Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
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Description The purpose of this module is to provide an introduction to the history of Christianity. It attempts to introduce the study of the Christian Church from biblical times to the present. The history of monasticism in the First Millennium. The module considers how the Church survived after the death of the first apostolic leaders; the achievements and failures of the Church in the patristic, medieval and modern periods; the biblical images of the Church; the eleventh-century schism; the sixteenth-century reformation, the renaissance in Catholic thought in the twentieth century, and the history of Vatican II. In this module, students develop knowledge and skills in reading original texts studying the methods of historical and theological investigation reading introductory and advanced historical and theological textbooks collaborative learning critical analysis of historical and theological data Students will participate in the following learning activities Working in small groups and presenting findings at lectures Visit to the National Gallery, Dublin (History of Christianity in Art) Visit to the Chester Beatty Library (The Western Treasures of the Library: Biblical, Renaissance and modern times) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. Demonstrate a specialist knowledge in the history of Christianity 2. Assess the achievements and failures of the Church in the patristic, medieval and modern periods as part of an ecumenical and inter-religious response to the current human situation 3. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the usefulness of the biblical images of the Church for renewal and reform of ecclesial structures in the context of current issues 4. Explain the origins, causes, and consequences of the Oriental Schism (c.1054) through specialist knowledge of the religious history of the period 5. Demonstrate a knowledge of the European Reformation, the state of the Western Church in 1500, and of the inner contradictions in Western Christianity 6. Assess the contribution of French-speaking thinkers to the renewal of Catholic theology and in the twentieth century and to the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) 7. Demonstrate an ability to organize and communicate through a written assignment the sources of the history of the Christian Churches and show the relevance of this history for understanding the place of the Church in a pluralist society 8. Critically reflect upon important ecclesiological issues including the following: child protection policies, ministry, evangelization, return to the sources, ecumenism; 9. To collect, synthesise and present knowledge on complex problems in a critical, objective manner 10. An ability to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
How the Church survived after the death of the great apostolic leaders by looking at the Christian communities in the post apostolic-period History of the Christian Church in the Biblical, patristic, medieval and modern periods Biblical images of the Church through study of the biblical texts and appropriate commentaries The Oriental Schism by examining the theological, political and ecclesiological factors that contributed to the Great Schism Introduction to the Crusades by elucidating key ideas and institutions, and through an analysis of the nature and causes of crusading The European Reformation by studying the state of the Western Church in 1500, the internal contradictions in Western Christianity, and by study of developments in Reformation scholarship The Twentieth Century: the Century of the Church study of the renewal of Catholic theology and philosophy in the first half of the twentieth century; the history of the Second Vatican Council and its aftermath; ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List Books:
Articles: None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Other Resources None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||