The Church and the Jews

Catalog description

Examination of the relationship between Western church and the Jews from the First Century to Enlightenment. HIST 235HIST 235 The Church and the Jews (3) (US;IL)(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. This course will examine a key aspect of western history - the complex relationship between the Western (Roman Catholic) Church and the Jews, from the first century to the present. We will analyze ideas and policies regarding Jews as expressed in different realms, from theology and canon law to church art and popular preaching. We will also examine how changing conditions led to striking changes in church attitudes and policy, and how church policy was often at odds with popular sentiments about Jews.The course will be designed to enable students to grasp the fluidity of attitudes over time, and the interplay of economic, social, political, and theological factors; to grasp of essential elements of a key area of conflict in western culture; and to develop their skills in the close reading of primary texts.Students will be evaluated on the basis of three quizzes and a final exam.The course would offer a chance for students to develop perspectives previously gained in a number of courses, particularly HIST 001 and 002 (The Western Heritage), RL ST 001 (Introduction to World Religions), RL ST 101 (Comparative Religion), HIST 107 (Medieval Europe), HIST 407 (Early Medieval Society), and J ST 010 (Jewish Civilization). It would complement such courses as HIST 108 (The Crusades), HIST 408 (Church and State in the High Middle Ages), HIST 412 (Intellectual History of the Middle Ages), HIST 414 (Renaissance and Reformation), J ST 111 (Early Judaism), J ST 110 (Hebrew Bible), RL ST 120 (New Testament), and RL ST l24 (Early and Medieval Christianity).The course will count for 3 credits toward a) the 22 credits required for the minor in Jewish Studies, b) the 33 credits required for the major in Jewish Studies, c) the 30 credits required for the major in Religious Studies, and d) the 36 credits required for the History major.