SREL 112

Introduction to Christianity
 COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Name: Kwaku Boamah PhD 2

Office: School of Education and

Leadership Building

Hours: Wed. 9am -12pm

Email: kwakuboamah@ug.edu.gh
 COURSE DESCRIPTION
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This course is a survey of Christianity from its inception till
the present time. From a historical perspective, it explores
the origins, growth and fundamental teachings of the faith
as well as the variety of forms it has assumed over the
years.
The course also introduces students to some of the modern
ecumenical expressions of global Christianity and how it
seeks to maintain its unity in cultural diversity, especially in
Africa.
 COURSE OBJECTIVES
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The course seeks to:

give learners an understanding of Christian
history,
explore how culture contributes to the contextual
expression of a religious belief,
examine Christian beliefs and practices.
 MODE OF DELIVERY
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 The course will be delivered through lectures, individual presentations and group
discussions.
 The course shall adopt an asynchronous methods of teaching in fulfillment of 70%
face to face lecture and 30% online.
 The first and fourth weeks shall be delivered through Youtube (Revived Minds)
while the second, third, fifth and sixth weeks shall be delivered in class through face
to face lecture.
 Assessment for the course shall take 60% continues assessment and 40% Exams.
 There shall be a weekly quiz on the topics thought on Sakai (Saturdays, 10am - 6pm
but must be answered within 15 mins.) as part of the continues assessment as well as
a scheduled Interim Assessment on Sakai
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
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At the end of the course, learners should be able to:

explain the various phases of the history of
Christianity: its context and development,
describe the role of social and cultural factors in
shaping beliefs and practices in Christianity,
explain the fundamental beliefs, rituals/rites and
festivals of Christianity.
 COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
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Participation in class activities will includes:

a. Taking active part in discussions;
b. Being punctual and regular in class and
tutorials;
c. Taking active part in the Sakai Tests
 ASSESSMENT
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Assessment for the course shall take 60% Continues
Assessment and 40% Exams.
Class Participation 5%
Tutorials 5%
Sakai Test 30%
Interim Assessment (Sat., 17th July, 2021) 20%
End of Semester Exam 40%
 GRADING SYSTEM
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A 80-100 Outstanding
B+ 75-79 Very Good
B 70-74 Good
C+ 65-69 Fairly Good
C 60-64 Average
D+ 55-59 Below Average
D 50-54 Marginal Pass
E 45-49 Unsatisfactory
F 0-44 Fail
 LECTURE SCHEDULE:
WEEK DATE TOPIC MODE/
VENUE
READINGS 10
  Mon. 21/06/21 Introduction:   Shafer, A Guide to Historical Studies, 1-98
    (a) The Historical approach’ to the   Wilson, Christianity Chapter 2.
  Teu. 22/06/21 study of religious traditions, Online Shape, The Study of Religion in a Historical
  (b) Origin of Christianity. Perspective 21-38
  Foster, The First Advance 1-18.
 
1     Online Ludwig, The Sacred Paths 132-138;
Wed. 23/06/21 Jesus of Nazareth, the question of the Ballings, The Story of Christianity 23-27.
  Jewish Messiah and his Divinity Dowley, Introduction to the History of Christianity,
Thur. 224/06/21   3-28

  Mon. 28/06/21   Face-to-Face Ludwig, The Sacred Paths 138-141;

    Paul and the Mission to the Gentiles New N Block Wilson, Christianity 26-27; Foster, The First
  Teu. 29/06/21   Room 3 Advance 35-40.
    (NNB3)
 
 
2
Wed. 30/06/21   Face-to-Face Foster, The First Advance 66-83.
  The Early Church. New N Block Jacobsen, Global Gospel 1-13
Thur. 01/07/21   Room 3 Dowley, Introduction to the History of Christianity,
(NNB3) 29-48
INTRODUCTION TO
CHRISTIANITY
 THE
HISTOTICAL
APPROACH
 INTRODUCTION
History is the analysis and interpretation of the human
past enabling us to study continuity and changes that are
taking place over time.
It is an act of both investigation and imagination that
seeks to explain how people have changed over time.
Historians use all forms of evidence to examine,
interpret, revisit, and reinterpret the past.
 INTRODUCTION cont.
These include not just written documents, but also oral
communication and objects such as buildings, artifacts,
photographs, and paintings.
Historians are trained in the methods of discovering and
evaluating these sources and the challenging task of
making historical sense out of them. History is a means
to understand the past and present.
 IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF HISTORY

To promote self-understanding: Everyone has a

heritage which is uniquely his, a combination of racial,
national, family and individual traditions which are woven
into his very being. Without enquiry into these historical
factors, man will remain a stranger to himself.
To teach tolerance: History teaches tolerance- tolerance
with different faiths, different loyalties, different cultures,
different ideas and ideals.
 IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF HISTORY cont.

