28271 - History of Churches and Religious Movements

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students are familiar with the sources and historical development of the Christian religious movements examined, also with reference to the history of ideas, cultures and, where involved, relations with other religions. Students are also introduced to the application of the historical method in the study of Christianity and its relationship to other methodologies (particularly with regard to the social sciences).

Course contents

The 6 cfu course coincides with the First Module (for the MA in History and Oriental Studies and for students of the MA in Cultural Anthropology who choose such module) or with the Second Module (for the MA in Italian Culture and Language for Foreigners and for students of the MA in Cultural Anthropology who choose such module). The 12 cfu course includes both the First and the Second Module.

 

First Module (Andrea Annese)

Jesus and His Movement

What were the main themes of the preaching of the historical Jesus, and his most significant practices? How was the religious movement that took shape around Jesus as a charismatic leader? And how did the various groups of Jesus’ followers in the first century CE reinterpret his message and figure?

Starting from these questions, the course will develop the analysis of the most relevant sources to trace a historical reconstruction (in dialogue with the social sciences) of Jesus, his movement and their relations with different socio-cultural contexts. Fundamental methodological coordinates for the study of the topic will be provided and the elements of continuity and discontinuity between Jesus’ preaching and the new interpretations of it that emerged already in the first decades of his movement’s history will be highlighted. Finally, a focus will be offered on one significant modern interpretation of Jesus, the Biblical texts, and Christian origins: that of the adherents of so-called “Catholic Modernism,” a reformist movement whose significance, as Luciano Canfora has noted, goes far beyond mere scholarly historical and philological aspects, extending instead to the history of freedom of thought.

 

Second Module (Davide Dainese)

Reasons for Command

The second module will reconsider the theological-political paradigm as a framework for understanding the relationship between the religious sphere and secular power. This model is not the only possible one; rather, it has a specific historical nature that has shaped the use and reuse of ancient sources and traditions. Carl Schmitt’s thesis (1922) will be compared with that of Erik Peterson, and the texts on which their arguments were constructed will be discussed. The aim will be to place the theological-political perspective in context by drawing on evidence emerging from new lines of research and new approaches to the sources, particularly those texts on which Schmitt based his concept of the enemy in Der Begriff des Politischen (1932).

The following topics will be covered in class:

• The theological-political paradigm
• The use and reuse of biblical and patristic models over the longue durée
• Violence and religion: sacrifice and war

Readings/Bibliography

First Module

Exam bibliography:

1) E. Norelli, Gesù di Nazaret, in E. Prinzivalli (a cura di), Storia del cristianesimo. I. L’età antica (secoli I-VII), Carocci, Roma 2015 (or reprints), pp. 33-68.

2) M. Pesce, Da Gesù al cristianesimo, Morcelliana, Brescia 2011 (or reprints), only pp. 5-34, 55-84, 159-172, 209-225 (= Presentazione; Parte prima, capp. I e III; Parte seconda, cap. II e Conclusione).

3) C. Gianotto, Il movimento di Gesù tra la Pasqua e la missione di Paolo, in R. Penna (a cura di), Le origini del cristianesimo. Una guida, Terza ediz., Carocci, Roma 2018, pp. 165-200 and 416-422 (notes).

4) A. Annese, F. Berno, M. Fallica, M. Mantovani, Le origini cristiane. Testi e autori (secoli I-II), Carocci, Roma 2021 (o ristampe), only pp. 21-135, 191-234 (= chap. 1-3 and 6-7).

5) G. Vian, Il modernismo. La Chiesa cattolica in conflitto con la modernità, Carocci, Roma 2010, only pp. 11-18, 31-47 (= Introduzione and chap. 2).

6) L. Canfora, Filologia e libertà. La più eversiva delle discipline, l’indipendenza di pensiero e il diritto alla verità, Mondadori, Milano 2008 (or reprints), only pp. 1-88.

