AIMS OF COURSE:
• to survey the religious and social structures that were in place during the rise of the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation
• to inventory key ideas that characterize Catholic and Protestant theologies during the Renaissance and Reformation, and to consider their social consequences
• to examine theological and social teachings of important Puritan and Enlightenment thinkers
• to reflect on the theodicies that emerged among Christian thinkers beginning in the 18th century
• to consider various strains of Romantic reaction to the Enlightenment in the 19th century
• to gain familiarity with Neo-Thomist, Neo-orthodox, Existentialist, and Catholic Personalist movements and ideas in the 20th century
• to review various strains of liberation theology that arose in the second half of the 20th century
COURSE TEXTS:
Required:
William Placher, A History of Christian Theology
Denis Janz, A Reformation Reader
James Morrow, Blameless in Abaddon
Soren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling
Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited
Additional Required Readings (on reserve in Seminary Library):
Penitential of Cummean (excerpt) [950 CE]
Erasmus, Julius Excluded from Heaven [1513]
Bartolomé de Las Casas, In Defense of the Indians (selection) [1552]
John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress (selections) [1678]
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Theodicy, Preface [1710]
John Wesley, “The Late Earthquake at Lisbon” [1755]
Voltaire, “Poem on the Lisbon Disaster” [1756]
Rousseau, “Letter to Voltaire” [1756]
Rousseau, “Creed of the Savoyard Vicar” [1762]
David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (selection) [1779]
Packet of Readings (continued):
Jonathan Edwards, Heaven Is a World of Love (selection) [1738]
Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections (selection) [1746]
Friedrich Schleiermacher, On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers (selections) [1799]
Friedrich Schleiermacher, The Christian Faith (selections) [1822]
Friedrich Nietzsche, The Genealogy of Morals (selections) [1887]
Karl Barth, “The Strange New World within the Bible” [1916]
Paul Tillich, The Courage to Be (selections) [1952]
Sallie McFague, “God as Mother” [1988]
Electronic Readings (available online)
Vatican I, Pastor Aeternus [1870]
Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum [1891]
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
| 5-page paper |
35 |
Due |
| 3/13 |
| 6-page essay |
40 |
4/17 |
| Take-home exam OR research paper |
100 |
5/22 |
| Attendance and participation |
25 |
|
| |
200 points
|
|
EXPLANATION OF REQUIREMENTS:
1) Write a 5-page (typed, 12 pt. font, double-spaced, 1 inch margins, with proper citations) paper on one of the 16th century figures we have examined in class (Pope Paul III, Las Casas, Teresa of Avila, Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, Ignatius Loyola). The paper should cover basic biographical details (in a paragraph or two), but the paper should be centered on a particularly powerful idea that this person wrote about and its influence on surrounding events and subsequent history. The best papers will go beyond what has been covered in class lectures and show evidence that primary texts (in English translation) of the individual have been read and wrestled with. This paper is due March 13, no exceptions.
2) Write a 6-page (typed, 12 pt. font, double-spaced, 1 inch margins, with proper citations) essay on the theodicies depicted in James Morrow’s novel Blameless in Abaddon. Morrow lays out 5 different theodicies, or arguments for the goodness of God in the face of evil in the world. Describe the components and rationale of each theodicy. Which, in your view, is the weakest argument? Which is the strongest? Draw into your analysis at least one of the thinkers we read in the course who wrote in response to the 1755 Lisbon earthquake (Leibniz, Wesley, Voltaire, Rousseau, Hume), and put him into conversation with the viewpoint of some character in the novel. Where Morrow identifies these thinkers, does he treat their arguments fairly? Can you make out Morrow’s own theodicy? If so, describe it. Papers that go over 6 pages will be scrutinized for redundancy and inflated prose. This paper is due April 17, no exceptions.
