"Early African Christian History and Thought" is a thought-provoking course facilitated by Professor Eric Betts. Building on the scholarly works of Vincent Bantu and Thomas Oden, this course delves into the significant contributions of Africa to the development of early Christianity. Students will embark on a journey tracing the roots of Christian thought in Africa, exploring how these formative influences have shaped theological concepts, spiritual practices, and church traditions. Through engaging lectures and in-depth discussions, Professor Betts will guide students in understanding and appreciating the profound and enduring imprint of African heritage on Christian history and theology. This course is an invitation to enrich our knowledge of Christianity's diverse origins, highlighting the necessity to acknowledge and value the African narratives often overlooked in ecclesiastical history.
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"Early African Christian History and Thought" is a thought-provoking course facilitated by Professor Eric Betts. Building on the scholarly works of Vincent Bantu and Thomas Oden, this course delves into the significant contributions of Africa to the development of early Christianity. Students will embark on a journey tracing the roots of Christian thought in Africa, exploring how these formative influences have shaped theological concepts, spiritual practices, and church traditions. Through engaging lectures and in-depth discussions, Professor Betts will guide students in understanding and appreciating the profound and enduring imprint of African heritage on Christian history and theology. This course is an invitation to enrich our knowledge of Christianity's diverse origins, highlighting the necessity to acknowledge and value the African narratives often overlooked in ecclesiastical history.
"Early African Christian History and Thought" is a thought-provoking course facilitated by Professor Eric Betts. Building on the scholarly works of Vincent Bantu and Thomas Oden, this course delves into the significant contributions of Africa to the development of early Christianity. Students will embark on a journey tracing the roots of Christian thought in Africa, exploring how these formative influences have shaped theological concepts, spiritual practices, and church traditions. Through engaging lectures and in-depth discussions, Professor Betts will guide students in understanding and appreciating the profound and enduring imprint of African heritage on Christian history and theology. This course is an invitation to enrich our knowledge of Christianity's diverse origins, highlighting the necessity to acknowledge and value the African narratives often overlooked in ecclesiastical history.
This course provides a wealth of benefits to a spectrum of individuals, from professionals to public school teachers, Sunday school teachers, ministers, and those interested in diversity. Professionals and educators will gain a richer, more nuanced understanding of early Christian history, enabling them to incorporate these insights into their respective fields. Public school teachers can use this knowledge to offer students a more comprehensive view of Christian history, highlighting the diverse contributions of various cultures. Similarly, Sunday school teachers and ministers will find value in these lessons, refining their sermons and teachings to reflect a more inclusive, global perspective of Christianity. For those interested in diversity, this course illuminates the multicultural origins of Christian thought, reinforcing the importance of inclusive narratives in historical scholarship and discourse.
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Learning objectives
- Mastery concerning the early development of christianity in africa and its foundational role in shaping christian thought and practices
- Master knowledge concerning the key early african christian thinkers, their texts and theological contributions
- How to showcase and redress under-represented histories, particularly african ones,
- How to challenge notions that christianity was initially introduced to africa by rome or european colonial powers
- Be able to critically evaluate historical narratives and integrate an inclusive perspective in their understanding of christian history.
- Mastery concerning the early development of christianity in africa and its foundational role in shaping christian thought and practices
- Master knowledge concerning the key early african christian thinkers, their texts and theological contributions
- How to showcase and redress under-represented histories, particularly african ones,
- How to challenge notions that christianity was initially introduced to africa by rome or european colonial powers
- Be able to critically evaluate historical narratives and integrate an inclusive perspective in their understanding of christian history.
Syllabus
Introduction
This lecture provides an introduction of your professor and the contours for study
African Foundations along the Nile and Numidia
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Syllabus
This lecture provides an introduction of your professor and the contours for study
Be familiar with key early African Christian thinkers, their texts, and their theological contributions.
This lecture instructs us on the influence of Carthage in the early church
Be equipped with the knowledge to challenge Eurocentric views of early Christianity and highlight the significant African contributions.
This lecture showcases the early influence of African martyrs in the larger Christian context
This lecture names the seven ways Africa influence the church in late antiquity
This lecture begins the detailed study on the ways Africa influenced the Christian mind. It covers the first four ways specifically
This lecture concludes the detailed study on the ways Africa influenced the Christian mind. It covers the last three ways out of seven.
Students will understand and be able to teach the history of how the Christian faith came to Egypt and also utilize this history dispel myths surrounding Egyptology and so-called "stolen religion."
This lecture examines the roots of monotheism in Nubia as a prelude to the development of Christianity within its kingdom. There is also special mention of Christianity's early spread into West Africa
This lecture shows how Christianity entered Ethiopia and how the faith was established among its people
This lecture shows the early Ethiopian Church's determination to only embrace doctrinal language that harmonized with their beliefs concerning the nature of God and Jesus
This lecture shows how the Ethiopians were trailblazers in translating manuscripts to serve the local language of the people
This content picks up on a previous lecture which discusses the Egyptian origin of Neoplatonism
Good to know
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Activities
Design an annotated timeline
Show steps
Create an annotated timeline to track and illustrate the significant events and developments in early African Christian history.
