Heresies and Heretics RELS S285 Paul Buehler, PhD Fall 2021

Course Description This course examines “heresy” both as a concept and as a phenomenon occurring throughout the history of the Christian Church from its inception to the time of the Reformation. The focus falls on major “heretics” whose beliefs and practices were deemed outside the acceptable parameters of Christian orthodoxy. Course and Instructor Information This course meets in-person on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:20-7:35pm. The classroom assignment is TDB (watch LORA for updates as the semester approaches).

Heresies and Heretics meets the RELS I - Christian Tradition requirement of the Loyola Core. It also satisfies requirements for students majoring or minoring in Religious Studies.

Dr. Buehler is available to meet students during normal business hours and after class. He can be reached by email ([email protected]), telephone (504-865-2139), or by appointment (pbuehler.youcanbook.me). His office is located in the Student Success Center on the second floor of Monroe Library. Lectures and Discussions This course will have both lectures and discussions. Discussions will occur during every class session on topics related to the readings and the lecture materials. These in-class discussions are also related to the topics used as prompts for the weekly Canvas discussion boards. Attendance Attendance is required and will be taken at the beginning of every class. A student who missed more than 3 classes without a documented excuse (approved, also, at the discretion of the instructor) will lose 1% from the Final Grade for each additional absence.

While there is correspondence between the reading assignments and class lectures, some themes or subjects receive more attention and a more thorough treatment in the lectures than in the readings and vice-versa. For that reason, it is crucial for your success in this course that you (a) complete all assigned readings for each class and (b) that you attend class frequently. Student Learning Outcomes In accordance with the Loyola Core Criteria for courses satisfying the RELS I: Christian Tradition requirement, after taking this course, students will be able to… ● Compare fundamental teachings and central doctrines of the Christian tradition. ● Be able to trace the historical development of Christian thought and tradition. ● Be able to analyze religious perspectives on issues. ● Cite components of faith and traditions. ● Display the ability to articulate and compare faith and traditions. ● Respectfully and critically engage with ideas about the Christian tradition.

Reading Materials Reading materials are uploaded to Canvas. There are no textbooks to buy for this course. Readings should be complete before the class period to which they are assigned.

Assignments and Grading Assignment Points Weight Due Date

Exam I 100 20% of Final Grade Wednesday, 9/29

Exam II 100 20% of Final Grade Wednesday, 11/10

Exam III 100 20% of Final Grade Wednesday, 12/15

Discussion Boards 100 20% of Final Grade Weekly in Canvas

Participation and 100 20% of Final Grade Daily in Class Attendance The following scale is used to calculate grades: A 100-94 B+ 89-87 C+ 79-77 D 69-60 A- 93-90 B 86-83 C 76-73 F 59-0 B- 82-80 C- 72-70

Tentative Schedule

Week 1: Introduction to the Class Monday 8/23: Introductions and Review of the Syllabus Wednesday 8/25: What is Heresy?

Unit I: The Development of Heresy and Orthodoxy in the Early Church Week 2: Introduction to the Early Christian Church Monday 8/30: Historical Background: Jesus Christ and the Early Christian Church Wednesday 9/1: Historical Background: Jesus Christ and the Early Christian Church continued

Week 3: Christological Heresies Monday 9/6: Labor Day -- No Class Wednesday 9/8: Ebionites and Marcionism

Week 4: Gnosticism Monday 9/13: Gnosticism introduced Wednesday 9/15: Gnostic Gospels

Week 5: Trinitarian controversy and other heresies Monday 9/20: Arianism Wednesday 9/22: Donatism and Pelagianism

Week 6: Unit Review and First Exam Monday 9/27: Review Wednesday 9/29: Unit I Exam (in class)

Unit II: Heresies and Heretics in the Middle Ages Week 7: Introduction to Heresies and Heretics of the Middle Ages Monday 10/4: Historical Background: The Scholastic and Spiritual Traditions of Medieval Christianity Wednesday 10/6: Historical Background: The Ecclesio-Political Tradition of Medieval Christianity

Week 8: Neo-Gnostic Heresy in the Middle Ages Monday 10/11: Fall Break -- No Class Wednesday 10/13: Albigensians Week 9: Heresies challenging the authority of the Medieval Church I Monday 10/18: Popular Religion in the Middle Ages Wednesday 10/20: Popular Religion and Heresy in the Middle Ages

Week 10: Heresies challenging the authority of the Medieval Church II Monday 10/25: Waldensians Wednesday 10/27: Lollards

Week 11: Heresies challenging the authority of the Medieval Church III Monday 11/1: Jan Hus and Jerome of Prague Wednesday 11/3: Girolamo Savonarola

Week 12: Unit Review and Second Exam Monday 11/8: Review Wednesday 11/10: Unit II Exam (in class)

Unit III: Heresy and Heretics in the Age of the Reformation Week 13: Historical Introduction to Reformation Europe Monday 11/15: Historical Background: Reformation Europe I Wednesday 11/17: Historical Background: Reformation Europe II

Week 14: Thanksgiving -- No Classes

Week 15: Martin Luther Monday 11/29: Luther’s Road to Reformation Wednesday 12/1: Exsurge Domine and the Condemnation at Worms

Week 16: Protestant Heretics and Heretics of Science Monday 12/6: Michael Servetus and Balthasar Hubmaier Wednesday 12/8: Galileo Galilei and Giordano Bruno

Unit III Exam: Wednesday 12/15 from 7:00-9:00pm in our usual classroom