3a) M.A. and Special Students: For the final assignment in the course, you have the option of either a take-home examination (which will be distributed electronically by noon on May 19) or a 12-15 page research paper (typed and double-spaced—note that cover page and bibliography are not part of the page count). Whichever option you choose, it is due on May 22.
A. The exam will cover material from the entire course and will consist of short and long essay questions and several 1-2 sentence identifications. Electronic submission (to kcobb@hartsem.edu) due no later than 9:00 p.m. on 5/22.
B. The research paper is open with respect to topic, but it must draw upon one theologian or religious development from the 16th-19th centuries and one from the 20th century. Hard copy submission only—must be postmarked by 5/22. A one page outline of the paper and a preliminary bibliography are due on April 24.
3b) Ph.D. students: For your final assignment in the course, a 25 page research paper (typed and double-spaced—note that cover page and bibliography are not part of the page count) is required. Paper topic should be negotiated in advance with Prof. Cobb. A one page outline of the paper and a preliminary bibliography are due on April 24. The paper (hard copy) is due on May 22.
All students writing research papers: Scrupulously follow the Hartford Seminary General Guidelines for Research Papers handout that is available on-line at http://www.hartsem.edu/ student/forms/researchpaperguide.pdf. This means using sources, citing them properly, proofreading what you’ve written, using very few quotations, 12 point font, double-space, proper margins, footnotes or parenthetical references, bibliography—everything. Do not use Wikipedia or other unrefereed Web sources, except as gateways to dependable websites. On form, follow the letter of the law. I’m picky about this.
4) Students are expected to be present at each class, to read the assigned texts by the scheduled dates, and to participate actively in class.
Ph.D. students: In addition to the above requirements, you are expected to submit book notes on 3 books by 3 of the following authors (complete books of abridgements that are assigned in class): Luther, Edwards, Hume, Schleiermacher, Kierkegaard, Barth, Tillich, McFague.
GRADING:
The grading formula used in this class follows an unconventional pattern. The interval between letter grades is 20%. This scale allows for more room to move within each grade level, and thus more careful distinctions within each level. Within letter grades, there will be +’s and -’s. Every assignment and the course grade will follow this scale:
| |
200pts |
100pts |
40pts |
35pts |
25pts |
| A= |
200-160 |
100-80 |
40-32 |
35-28 |
25-20 |
| B= |
159-120 |
79-60 |
31-24 |
27-21 |
19-15 |
| C= |
119-80 |
59-40 |
23-16 |
20-14 |
14-10 |
| F= |
79-0 |
39-0 |
15-0 |
13-0 |
9-0 |
In all assignments it is assumed that what is submitted is the student’s own original work. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden. As described in the Hartford Seminary General Guidelines for a Research Paper, plagiarism occurs when students “submit another person’s work, lift paragraphs, sentences, or even a choice phrase from another writer, or make use of another person’s ideas (even if the student puts these ideas in his/her own words) without acknowledging the source. A related kind of dishonesty is to resubmit a paper which was done for a different course, even if it is the student’s own work. These practices are not permitted at Hartford Seminary. They will be reported to the Dean’s Office and may result in disciplinary action.” If a paper is found to contain plagiarism, even in a single sentence, the minimum penalty will be failing that assignment, with no opportunity to rewrite. If you are unsure of the line between plagiarism and legitimate uses of sources (e.g., quotation, paraphrase), see one of the Seminary’s Writing Consultants.
Hartford Seminary Writing Consultants
Hartford Seminary offers all students the services of a Writing Consultant. The Writing Consultant is to help students improve their command of written English, and to help organize essays and research papers.
Two Writing Consultants available: Sara Jane Munshower and Jean Blanning. PLEASE NOTE: There is a required amount of lead time that is required for the Writing Consultants to be able to review your work. The lead time is as follows:
o Reflection paper (1-3 pages) 2 days
- Submit to WC at least 5 days before paper is due.
o Book review (5-7 pages) 3-5 days
- Submit to WC at least 8 days before paper is due.
o Research paper (10-12 pages) 10 days
- Submit to WC at least 14 days before paper is due.
