Catholic Studies (CATH)

This course investigates the relationship in Catholicism (and Christianity) between ideas and cultures. The semester will follow two plans: the first is diachronic (historical), focusing on threshold moments and controversies from antiquity to the present, e.g., Jewish vs Greek Christianity in the first century, established church in the fourth century, the Germanic adoption of Christianity in the early and central Middle Ages, the nationalization of Christianity in the late Middle Ages and early modern periods, Catholicism and European global colonization, Catholicism and liberalism, the “global Catholicism” of Vatican II and its legacy, and the era of Francis . The second is synchronic (diversity in a single time frame) and contemporary, comparing and relating Catholicism as practiced in different cultures, social strata, and world regions: Catholicism in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and also in secularized western societies. The driving question throughout: is there such a thing as global Catholicism; if so, what is it; if not, what then.

TBD

Whether it was to go to Jerusalem to see where Jesus lived, to make the hajj to Mecca, the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad, or to travel beyond unchartered territory, the longing to see distant lands was a common desire in the Middle Ages (500-1500 C.E.). This course will reflect on how aspects of medieval travel have shaped our understanding of movement, tourism, pilgrimage, and even wanderlust in today’s world. The goal to move and discover in the medieval world permeated all facets of life: religious, political, economic, and the personal desire to encounter the unknown. Through great economic and personal costs, many made dangerous journeys to visit places of religious significance. Those who couldn’t travel read travelogs and letters from pilgrims who had made the arduous trek. Through the shared experiences of walking through religious spaces in D.C., as well as physically handling manuscripts and other medieval objects, students will gain a first-hand connection to the medieval world.

The John and Pat Figge Fellowship Program brings together issues of global concern and theological reflection in faculty-mentored student research projects. In this seminar, two senior mentors, as well as individual faculty guidance, help students develop a project that will address an issue of significant human concern, of social, cultural, and historical importance; and to analyze it theologically. Permission of instructor