To develop right attitudes: Development of right attitudes is

based on an appreciation of things which are worthwhile in life.
To give training for handling controversial issues: Teaching
history helps pupils to handle controversial questions in a spirit
that searches for truth-insists on free discussion and permits
compromise.
To teach moral principles: History teacher is in an excellent
position to inculcate moral values in pupils’ mind.
 SOURCE METHOD

 The study and use of original material and original sources called the
Source Method of teaching and learning give a much better
understanding of history than any other method. 
 Historical sources are “traces” left behind in the past.
 A historian tries to construct a systematic account of the past event with
the help of historical sources classified as follows:
1. Archaeological sources
2. Literary sources
3. Oral tradition
 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOURCES

(i) Monumental Finds: Building images and terracotta figures and other
antiquities are monumental finds.
Ancient buildings, sculptures, paintings, potteries and terracotta figures,
throw light on the type of civilization of the period, to which they
belong.  
(ii) Epigraphic: India is very rich in such authentic sources. Consisting
of inscription of stones, pillars, rocks, copper-plates bricks, seals,
terracotta and images.
Epigraphy gives concrete evidence for the various phases of Indian
history.
 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOURCES cont.
(iii) Numismatics: Old coins are very helpful in constructing
ancient history.
The extent of the kingdoms of particular ancient Indian kings, the
length of their regions and the succession of different rulers of
the same dynasty, are known through these sources.
Coins also throw light on the economic and religious conditions
of their times.
They also illustrate political and commercial relations with
neighbours in the past.
 LITERARY SOURCES
(i) Sacred or religious literature: the study of
the Bible as a historical account
(ii) Secular literature: Study of other texts

(iii) Foreign Accounts: study of texts written by

non-indegens
 ORAL TRADITION
 There are two classifications of Oral Traditions 
1. Primary sources: Also called original sources these include primary
data, the accounts prepared by persons directly connected with an event
or the eye-witnesses to it, like official orders, treaties, laws,
autobiographies and personal memories.

2. Secondary sources: Known as secondary data these are prepared by

those persons who were not directly connected with the actual
happening but -who prepared their accounts with the help of eye-
witnesses, like standard historical works, based on original accounts.
 PRIMARY SOURCES
Some Examples:
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS: Diaries, speeches,
manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage,
autobiographies, official records
 CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art
 RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery, furniture, clothing,
buildings, Forts and Castles, coins
The Constitution
 SECONDARY SOURCES
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Published Books
Journal Articles
Encyclopaedia
 Dictionaries
 IMPORTANCE OF SOURCES

1. Engagement
2. Develop critical thinking skills
3. Construct knowledge
4. First hand Knowledge
5. To consider different points of view in analysis
6. To understand the continuum of history
7. To acquire empathy for the human condition
APPROACHES
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Impartial
Dispassionate
Fair
Objective
Open-minded
Accurate in the use of
language.
 AIMS

It is not to: 26
 find weak points of the other religion in order to win its members;
 condemn their practices;
 prove whether their claims are true or false
 expose their ‘false ways’
But rather, to:
 Understand your own religion or another religion from a detached point of
view.
 Appreciate an important aspect of humankind’s culture.
 Enable a dispassionate comparison of religious traditions for greater peace in
a multi-religious world.
 Epochs of
Christian History
&
African Church
Historiography
 EPOCHS OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY
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Apostolic Age – 34 -117 : The period of
the 12 till the death of John the last to
die. From the resurrection of Christ
through ascension till the death of John
in 117.
Early Church – Period up to 451:
Council of Chalcedon
 EPOCHS OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY cont.
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Dark Ages 451 – 950:
The descent of the Barbarian tribes from North
Eastern Europe on the Roman Empire in 476. Arabs
through Palestine, Egypt and North Africa came
into Spain.
In 950, the Christians reconquered the Barbarians
and the Christian faith was restored in Europe
 EPOCHS OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY cont.
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Middle Ages – 951- 14th Century:

This period was marked by the vigorous expansion
of Christianity in the West. The power of the Pope
increased until he became the supreme authority in
the West. Morality declines and the church became
corrupt. John Hus, Wycliffe, Savonarola, Erasmus
and others emerge calling for reforms.
 EPOCHS OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY cont.
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The Modern Period 15th Century to date: there is a
decline in the papacy.
The 16th century is the Reformation Era.
The 18th century is the Age of Reason.
Religious truths are examined critically.
Missionary bodies were formed in the 19 th century.
20th century is the period of Ecumenism
 TERM ‘CHRISTIANITY’
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Derived from the word, ‘Christ’ (Greek) in Hebrew –
Messiah (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:4-16)
Means Anointed
 used by early believers to describe Jesus who was
believed to be the expected Messiah of the Jews
the term came to be used as surname of Jesus
‘Christians’ as a descriptive name of the followers of ‘Jesus
Christ’ first occurred as a nickname (Acts 11:26).
 DEFINITION
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In modern times, not easy to define
Simply a religion that resulted from the life
and work of Jesus Christ
variety of beliefs and practices is covered by
the term
fundamental beliefs about Jesus Christ are
common to all of them
 ORIGINS 34
Palestine in the first century A.D
began as an offshoot of Judaism (begins with the story of
Judaism)
Jesus was a Jew.
Jesus linked to the history of Israel
Old Testament (Jewish scriptures) point to Jesus
Old Testament seen as a gradual unfolding of God’s plan
 ORIGINS
 In 35
the environment within which it developed and spread were:
 Religious and philosophical ideas which easily spread with help of:
- a lingua franca - the Hellenistic language
 - comprehensive communications net-work pax romania
(universal peace imposed by imperial Rome).
 However, at the time Christianity emerged, many of such religions
and ideas had begun to lose their appeal.
 The belief that the world was coming to an end, and that the Messiah
would soon appear was heightened.
 36

APKE NA MI Looo