RST 305          Marshall University          Fall  2001
                                                                          Early Christianity
                               
                                             One word of truth outweighs the whole world.  (Russian proverb)

Mentor:  Dr. Alan Altany (curriculum vitae)        Harris Hall 411      Phone:  304.696.2702 FAX:  304.696.2703
              Emailaltany@marshall.eduWeb Sitehttp://webpages.marshall.edu/~altany/
              Departmental Web Site: http://www.marshall.edu/rst/

Electronic Discussion Lists:: rst305-0201-list@marshall.edu|   |   Discussion Lists Archive

RST 305,   Tuesdays/Thursdays  9 - 10:45 AM, Harris Hall 445
Office hours:  MW 10-11, 12-2; T/Thr  11-12:30; F 10-11
Office Email:  Student email will be responded to within 24 hours of reception

Text/Resources:   The Early Church, Chadwick
                                Birth of a Worldview, Doran
                                     After the New Testament, Ehrman
                                          Augustine of Hippo, Brown
                                                 World-Wide Web Sites


Religious Studies is an academic discipline in which the phenomenon of religion in human experience is studied
in a nonsectarian, unbiased manner using various kinds of historical-critical, analytical, comparative, phenomenological,
interdisciplinary methodologies.  Discussion should be conducted with honesty, enthusiasm, kindness, critical thought
and respect for the worldviews and beliefs of others. This course is not only for learning, but is itself to be a model for
how to learn, why to learn, and to learn to love to learn.

                 The following course explanation, in its totality, is a syllabus that is dynamic and flexible
                  according to the needs of the learners and of the learning process. It is not presented
                  as complete at the beginning of the study, but as an initial trajectory for the study.  More
                  specific guidance and resources will be available as needed along the way.  You, the learner,
                  have a key voice in the directions our study of world religions take so that our work will be
                  significant for you and for the class as a whole within a learner/student-centered context.

 Course Description
 Course Objectives
 Computing in this Course
 Writing Across the Curriculum
 Attendance Policy
 Drop Policy
 Course Evaluation
 Semester Schedule


Course Description
This course traces the background, birth and development of Christian thought from Paul through Augustine.
The Christian Church, in its origins, began as a sect within Judaism and was based upon the teachings,
actions and person of a 1st century AD Palestinian Jewish preacher and teacher ("rabbi"), Jesus of Nazareth.
As it separated from Judaism, it began a distinct religion with is own perspectives and struggles to establish
an identity and self-understanding as it spread among Gentiles (non Jews) in the Hellenistic (Greek) culture
of the Roman Empire.

This study will analyze this whole complex formation of early Christianity, especially the ideas and intellectual
history, from the time of Paul, through people like Ignatius, Justin, Tertullian, Origen, Constantine and Augustine.
The methodology will be based upon a nonsectarian historical approach that places early Christianity within its
historical, cultural, religious, literary and intellectual contexts.  Selections from early Christian writings will be
read as part of this contextual analysis.  We will interpret how and why Christianity in its formative centuries,
in all its diversity of thought, interpreted God, Jesus Christ, the cosmos and world, history, humanity, scriptures,
evil, suffering, the future, and itself in the ways that it did.

Collaborative, interactive, student-centered and student-responsible learning will be emphasized.
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Course Objectives
By the end of this study it is hoped and expected that each student will be able to formulate a foundational
understanding of early Christianity based upon the following:

This can all serve to encourage students in their quest for meaning,  understanding, compassion and wisdom.
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Computing in this Course
Each student needs to have the basic ability to use email that is web-sensitive such as Netscape Messenger or
Microsoft Outlook and to be able to find and utilize world-wide-web resources that are available for the study of
religion and religions through use of a web browser such as Navigator (4.0 or higher) or Internet Explorer (4 or
higher).  The course will include sending and receiving email, web site readings and research, an electronic
discussion list (with web archive) and electronic publication of student writings, both individual and collaborative.

The educational use of telecomputing will facilitate ongoing asynchronous discussion, submission and revision of
student writings, peer review of student writings, collaborative group writings and projects, individual communication
with the professor, or among students, and publication of an electronic course journal with student contributions.

Telecomputing tutorials are available as is guidance on how to engage in respectful communication on the Internet
(netiquette).  In using web sources, please refer to MLA Documentation of Electronic Sources.

The purposes of the using of computer technology in this study are as follows:

Writing Across the Curriculum
This study is a Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC), writing-intensive, course where writing is fully integrated
into all aspects of the learning and reflection process.  In this process one's writing skills are further developed in
the context of both learning to write and writing to learn. There are no exams in this course, but there are in- and
out-of-class writings, a formal, revised essay, group writings, oral presentations or debates with written components.
On-line writing resources are available.  All writings are to be completely the work of the individual or the group
doing the writing, thus avoiding all plagiarism.
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Attendance Policy
Attendance at every class is expected and necessary to best benefit the act and art of learning through the discussion
and writing orientation of this course on a very complex subject.  Anyone not willing to be responsible for attending all
classes is advised not to take this course.
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Drop Policy
The official withdrawal policy is observed where the withdrawal ("W") period for an individual course begins
August 27th and ends October 26th.
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Course Evaluation
       Class List Participation, Selected Individal & Collaborative Writings          -   25%
       Individual Essay / Project #1                                                                 -   25%
       Self-Directed Group Writing & Class Presentation Project                        -   25%
       Individual Integration Essay #2 (revision process)                                     -   25%

All writings, presentations, discussion list postings need to be given on time to receive full evaluation.
* Opportunity for voluntary, collaborative creation of issues of a Course Journal will be given


Semester Schedule

                                             In a time of drastic change it is the learners who survive;
                    The "learned" find themselves fully equipped to live in a world that no longer exists. (Hoffer)

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