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Unit of study_

RLST2624: The Birth of Christianity

This unit discusses the textual, archaeological and socio-cultural evidence for the origins of Christianity; with a particular purpose to analyse how cults centred on the charismatic figure of Jesus of Nazareth led to the construction of such a powerful religious tradition. Tensions within that emergent tradition will be considered, and especially its struggle towards self-identity with both Judaism and the Greco-Roman world.

Code RLST2624
Academic unit Studies in Religion
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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12 credit points at 1000 level in Studies in Religion or 6 credit points at 1000 level in in Studies in Religion and 6 credit points at 1000 level in Ancient History
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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RLST2024

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. critically assess the primary source material and other data available for an understanding of early Christianity
  • LO2. identify the theoretical and doctrinal stances held by secondary writers about early Christianity
  • LO3. understand the principal historical trajectories taken by early Christianity to the 5th century CE
  • LO4. analyse the influence of various religious, philosophical and cultural contexts upon the origin and development of early Christianity.

Unit outlines

Unit outlines will be available 2 weeks before the first day of teaching for the relevant session.