They turned the Greco-Roman World upside- down (keep clicking to return)

Prof Michael Markowski

May Term 2005:  Christianity
The Original Counter Culture

      An odd thought -- Christianity as Counter-Culture:   Christianity so often seems 'status-quo-ish,' rather ordinary and even normative. (Utah is no exception!) This course will explore the radical nature of Christianity from its inception (e.g., the Sermon on the Mount). The focus will shift to examining the writings of the early Christians and their radical 'World'-View (or non-world-view) and how those views countered their own Greco-Roman culture's inherent prejudice against gender, its systemic class system, slavery, inequality, self-indulgence, its withered artistic sensibilities and failing political structure. Finally, the course will turn to how Christianity itself spawned new counter-cultural movements (within and without) as Rome fell and Christianity became the main show in town.

      The class will explore questions like: Given that the Christian Testament has some seriously counter-cultural aspects, how have these aspects fared in history? To what extent have various Christians, movements, ideas etc countered cultural norms? To what extent have compromises muted the radical voice? For example, one of the most infamous compromises occurred when the Nazis should have been countered at every turn, and so seldom were -- countered not just by German Christians, but by all Christians everywhere, especially as the holocaust grew. On the other hand, one of the most influential and positive 'counterings' emerged in the 11-12th centuries -- an educational program that fed into the invention of the college/university system and the Liberal Arts conception that we enjoy today. Believe it or not, higher education was once revolutionary!

     We will also examine how that 'radical voice' at times called people into definable Sub-Cultures: What did they look like? How did they develop such that both normative Christianity and sub-cultures like monasticism became separate cultures -- cultures that each in its own way provoked counterings? Some counter-cultural groups, like the property-rejecting Franciscans or the Protestant Reformers, were themselves "countered," not only by the norm but also by more radical elements from within themselves. A big topic here, folks -- one we can only start, and probably never finish!

      This course (HIST*300-OO, 2-credit May-Term 2005) examines the original "counter culture" -- early Christianity, as well as modern Christianity. Inherently radical, the early church stood as a serious critique of the Roman world. Rome responded with hostility. Yet the church won out after two-and-a-half centuries, only to become the "dominant culture" itself, and invite other counter-cultures into existence.

      The Bible, New Revised Standard at the Bookstore, or the New American Standard (NAS) or the NIV or any other standard version.

      Protestors for Paradise (BBC publication)

      Grades are drawn from class Discussions (30%), Presentations (30%) and a paper (40%). Click for more on presentations. Regular attendance is important, and for the discussion grade, necessary.

       FOST 419: M-W-F 9:30-10:30. Phone: (832-)2391.

Gore B24, MWF 10:30

May 9: INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW
            Early & Later Chronologies
             Online:  Interesting &  Useful Links (only useful if used!)
     11: DEFINING TERMS
           Christianity? (John ch 3) Culture? Counter? Sub?
     13: FOUNDATIONAL TEXTS
           Gender & Society (John ch 4-5; Luke 10:25-54): Descriptive & Prescriptive
            Other (Your) Topics & Texts that reveal Countering Culture
     16: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
           A New Morality? Principles? Elements? (Matt ch.5-7; Luke 6:17-49)
     18: THE NEXT GENERATION
           The Acts, the Early Church (Acts ch 1-17) Backgrounds
     20: MARTYRS
           Pliny; Perpetua (A Gender argument)
     23: MONASTICISM: Women & Men
           Genesis of a Sub-Culture, & Re-Creating, & ....
     25: 12th-CENTURY REFORM
           Abelard & Left-Bank Schools; Friars
     27: THE REFORMATION
           Quakers, Methodists et alia
Jun 1: MODERNITY
           Conforming like never before
              The Jesus Movement
       3: END TIMES

       The class schedule is likely to change within the first 10-20 minutes of the first class. Depending upon the various interests of each student, upon different topical explorations we take as a class and upon the availability of readings, a re-tooled schedule should be expected. Perhaps daily! Best: Check the Calendar where I'll post 'next class' assignments & topics if/as we go off the gold standard of the anticipated schedule of classes above. 

        Westminster College seeks to provide equal access to the college's programs, services, and activities to people with disabilities as defined by the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  If you have a disability for which you will need accommodations in this class, please let the instructor know as soon as possible.  You will also be required to provide documentation of your disability to the Services for Students with Disabilities program in the START Center (Carleson Hall, 832-2280).

          Please refer to the Academic Catalog or the Student Handbook for the College's statement on academic honesty.    visits. Last updated May 27, 2005