98975 - Christian Institutions, Doctrines, and Texts (LM)

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, students understand historical-critical methods and socio-anthropological contributions to analyze texts of the various Christian traditions and possess the linguistic tools necessary to understand written sources in the languages in which they are expressed. They are able to research and critically examine materials, bibliographic and documentary sources of different types, in order to conduct historical-religious investigations. They can communicate the acquired knowledge in written and oral form, documenting accurately the information on which they base their conclusions and giving an account of the methodologies of investigation used and are able to give form to the results of their own research in the field of History of Christianity. They know how to collect, also thanks to the use of specific databases, a relevant bibliography to document and adequately deepen their own competences both in the field of research and in the working environment.

Course contents

The aim of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the diachronic dimension of the history of Christianity, starting from the typology of sources in its various dimensions (hermeneutics, doctrines, institutions, cults). The history of episcopal elections and the election of the bishop of Rome will be the common thread running through the course, allowing students to study the forms and norms of a unique institution such as the conclave.

Readings/Bibliography

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BISHOP'S ELECTION AND THE CONCLAVE 


* A. Melloni, Storia del conclave e dell'elezione del papa. Secoli I-XXI, Marietti 2025


=> non-attending students will study also one volume of these ones: 
* Episcopal Elections in the Churches Laws, Practices, Doctrines, ed. A. Melloni, F. Ruozzi, Brill, Leiden, 2025
* A. Paravicini Bagliani-M.A. Visceglia, Il Conclave. Continuità e mutamenti dal medioevo ad oggi, Roma 2018


INTRODUCTION : THE OBJECT OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY 
* Daniele Menozzi, Lezioni di storia della chiesa, Morcelliana 2025

=> non-attending students will study also one volume of these ones:


* Hubert Jedin, Introduzione alla storia della Chiesa, con un introduzione di Giuseppe Alberigo, Morcelliana 62022
* A. Melloni, History and the History of religious objects, in Euare2023 Lectures, Brill 2024 (disponibile in italiano)

HANDBOOK 

* R. Rusconi, Storia del cristianesimo e delle Chiese. Dalle origini ai giorni nostri, Morcelliana, 2019


=> non-attending students will study also one volume of these ones: 
* G. Filoramo-L. Pellegrini-v. Lavenia- D. Menozzi, Storia della chiesa, EDB, Bologna 2019-2020

Teaching methods

Seminar

Assessment methods

Conversation and dialogue

Teaching tools

The Dossetti Library, www.fscire.it

Office hours

See the website of Alberto Melloni