Show steps
-
Gather relevant historical sources
-
Identify key events and milestones
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Research each event and gather supporting details
-
Create a visual timeline using a tool or software
-
Annotate the timeline with concise descriptions and historical context
Explore interactive online exhibits
Show steps
Engage with online exhibits and resources to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and archaeological evidence related to early African Christianity.
Show steps
-
Identify relevant online exhibits
-
Interact with interactive maps, timelines, and artifacts
-
Explore multimedia presentations and interviews with experts
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Read accompanying texts and descriptions
-
Reflect on the significance of the evidence presented
Create a multimedia presentation on an early African Christian figure
Show steps
Develop a creative and engaging multimedia presentation that explores the life, teachings, and legacy of a significant early African Christian figure.
Show steps
-
Choose an early African Christian figure to research
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Gather information from historical sources
-
Develop a clear and concise narrative
-
Incorporate multimedia elements such as images, videos, and audio recordings
-
Practice presenting the multimedia presentation
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Analyze historical documents
Show steps
Practice analyzing historical documents, such as letters, texts, and inscriptions, to extract key information and understand the perspectives of early African Christian thinkers.
Show steps
-
Select a document for analysis
-
Read and carefully examine the document
-
Identify the author, date, and context
-
Extract key arguments and ideas
-
Evaluate the document's significance and limitations
Read 'Christianity in Africa: The Roots of the Church Today' by Lamin Sanneh
Show steps
Gain insights into the historical foundations of Christianity in Africa by reading a comprehensive and authoritative book on the subject.
Show steps
-
Read through the book
-
Take notes on key themes and arguments
-
Reflect on the implications for understanding early African Christian history
-
Discuss the book's findings with classmates or a study group
Write a research essay
Show steps
Demonstrate understanding and research skills by writing a well-structured and evidence-based essay on a topic related to early African Christian history.
Show steps
-
Choose a research topic
-
Conduct research using scholarly sources
-
Develop a thesis statement
-
Organize the essay into an introduction, body, and conclusion
-
Write the essay, ensuring clear and concise language, proper citations, and a strong argument
Read 'Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture' by Thomas Oden
Show steps
Gain insights into the exegetical and theological perspectives of early African Christian thinkers by exploring a collection of ancient commentaries.
View
A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological...
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read through the relevant sections of the commentary
-
Identify key interpretations and insights
-
Analyze the historical and cultural context of the commentaries
-
Consider the implications for understanding early African Christian thought and practice
Design an annotated timeline
Show steps
Create an annotated timeline to track and illustrate the significant events and developments in early African Christian history.
Show steps
- Gather relevant historical sources
- Identify key events and milestones
- Research each event and gather supporting details
- Create a visual timeline using a tool or software
- Annotate the timeline with concise descriptions and historical context
Explore interactive online exhibits
Show steps
Engage with online exhibits and resources to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and archaeological evidence related to early African Christianity.
Show steps
- Identify relevant online exhibits
- Interact with interactive maps, timelines, and artifacts
- Explore multimedia presentations and interviews with experts
- Read accompanying texts and descriptions
- Reflect on the significance of the evidence presented
Create a multimedia presentation on an early African Christian figure
Show steps
Develop a creative and engaging multimedia presentation that explores the life, teachings, and legacy of a significant early African Christian figure.
Show steps
- Choose an early African Christian figure to research
- Gather information from historical sources
- Develop a clear and concise narrative
- Incorporate multimedia elements such as images, videos, and audio recordings
- Practice presenting the multimedia presentation
Analyze historical documents
Show steps
Practice analyzing historical documents, such as letters, texts, and inscriptions, to extract key information and understand the perspectives of early African Christian thinkers.
Show steps
- Select a document for analysis
- Read and carefully examine the document
- Identify the author, date, and context
- Extract key arguments and ideas
- Evaluate the document's significance and limitations
Read 'Christianity in Africa: The Roots of the Church Today' by Lamin Sanneh
Show steps
Gain insights into the historical foundations of Christianity in Africa by reading a comprehensive and authoritative book on the subject.
Show steps
- Read through the book
- Take notes on key themes and arguments
- Reflect on the implications for understanding early African Christian history
- Discuss the book's findings with classmates or a study group
Write a research essay
Show steps
Demonstrate understanding and research skills by writing a well-structured and evidence-based essay on a topic related to early African Christian history.
Show steps
- Choose a research topic
- Conduct research using scholarly sources
- Develop a thesis statement
- Organize the essay into an introduction, body, and conclusion
- Write the essay, ensuring clear and concise language, proper citations, and a strong argument
Read 'Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture' by Thomas Oden
Show steps
Gain insights into the exegetical and theological perspectives of early African Christian thinkers by exploring a collection of ancient commentaries.
View
A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological...
on Amazon
Show steps
- Read through the relevant sections of the commentary
- Identify key interpretations and insights
- Analyze the historical and cultural context of the commentaries
- Consider the implications for understanding early African Christian thought and practice
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