Non-attending students will add:

E. Prinzivalli (a cura di), L’enigma Gesù. Fonti e metodi della ricerca storica, Carocci, Roma 2008 (or reprints).

 

Second Module

The examination requires:

1) First, the study of the following primary sources, choosing one of Groups A, B, or C:

Group A (Antiquity):
One of the following texts:

Eusebio di Cesarea, Elogio di Costantino. Discorso per il trentennale. Discorso Regale, edited by M. Amerise, Paoline, Milano, 2005.

Eusebio di Cesarea, Vita di Costantino, any available edition.

Group B (Early Modern Period):

Jean Bodin, I sei libri dello Stato, edited by M. Isnardi Parente, Torino, UTET, 1964, vol. I.

Group C (Contemporary Period):
Both of the following texts:

C. Schmitt, Teologia Politica, in Id., Le categorie del politico. Quattro capitoli sulla dottrina della sovranità, Bologna, Il Mulino, pp. 27–86.

E. Peterson, Il monoteismo come problema politico, Brescia, Queriniana, 1983.

2) The study of one of the following three options:

Option 1:
Four essays of the student’s choice from the following collective volumes:

A. Melloni – E. Prinzivalli – S. Ronchey (eds), Costantino 1. Enciclopedia costantiniana sulla figura e l'immagine dell'imperatore del cosiddetto Editto di Milano 313–2013, Roma, Treccani, 2013, vols I, II, III.

Option 2:
One of the following books:

M. Scattola, Teologia Politica, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007; F. Monateri, Katechon. Filosofia, politica estetica, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2023.

Option 3:
The following articles:

D. Dainese, “Note sulla produzione storiografica recente intorno alla Guerra dei trent’anni, (parti I e II)” «CRISTIANESIMO NELLA STORIA», 2022, 43, pp. 133-188 e 819-872;

D. Dainese, [https://cris.unibo.it/handle/11585/924497], «STORICAMENTE», 2022, 18, Article number: 18, pp. 1-25;

D. Dainese, Balthasar de Ayala. Storia e immagine storiografica di un convitato di pietra delle guerre di religione del lungo secolo di ferro, «CRISTIANESIMO NELLA STORIA», 2024, 45, pp. 97-173;

D. Dainese, Cum libeat et causa subsit, «NUOVA RIVISTA STORICA», 2025, 109, pp. 513-558.

Teaching methods

Taught class; historical-critical analysis of sources; use of images and PowerPoint presentations (with maps, reproductions of manuscripts, etc.).

Assessment methods

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

Oral exam based on the subjects of the course and the books required. Students will be examined on their command of the specific vocabulary; on their knowledge of the topics of the course; on their ability to present clearly what has been learned; on their degree of acquisition of the methodological skills necessary for the study of ancient Christianity, illustrated during the course; on their ability to analyze problems and sources. Final Grade:

- knowledge of a very limited number of topics covered in the course, analytical skills that emerge only with the help of the teacher, poor command of vocabulary, poor clarity of exposition, methodological principles acquired in a barely sufficient way: grade 18-19;

- knowledge of a limited number of topics covered in the course, capacity for independent analysis little more than sufficient, sufficient command of vocabulary, fair clarity of exposition, methodological principles acquired at a fair level: grade 20-24;

- knowledge of a large number of topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis, good command of specific terminology, good clarity of exposition, good competence in the methodological principles of the discipline: grade 25-29;

- very thorough knowledge of the topics covered in the course, excellent ability to make autonomous choices of critical analysis and logical connection, full command of specific terminology and excellent argumentation skills, high familiarity with the methodological principles of the discipline: grade 30-30L.

For the First Module, exam sessions are scheduled for the following months of the academic year:

February, March, May, June, July, September, October or November, December (one session for each of these months). Sessions are available for all students (if not otherwise noted in AlmaEsami).

As for the Second Module: January, February, May, June, July, September, November, December.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Exams: With regard to learning assessment, the use of AI is prohibited during in-person exams. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

Transcripts and scans of sources (uploaded among the teaching materials on Virtuale); images, PowerPoint presentations.

 

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 Andrea Annese

See the website of Davide Dainese