REL. 354: The Protestant Revolution
Aim of the Course
The aim of this course is to understand the major figures, movements, and ideas that contributed to the division of Western Christendom into Protestant and Roman Catholic communities. Primary emphasis will be placed on the writings of the two most influential reformers, Martin Luther and John Calvin. Three other reform movements, the so-called "Radical Reformation" (Anabaptists), the Community of True Inspiration, and the establishment of the Church of England, will also be introduced. The course will conclude with an in-depth study of the writings of John and Charles Wesley, founders of a revival movement known as Methodism that began within, and later broke from, the Church of England.
Class Meeting Times
Class meetings will be held on Monday through Friday, from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M.
Course Requirements
1. Class Participation (20% of final grade). Regular attendance at class meetings and regular participation in class discussions are expected. Additionally, each student will take a turn at initiating class discussion by identifying, and raising questions about, a passage in the assigned reading that they find particularly interesting. More than one absence from class will progressively lower this portion of your grade.
2. Midterm Exam (25%), which will take place on the second Wednesday of the term. The exam will contain short answer and short essay questions.
3. A 4-5 Page Essay (25%), due on the third Wednesday of the term. Late essays will not be accepted without prior consent of the professor.
4. A Final Essay of 5-7 pages (30%), due by 1:00 P.M. on the fourth Wednesday of the term.
Required Texts
1. Roland H. Bainton, The Reformation of the Sixteenth Century.
2. Martin Luther: Selections from His Writings (ed. John Dillenberger).
3. John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion (ed. Tony Lane and Hilary Osborne).
4. Melvin Gingerich, Mennonites in Iowa.
5. Teachings on Salvation (Elder Council of the Amana Church Society).
6. John and Charles Wesley: Selected Writings and Hymns (ed. Frank Whaling).
*Further materials, as noted in the Course Calendar, are on reserve in Cole Library.
Academic Honesty
Consult the COMPASS for the College's policy on cheating and plagiarism. More will be said about plagiarism when your essay assignments are distributed.
Students with Special Needs
Cornell College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to all students. If you have a documented learning disability and will need any accommodation in this course, you must request the accommodation(s) from the instructor no later than the third day of the term. Additional information about the policies and procedures for accommodation of learning disabilities is available at http://cornellcollege.edu/academic_affairs/disabilities/.
Course Calendar
Note: The reading assignments listed in this course calendar are to be completed PRIOR to that day's meeting of the class.
WEEK 1
Monday: Getting oriented.
I. The Lutheran Reform
Tuesday: (a) Bainton, The Reformation of the Sixteenth Century,
Introduction and chapter 1.
(b) Dillenberger, ed., Martin Luther, 489-503, 19-34.
Wednesday: (a) Bainton, chapter 2.
(b) Dillenberger, 42-85.
Thursday: (a) Bainton, chapter 3.
(b) Dillenberger, 363-402.
II. The Calvinist Reform
Friday: (a) Bainton, chapter 4.
(b) Calvin, The Institutes of Christian Religion, 21-82.
WEEK 2
Monday: (a) Bainton, chapter 6.
(b) Calvin, 85-113, 121-140.
Tuesday: Calvin, 143-157, 181-199, 213-223, 253-271.
Wednesday: MIDTERM EXAM, 1:00 P.M.
III. The Radical Reformation: Anabaptists
Thursday: (a) Bainton, chapter 5.
(b) Stories from Mirror of the Martyrs (Library Reserve).
(c)
Gingerich, Mennonites in Iowa (pp. 25-48 may be skimmed, but read the rest carefully).
IV. The Community of True Inspiration
Friday: (a) Hoehnle, The Amana People, 7-24, 29-33, 47-50 (Library Reserve).
(b)
Amana Elders, Teachings on Salvation, 26-69.
V. The English Reformation
WEEK 3
Monday: (a) Bainton, chapter 10.
(b) Preface to the first Book of Common Prayer (Library Reserve).
(c) The Thirty-nine Articles of Religion (Library Reserve).
VI. The Methodist Revival
Tuesday: Whaling, ed., John and Charles Wesley, 1-26 (middle),
77-89, 99-110, 162-171.
Wednesday: ESSAY DUE, 1:00 P.M.
The Anabaptists revisited: In-class viewing of the film, The Amish: Not to Be Modern.
Thursday: Whaling, 26 (middle)-64, 299-316, 373 (bottom)-377.
Friday: Whaling, 175-250.
VII. Conclusion: Examining the Reformation from a variety of angles.
WEEK 4
Monday: (a) Bainton, chapters 11-13.
(b) Steinmetz, "The Intellectual Appeal of the Reformation" (Library
Reserve).
Tuesday: No class--work on final essay.
Wednesday: FINAL ESSAY DUE BY 1:00 P.M.
A List of Reference Resources Available in the Library
Encyclopedia of Theology (Ref 203 En19)
Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Ref 203 Ox2)
New Dictionary of Theology (Ref 230.03 N42)
Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology (Ref 230.03 W528)
Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation, 4 vols. (Ref 270.603 Ox2)
Historical Dictionary of Lutheranism (Ref 284.103 G216h)
Lutheran Cyclopedia (Ref 284.103 L97)
Encyclopedia of World Methodism, 2 vols. (Ref 287 En1)
Historical Dictionary of Methodism (Ref 287.03 H629)
The Mennonite Encyclopedia, 4 vols. (Ref 289.7 M52)
Handbook of Denominations in the United States (Ref 291.0973 M461h)