28353 - History of Christianity (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course students get familiar with sources interpretation processes and with the history of christianity in a diachronical perspective. Students will understand the role played by christianity in the cultural history and its position among other religions.

Course contents

"God's Defeat"

The course owes its title to a famous essay in which Sergio Quinzio, in 1992, harshly condensed some of his reflections on a fundamental theological and Christological knot, whose long-term roots lie in the problem of the deus patiens and the kenotic nature of the Christian God.

The approach to the issue is historical-religious and strongly diachronic: starting from the scriptural sources, we will reach the contemporary era, passing, however, through an author fundamental to the development of Christian theology, i.e. Clement of Alexandria, who represents a paradigmatic case study for the theme we seek to focus on.

The following topics will be covered during the class:

• Some historical and historiographical problems of early Christianity;
• Clement of Alexandria: his thought and "philosophy";
• The development of Christological reflection;
• "Taking evil seriously"
  
  

Readings/Bibliography

Syllabus for attending students 

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

Attending students shall study:

• One text chosen from:

  Quis dives salvetur: Quale ricco si salverà, ed. Bianco M. G., Città Nuova, Rome 1999.

  Il Protrettico, ed. Migliore F., «Collana Testi Patristici» 179, Città Nuova, Rome 2004.

  Il Pedagogo, ed. Tessore D., «Collana Testi Patristici» 181, Città Nuova, Rome 2005.

   
• The following essays:

  Rizzi M., Introduzione, in Clemente di Alessandria. Stromati. Note di vera filosofia, ed. Pini G. - Rizzi M., Milan 2006, pp. VII-LXXXI; 

  Dainese D., La femminilità del Padre. Note a margine di Q.d.s. 36-37, in Jahrbuch für Antike und Christentum, in Jahrbuch für Antike und Christentum 56 (2013), pp. 40-50;

• One of the following books:

Either D. Dainese, Pane celeste, pane terreno, Roma 2021;

or G. Lercaro, Per la forza dello spirito, Bologna 2014, or C. Lorefice, Dossetti e Lercaro, Milano 2011.

 

Non-attending students shall also study one of the following books:

D. Dainese, Passibilità divina, Roma 2012;

M. Benfatto, Gesù frainteso, Roma 2022;

D. Bonhoeffer, Resistenza e resa, Brescia 2002.

Teaching methods

Lecture; historical-critical analysis of primary sources. Attendance is not necessary, but attendance will be helpful in assimilating the content that will later be the subject of examination (written or oral, cf. “assessment methods” section).

Assessment methods

Please note that a student is considered to have attended the course if they participate in at least 75% of the classes (classes will begin on September 15). That said, class attendance does not affect the exam, except in terms of differences in the syllabus (see the “Texts/Bibliography” section).

The exam will consist of an oral interview based on the reading and commentary of primary sources and critical literature, and it will not be divided into separate parts. Students will be evaluated on their ability to read ancient texts (also in Italian translation) and on their specific knowledge of the history of Christianity. Students are expected to demonstrate command of specialized vocabulary and knowledge of diachronic data (such as dates and historical events).

Below is an example of possible exam questions (to be understood as a GENERAL and NON-EXHAUSTIVE indication of a broader range of questions):
"Read and comment on the following passage", "Who was Clement of Alexandria?", "What are the main characteristics of mysticism in early Christianity?"

The use of books or notes during the exam is not allowed.

The oral exam will take place following the order of registration in the Almaesami platform.

Grading criteria:

• Excellent (Grade 30 or 30 with honors): achievement of a comprehensive understanding of the topics discussed during the course and a critical approach demonstrating mastery of content and technical vocabulary.

• Average (Grades 25–29): mostly memorized knowledge and somewhat imprecise use of technical terms.

• Sufficient (Grades 18–24): minimal knowledge of the topics covered (e.g., dates and names), without major errors.

• Failing grade: failure to meet the minimum requirements (i.e., those of a sufficient grade).

Exam sessions will take place (approximately) in the months of January, February, May, June, July, September, November, and December.

Teaching tools

Multimedia materials (iconographic sources) and lesson notes. 

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Davide Dainese