TRS 101 - Origins of Christianity

Upper Division

Prerequisites
TRS 097 or TRS 189.

The Christian religion begins its story with only a few dozen followers of a crucified man in the first century-backwater, uneducated, and unlikely to survive very long in a Mediterranean world dominated by much more powerful religious systems. Yet, within less than three centuries, Christianity would overwhelm the Roman Empire and beyond, building an elaborate theological and ecclesiastical system that would last until the present day. The course examines the rise of this Christian movement, focusing on such topics as Gnosticism, martyrdom, and the development of Christian ideas about Jesus.

Core Curriculum Designation(s)
TE - Theological Explorations

Course credits: 1