Introduction to Christianity (REL 1130)

Lecturer: Dr. Stephen Palmquist

"In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the Word was 
God....  And the word became flesh, and dwelt among us..."  (John 1:1,14)

"To have religion is a duty of man to himself" (Kant)


Introduction

It is often said nowadays that the "modern" world (i.e. the West and all cultures 
influenced by it) has entered a "post-Christian era".  There was a time when almost 
every citizen of countries such as Italy or England would have claimed to be a 
Christian.  But this is no longer the case.

The paradox is that "modern" culture is to a large extent a direct result of the 
implementation of the Christian world view.    
The question this raises is:  Can Christianity survive its own self-destruction?

The purpose of this course is not to answer this question, but rather to provide 
some of the background material needed in order for each student to answer it for 
himself or herself.



Requirements

1. Attend lectures and participate in class discussions.  Do a research project on one 
of the seven areas listed below concerning the history of Christianity, and present it 
to the class on the designated day.  One-third of the final grade depends on this 
category.

2. Write in English an 8-10 page (typed) paper examining some aspect of 
Christianity (e.g. a doctrine, a tradition, etc.), or criticizing a book or aspect of a 
relevant book.  Topics must be approved by 16 November; papers are due on 14 
December.  One-third of the final grade depends on this paper.

3. One-third of the final grade depends on the final examination.


Tentative Lecture outline (readings to be announced)

I. Christianity as the Universal Religion
   1. What is Christianity?
   2. The human condition: sin 
   3. Morality vs Ecclesiology 
   4. Worship
   5. Scripture 
   6. Faith
   7. Self-Transformation 

II. The Rational Basis of Christian Faith
   1. Reason vs Faith 
   2. Rational arguments 
   3. The limits of reason 
   4. The moral argument 
   5. Religious experience 
   6. The historical argument  
   7. The existential argument 

III. Jesus:  The Paradigm of True Humanity
   1. The centrality of the cross 
   2. Love
   3. Self-denial
   4. The poor
   5. Mission
   6. Resurrection hope
   7. The second coming:  Christ in disguise

IV. The History of Christianity (student project presentations)
   1. Hebraic Roots 
   2. The Early Church 
   3. Catholicism
   4. The Reformation and Protestantism
   5. Liberal Theology
   6. Modern Cults
   7. Christianity in the New Age

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This page was last updated on 30 September 1995