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Learner Reviews & Feedback for A Journey through Western Christianity: from Persecuted Faith to Global Religion (200 - 1650) by Yale University

4.8
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668 ratings

About the Course

This course follows the extraordinary development of Western Christianity from its early persecution under the Roman Empire in the third century to its global expansion with the Jesuits of the early modern world. We explore the dynamic and diverse character of a religion with an enormous cast characters. We will meet men and women who tell stories of faith as well as of violence, suppression, and division. Along the way, we encounter Perpetua and her martyrdom in Carthage; the struggles of Augustine the bishop in North Africa; the zeal of Celtic monks and missionaries; the viciousness of the Crusades; the visions of Brigit of Sweden; and the fracturing of Christianity by Martin Luther’s protest. We hear the voices of great theologians as well as of those branded heretics by the Church, a powerful reminder that the growth of Christianity is a story with many narratives of competing visions of reform and ideals, powerful critiques of corruption and venality, and exclusion of the vanquished. The troubled history of Christian engagement with Jews and Muslims is found in pogroms and expulsions, but also in the astonishing ways in which the culture of the West was transformed by Jewish and Islamic learning. We shall explore the stunning beauty of the Book of Kells, exquisitely prepared by monks as the Vikings terrorized the coast of England. We will experience the blue light of the windows of Chartres, and ponder the opening questions of Thomas Aquinas’ great Summa. We will read from the Gutenberg Bible of the fifteenth century, which heralded the revolution brought by the printing press. We will travel from Calvin’s Geneva to Elizabeth’s England to Trent, where a Catholic Council met to inaugurate a modern, missionary Catholic church. We will walk through the great Escorial of Philip II of Spain, hear the poetry of John of the Cross, and follow the Jesuits to Brazil and China. Christianity in the West was forged in the fires of conflict and tumult, and it brought forth both creativity and violence. It echoed with calls for God’s world to be transformed, it inspired the most sublime art and architecture, yet it also revealed the power of the union of cross and sword to destroy. The course is a journey through the formation of the West as one strand of Christianity, as one chapter in a global story. It is a journey that has shaped our world....

Top reviews

ES

Mar 23, 2018

A great journey! Lots of information and bonus material! I'm very thankful for the course. It might be that the professor's speech is sometimes a bit difficult to follow, but it's a minor drawback

AB

Jan 3, 2021

Thank you so much for offering this course for free. It was a great way to learn and understand the complicated history of my faith as it maneuvered the world around it that I was never aware of.

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76 - 100 of 206 Reviews for A Journey through Western Christianity: from Persecuted Faith to Global Religion (200 - 1650)

By Osvaldo R

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Nov 4, 2020

Doy gracias a los excelentes instructores que han expuesto de forma apasionante todo la historia cristiana a partir del año 200

By Thomas A S

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Jun 13, 2024

well presented and thorough I have learned so much more than I knew regarding the history of the Catholic Church and religion

By Myriam D

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May 6, 2023

Loved the course. Engaging content, Prof Gordon and team were able to condense complex ideas into key concepts and figures.

By Hossein Q B

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May 15, 2022

Some of the additional resources wouldn't open, and english subtitles have lots of errors- Apart from that, amazing course.

By Bart S

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Aug 7, 2017

outstanding survey class: anyone that wants to understand Western Christianity would be well served to take this class!

By Diana L

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May 29, 2017

Generously shared, vast exploration, deeply knowledgeable teaching, excellent references for further study. Thank you!

By Sophie L

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Mar 30, 2019

Excellent thousand foot view of roughly 1400 years of Western Christianity, covering a huge number of critical events.

By Angela F

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Jul 4, 2023

Muchas gracias por su generoso tiempo al enseñarme temas tan importantes en mi vida misionera. DIOS AMOR los bendiga.

By Mary C

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Sep 10, 2017

This was an excellent course. The material was presented well and I learned so much about the subject matter.

By Christy L

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Jun 18, 2017

I very much enjoyed this course and the in-depth look at various Christian personalities throughout history.

By Paul H

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Apr 11, 2017

Excellent course. Very informative. Great survey of a lot of information. Excellent production quality.

By Diego S

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Sep 15, 2022

Es un curso excepcional. Sumamente completo e interesante. Hasta la fecha, mi curso académico favorito.

By Germán O

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Aug 21, 2024

It gave me a good glimpse of the evolution of Christianity, thanks for all you did to make it possible.

By Diego B

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Aug 19, 2021

This is what MOOCs are for. Topics that would do nothing for your bottom line but be very interesting.

By Catherine S

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Sep 23, 2024

I really enjoyed the talks and readings and I now want to learn more. I miss the experience already.

By JOHN J R

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May 10, 2022

This course was excellent. The material was very interesting and the instructors were very engaging.

By Sissi D

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Sep 17, 2020

Excellent! I loved content, resources, teachers and videos. Thank you very much for the opportunity.

By Isabella C

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Aug 13, 2017

Great beginners' course to learn about Christianity. Very comprehensive content and easy to follow.

By Rania B

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Dec 20, 2017

Amazing course. Very well structured and rich with information. Exactly what i was looking for!

By S G

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Aug 2, 2024

I loved making this course, it was very pleasant to watch the classes. Thank you very much.

By Tony B

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Apr 15, 2020

A terrific programme of study. Diligent and detailed. A professional team and quality work.

By monideepa m

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Aug 24, 2020

I learnt a lot about the birth, growth, and spread of Christianity in the world from Asia.

By Daniel A R D

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Jul 12, 2019

Fue un curso genial, sin embargo con una visión parcializada de la historia de la iglesia.

By Neil K

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Apr 17, 2018

Just superb. Engaging lucid speakers, vast scope of subject matter, lucidly spoken about.

By Jeffrey H

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Sep 5, 2021

Excellent, concise, and interesting summary of the growth and expansion of Christianity.