Unity and Diversity in the Early Church

3 credits

This course engages issues of theological, political, and ethical dispute, diversity, and consensus through the study of major figures and debates of the early Church (c.100800). We focus on the writings of the major authors of the period as well as surviving archaeological and epigraphic evidence to understand the ways that early Christianity was itself diverse and united and how the Church reflected on the question of unity and difference, especially in light of the biblical record with teachings ranging from Matthew 16:18 to Galatians 3:28. We will give special attention to debates on Christian attitudes to equality in treatments of sexuality, slavery, and Empire.