A Journey through Western Christianity: from Persecuted Faith to Global Religion (200 - 1650)

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/western-christianity-200-1650

Introduction

### Course Review: A Journey through Western Christianity: from Persecuted Faith to Global Religion (200 - 1650) **Overview** In a world increasingly defined by the intersections of faith, culture, and history, the course **"A Journey through Western Christianity: from Persecuted Faith to Global Religion (200 - 1650)"** on Coursera presents an insightful and comprehensive examination of the evolution of Western Christianity from its early days of persecution to its status as a global faith. Covering a span of over a millennium, the course is a deep dive into the complexities of Christian history, highlighting the diverse range of experiences, influences, and challenges faced by believers throughout the ages. **Course Structure** The course is meticulously structured, guiding learners through well-defined modules that unravel the narrative of Christianity's journey. Each module focuses on pivotal moments and influential figures, interweaving theological discussions with historical context: 1. **Introduction: From Persecution to Empire** - Explores the transformation of Christianity from a persecuted sect under Roman oppression to a dominant force within the empire. 2. **Augustine and the North African Church** - Investigates the theological contributions of Augustine and the rich Christian traditions of North Africa. 3. **Monastic Lives: Desert Fathers to Celtic Christianity** - Examines the rise of monasticism and its profound impact on Christian practices and doctrines. 4. **Reformers and Crusaders** - Analyzes the role of Christianity during the medieval period and its response to the feudal system and crusades. 5. **Learning and Light** - Looks at the birth of scholasticism and the Gothic architectural movement, both emblematic of medieval Christianity. 6. **Three Religions: Christians, Jews & Muslims in Medieval Spain** - Explores the cultural interactions among the three major religions in medieval Spain. 7. **Medieval Devotion** - Focuses on the spiritual lives of everyday Christians and the emergence of new devotional practices. 8. **Luther's Reformation** - Chronicles Martin Luther’s pivotal role in sparking the Protestant Reformation. 9. **Fragmenting Reformation** - Investigates the proliferation of Protestant movements and theological disagreements that followed Luther’s actions. 10. **Catholic Reform** - Analyzes how Catholicism responded to the Reformation and initiated its own reforms. 11. **Jesuits and Missions** - Concludes with the global expansion of Christianity through missionary work, particularly focusing on the Jesuits' adaptive strategies. **Content Quality** The quality of the content is exemplary, enriched with a diverse array of narratives and perspectives. The course materials are engaging, incorporating a mix of multimedia resources, including video lectures, readings, and interactive elements that foster a deeper understanding of complex themes. The delivery is both academically rigorous and accessible, appealing to learners of various backgrounds, whether they are novices to religious studies or seasoned scholars. **Instructor Expertise** Designed and taught by knowledgeable instructors with backgrounds in theology and history, the course benefits from their expertise and passion for the subject. Their insights and historical interpretations not only elucidate the content but also stimulate critical thinking, encouraging participants to reflect on the implications of historical events for contemporary society. **Community Engagement** The course also emphasizes peer interaction, facilitating discussions that allow students to engage with one another’s perspectives. This communal approach enhances the learning experience, fostering a sense of connection among learners from diverse backgrounds. **Recommendations** I highly recommend **"A Journey through Western Christianity: from Persecuted Faith to Global Religion (200 - 1650)"** for anyone interested in understanding the profound historical developments that have shaped Christianity and its myriad expressions. Whether you are a student of theology, history, or simply curious about the influences of Christianity on global culture and politics, this course provides rich insights and thought-provoking content. **Conclusion** In summary, this course is an important and enlightening exploration of Western Christianity’s evolution. It deftly navigates complicated narratives, shedding light on the faith's resilience and adaptability in the face of persecution, reform, and expansion. Enrolling in this course is not just an academic pursuit; it's an opportunity to engage with the significant events that have influenced not only religious thought but the very fabric of Western civilization. Take this journey and deepen your understanding of a faith that continues to impact millions around the world today.

Syllabus

Welcome to A Journey through Western Christianity: from Persecuted Faith to Global Religion (200 - 1650)

Learn what this course is about, who's teaching it, and other ways you can explore this topic. Meet and greet your peers as well!

“From Persecution to Empire,” explores the interaction between the second-century Christian Church and the Roman Empire in which it existed. After the faith’s birth in Palestine, Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire with a rapidity that alarmed many Roman rulers. Persecution of Christians became common, and the experience of persecution shaped the Church. In 313 AD, the Roman Emperor Constantine ended persecution and Christianity transformed once more to become a pillar of Roman society.

