mediterranean through texts that are currently viewed as of peripheral importance. How does centering the pseudepigrapha help us to see anew what is in or, perhaps more importantly, what is not in the canon? Reaching to the margins, beyond the canon- be they scriptural or departmental canons- enables us to engage in a more interconnected ancient world. This course will be of interest to students in Jewish and Christian studies, as well as classics, and history. It offers an example of how centering women’s studies in religion allows for different questions to be asked and new avenues to be explored.
Professor
Class Day & Time
TBA
TBA
TBA
Grading Option
TBA
Credits
4
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton
CH501
The Church to the Reformation
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
A general survey of the history of the Christian church from its founding at Pentecost to the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Isaac, Gordon
T
9am-12pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
Synchronous
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Hamilton
CH/SF/TH619
Reformation Era Spirituality
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
This course will highlight the distinctive contributions of the Reformers over against the background of the dominating medieval spirituality to which it is an answer and the context of ongoing competing spiritualities of the time.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Isaac, Gordon
M
9am-12pm
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
Synchronous
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Hartford International
HI-523
A Global History of Christianity: Defining Moments and People that Shaped a Faith
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
This course will explore some of the most significant moments and persons in the history of Christianity. These moments produced shared understandings that have endured for centuries, while others fractured Christianity into divergent and often opposing forms. To investigate both the unity and diversity of Christianity, we will examine the diverse cultural settings where Christians planted themselves, and how Christians interacted with other religious traditions. We will also pay particular attention to the forms of Christianity that have been used to legitimate dominance and oppression, even as other forms have been used to resist and thrive under oppression.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Grafton
R
5-7pm
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Online?
Y
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
PATR 5011
Patrology
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
This introductory core-course serves as a general introduction to the Fathers and the main periods of Patristic Literature from post-apostolic times to the Council of Nicaea in the fourth century. The course combines an introduction to the central Fathers of this period, with attention not only to the doctrinal issues, but also the literary, historical, and cultural context of this period.
Professor
Class Day & Time
TO BE ANNOUNCED
M
6:40-9 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
PATR 5020
Orthodox Christianity
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
A basic introduction to the history, theology, and spirituality of the Orthodox Church. Emphasis will be placed on the theology of the Ecumenical Councils, the writings of the Church Fathers, and classic works of Orthodox spirituality.
This course is limited to students in the Youth/Young Adult Ministry and Leadership Certificate program.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Rev. Dr. Philip Zymaris
F
1-2:10 PM
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
1.5
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston College School of Theology & Ministry
TMHC8130
Pilgrimage: History, Theology, and Actuality
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
Pilgrimage is a phenomenon that has shaped Christianity from its inception to our days. The immense popularity of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, has generated numerous reflections in recent decades, as well as a flood of works, both popular and scholarly. Taking a large view, the course will explore the history and theology of the practice of pilgrimage, especially in its Christian dimension, but extend also to its actuality as a spiritual practice at the frontier of the institution (within and without), and linked to the narrative construction of the self. The scope of documents read will include historical documents, spiritual texts, Church documents, contemporary narratives and studies, as well as films.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Andr� Brouillette, S.J.
W
4:00-6:20
Grading Option
P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
Y
Notes
one year of theological study
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5011-01
Revolutionaries, Diplomatic Theology, and Catholic Missionaries: Challenges in 20th Century China
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
This is a survey course. Each of these three groups challenged the witness of Catholicism in China since 1900. Understand how American ambassadors, business and military interests responded to Chinese political and social change. Learn how they then enabled zealous and adventurous Catholic missionaries to balance their dual identity as American citizens as well representatives of the Pope in Rome to preach the Gospel and provide social relief as China quested stability amid decades of war. Discover how the Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek and the Communists inspired by Mao Zedong responded to and tested the resolve of these missionary foreigners. After 1949, the focusshifts to see how the U.S., the Holy See, and international Chinese Catholics have had to renegotiate their participation pertaining to religious freedom and human rights in China till the present day.No background on Chinese history is required. Theology, history, political science and international relation students are welcome.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Carbonneau
M
1-3:30p
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
UNDERGRAD/GRAD SPLIT
School
Boston College Department of Theology
THEO5426-01
From Nile to Niger: African Christian Fathers and Mothers of the Church
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
This course counts as an elective towards the interdisciplinary Minor in Ancient Civilization. Introduction to the Fathers of the Church, with special emphasis on the period after the apostles to the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325). The lives, writings, and teachings of the Church Fathers will be studied through readings in English translation.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Schatkin
M
3-5:20p
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
UNDERGRAD/GRAD SPLIT
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTH 803
History of Social Christianity
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
Not Yet Available
Professor
Class Day & Time
Chris Evans
R
12:30-3:15pm
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTH 821
United Methodist History and Doctrine
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
An exploration of Methodist origins, the Wesleys, the rise of Methodism in England, and the distinctive doctrines of Wesleyan theology. There is a particular focus on the development of the various United Methodist traditions in America and their impact on society. The course is designed to meet one of the requirements for membership in a UMC Annual Conference.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Chris Evans
T
3:30-6:15pm
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
4
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Boston University School of Theology
STHTM 910
Seminar in Mission History and World Christianity
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
A seminar in the history of Christian missions, from the early church to the present. Issues of historiography, method, and the emergence of non-western church history. Required course for doctoral students in mission studies.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Dana Robert
F
8:00-10:45am
Grading Option
Letter
Credits
4
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
Y
Notes
Doctoral
School
Harvard Divinity School
HDS 2327
Religion and Nationalism in the United States: A History
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
Many Americans have imagined the United States as having a religious identity as a �city on a hill,� a �redeemer nation,� or �the new Israel.� We will ask several questions in this course: How and why have Americans conceived of the nation in sacred terms? How have religious images of the nation developed and changed over time? Does the United States have a �civil religion�? What is white Christian nationalism, and what are its historic roots? Readings will cover the period from the American Revolution to the present.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Brekus, Catherine
TR
10:30am-11:45am
Grading Option
Letter, P/F
Credits
4
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
School
Saint John's Seminary
CH501
Church History I
BTI Category
Semester
Church History/History of Religions
FA24
This survey course aims to introduce students to the history of the Catholic Church from the first century through the fifteenth century. Through an examination of the historical narrative, including its key periods, movements, and figures, students will come to a deeper understanding of the history of the Catholic Church in the early and medieval periods.
Professor
Class Day & Time
Dr. Coughlin
MF
10:30-11:45 am (M), 9:00-10:15 am (F)
Grading Option
Letter, P/F, Audit
Credits
3
Online?
N
Professor Approval Req'd?
N
Prerequisites?
N
Notes
N
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