Contact information:
Sara Jane Munshower
Sara Jane may be contacted by email or phone.
Her phone number is: (860) 633-1408.
Her email is: revsaja@cox.net Jean Blanning
Jean prefers to be contacted by telephone.
Her phone number is: (860) 233-0376.
Her email is: jmblanning@earthlink.net
SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS:
Note: The readings indicated for each class date are to be read for that class.
FIRST SEGMENT: RENAISSANCE AND REFORMATION
January 31: Medieval World
Penitential of Cummean (HANDOUT)
February 7: Catholic Mystics and Humanists
Penitentials (Janz, 29-38)
Indulgences and common piety (Janz, 51-57)
Teresa of Avila, Autobiography (short reading on Janz cd-rom)
Erasmus, Julius Excluded from Heaven (ON RESERVE)
Placher, 128-137, 162-177
February 14: New Continents
Bartolomé de Las Casas, In Defense of the Indians (ON RESERVE)
Janz, 377-379
February 22: Martin Luther I
Janz, 69-106, 327-332
Placher, 181-197
February 28: Martin Luther II
Janz, 110-138
March 6: John Calvin
Janz, 203-222, 226-282
Placher, 219-227
March 13: Catholic Responses
Council of Trent (Janz, 348-368)
Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, etc. (Janz, 368-377)
Placher, 200-216
Political and Economic Impact of the Reformation
Janz, 164-168
Assignment due: 5-page paper on a 16th century figure
March 20: No Class (Spring Break)
SECOND SEGMENT: 17th - 19TH CENTURY
March 27: Puritans
John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress [1678] (ON RESERVE)
Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections (ON RESERVE)
Jonathan Edwards, Heaven Is a World of Love (ON RESERVE)
Placher, 227-233, 255-269
April 3: God and the Lisbon Earthquake (1755)
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Theodicy, Preface [1710] (ON RESERVE)
John Wesley, “The Late Earthquake at Lisbon” [1755] (ON RESERVE)
Voltaire, “Poem on the Lisbon Disaster” [1756] (ON RESERVE)
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, “Letter to Voltaire” [1756] (ON RESERVE)
Rousseau, “Creed of the Savoyard Vicar” [1762] (ON RESERVE)
David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion [1779] (ON RESERVE)
April 10: No Class
Read James Morrow, Blameless in Abaddon
April 17: Romanticism and the Beginning of Modern Theology
Friedrich Schleiermacher, On Religion and The Christian Faith (excerpts) (ON RESERVE)
Soren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling, 41-108, 145-147
Placher, 237-252, 272-280
Assignment due: 6-page essay on God, providence, and evil (theodicy)
April 24: Roman Catholic Thought in the 19th Century
Vatican I, Pastor Aeternus (1870)
http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/papae1.htm
Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum (1891)
http://www.osjspm.org/majordoc_rerum_novarum_official.aspx
Placher, 280-285
Masters of Suspicion (Feuerbach, Nietzsche, Marx, Freud)
Friedrich Nietzsche, The Genealogy of Morals, excerpts (ON RESERVE)
Placher, 285-287
Due: 1-page outline & bibliography of final paper (if you choose this option)
THIRD SEGMENT: 20TH CENTURY
May 1: Protestant Neo-Orthodoxy
Karl Barth, “The Strange New World within the Bible” (ON RESERVE)
Paul Tillich, The Courage to Be, excerpts (ON RESERVE)
Placher, 291-301
May 8: Theologies of Liberation
Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited, 11-80, 110-112
Sallie McFague, “God as Mother” (ON RESERVE)
Placher, 301-312
May 22: No class, but final paper (hard copy submission only—must be postmarked by 5/22) or take-home exam (electronic submission due no later than 9:00 p.m. on 5/22—to kcobb@hartsem.edu) is due