“Augustine and the North African Church,” studies two areas of early and vibrant Christian growth: Egypt and North Africa. These areas responded to intense Roman persecution by developing a theology of martyrdom. Indeed, both areas became bastions of early Christian theological thinking, with the North African Church producing the most important Christian theologian ever: Augustine of Hippo.

“Monastic Lives: Desert Fathers to Celtic Christianity,” examines the origins of monasticism in Christianity. After the end of Roman persecution, some Christians chose to isolate themselves in the desert and deny themselves food, sleep, and material comforts. Why? And how did this movement develop into medieval monasticism? This module will explain the early roots and influence of monks and nuns in Christianity.

“Reformers and Crusaders,” focuses on Christianity during the dawn of the medieval period. Here we ask: How did Christianity respond to the new feudal world of medieval Europe? Popes, monks, and knights became essential features of the Christian faith during this period, roughly 950 – 1350 AD.

“Learning and Light,” examines two medieval Christian ideas that emerged at the same time and from the same impulse. The first is the scholastic educational initiative that dominated Christian theology and resulted in the founding of universities. The second is the beautiful, light-focused Gothic architectural style embodied in Europe’s great cathedrals. These two movements remain the quintessential features of medieval Christianity. Scholasticism and cathedrals emerged not only at the same time but also from the same source: a Christian conception of the unity of all things.

“Three Religions: Christians, Jews & Muslims in Medieval Spain,” explores medieval Spain, a place in time with enormous importance for the history of Christianity. From the eighth through the fifteenth century, Spanish society included Christians, Jews, and Muslims, and Spain became the cultural capital of all three religions. Exploring medieval Spain, we will see how Christianity competed and cooperated with the non-Christian world. The central question explored in this module is: How should we remember the cultural interactions among Christians, Jews, and Muslims in medieval Spain

“Medieval Devotion,” moves away from the universities and cathedrals of Europe and investigates the lives of ordinary Christians trying to maintain their spiritual lives in an era almost 1000 years ago. The Church developed and popularized many devotional practices in this era, a number of which remain a part of Christianity today. Sacraments, saints, relics, pilgrimages, and the papacy are examined in this module, as all experienced an enormous growth in importance during the medieval era. Many of these features of Christianity became controversial, with Protestant reformers of the sixteenth century rejecting some of these devotional and ecclesiological features.

“Luther’s Reformation,” is the first of several modules to discuss the Reformation, and it does so by examining the life of the Reformation’s most iconic figure, Martin Luther. More than any other person, Luther was responsible for the seismic shifts in sixteenth-century Christianity that left the Western Church permanently fractured. Why did Luther launch his Reformation? What were his initial aspirations, and how did these change? Through the biography of Luther we will learn about the controversies that led to the Reformation and the early impact of this religious movement.

“Fragmenting Reformation,” we will explore the Reformation further. After Luther set Europe ablaze, other reformers and rulers sought to impose their views onto Christianity. Soon—and as Catholics had feared—multiple forms of Protestantism emerged. Sixteenth-century Christians disagreed over what constituted proper ecclesiology, theology, and ritual practices, and soon the European religious landscape divided into different camps all insisting on different visions of Christianity. John Calvin became one of the most influential thinkers and organizers in this period, but even lesser known figures exerted enormous influence as Western Christendom experienced its most serious crisis.

In “Catholic Reform,” we will see how Catholicism transformed itself during the sixteenth century, an era usually characterized by the Protestant Reformation. In response to the Protestant challenge, Catholicism began to reform key aspects of its practices, yet Catholic leaders resolutely defended their theology against Luther’s and Calvin’s attacks. And Catholicism also experienced transformations that had begun long before Luther launched his reforming campaign in 1517. A debate still exists amongst historians regarding the origins of Catholicism’s sixteenth-century reforms. Were these changes purely a response to the Protestant challenge? Or did Catholicism begin its early modern reforms long before Luther was ever born. This module explores these questions, along with the vibrant Catholic culture that emerged during the era of the Reformation.

Our final module, “Jesuits and Mission,” we will see how, at the same time that Western Christianity fractured and reinvented itself due to the Reformation, the faith also followed Europe’s colonial paths and spread across the world. Catholic religious orders (including the newly founded Jesuit order) led the expansion of Christianity into non-European lands. Jesuits and other missionaries sought to inject Christianity into the societies they encountered, and to do so the Jesuits adapted to local cultural practices and added subtle features to Catholicism. For the first time, Christianity became a global religion.