Course info

This module first explores the history, beliefs and practices of the early Christian church. Topics include early Christian worship and forms of ministry, the development of doctrine as the church sought to define orthodoxy in the face of perceived heresies such as Gnosticism and Arianism, the writings of the early Christian apologists and the conversion of Constantine and its consequences. The spread of Christianity is analysed against the background of the Jewish diaspora, Hellenisation and the Roman Empire. Key theologians are introduced, including Irenaeus, Origen and Augustine. The last six weeks of the course provide an outline of key trends in medieval Christianity. Topics covered include the cult of the saints and their relics, pilgrimage, pastoral care and worship with an introduction to the thought of notable medieval theologians. The module concludes with a consideration of key aspects of late medieval Christianity and the early reformations of the sixteenth century