THEO3391: THE FIRST URBAN CHURCHES

• None.

• None.

• None.

• To introduce students to social analysis of earliest Christianity.
• To make disciplinary connections between history, text-analysis and the social sciences.
• To enable students to engage with top level scholarship on Christian origins.

• Who were the first Christians and what was it like to belong to one of the first churches in the multicultural environment of a Roman city? How did Christians react to critical issues in their environment, such as slavery, 'idolatry' and life in the household? Exploring the social context of the first Christians and using tools drawn from sociology and anthropology, we will investigate how Christian communities developed their own identity, and the very varied patterns of leadership, gender-roles and cultural assimilation which they adopted.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• A systematic understanding of key aspects, and a coherent and detailed knowledge of scholarship on Christian origins, at least some of which is informed by the most recent research and methodologies.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Ability to understand and deploy select resources from the social sciences in analysing early Christianity.

Key Skills:

• Skills in the acquisition of information through reading and research, and in the structured presentation of information in written form.

• Lectures convey information and exemplify an approach to the subject-matter, enabling students to develop a clear understanding of the subject and to improve their skills in listening and in evaluating information.
• Seminars enhance subject-specific knowledge and understanding both through preparation and through interaction with students and staff, promoting awareness of different viewpoints and approaches.
• Formative essays develop subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the acquisition of information through reading and research, and in the structured presentation of information in written form.
• Examinations assess subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the structured presentation of information in written form under time constraints.
• Summative essays assess subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the acquisition of information through reading and research, and in the structured presentation of information in written form.
• Summative seminar presentations enhance the ability to select relevant academic information and develop skills of oral communication and presentation, including the employment of relevant media.

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our FAQ webpages, Help page or our glossary of terms. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the FAQ, or a query about the on-line Undergraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.