CHRISTIANITY AND MEDITERRANEAN CULTURES

The course structure will be based on frontal lectures, but students will be expected to to contribute actively to the discussion on the topic under consideration with questions. and answers. The frontal teaching will be supported by power point slides and other tools. The material presented in class (PowerPoint slides, sources, essays) will be available for download at the Studium platform.

1. Early Christianity

- Issues pertaining to the history of religions and methodology.

- The problem of periodisation of Christianism from its origin.

- From Jesus to the Christianism.

- The Hostility: Pagan Intellectuals against Cristianity.

- The Persecutions: Decius; Valerian; Dioclezian.

- The turning point: Constantine the Great and Theodosius.

- Christian Theology and Christian Anthopology.

2. Issues of Contemporary Historiography

- In-depth analysis of contemporary historiography.

-The quest for the “historical Jesus” in Italy and abroad.

When was Christianity born as a religion?

When did become the official state religion?

How did Constantine and Theodosius influence Christianity?

What does Christian anthropology mean?

When a Catholic Theology is structured?

What is meant by the term the “Historical Jesus”?

What are the possibilities, limits and problems inherent in searching for the Jesus of history?

A.

- G. Jossa, Il cristianesimo antico: Dalle origini al concilio di Nicea, Roma, Carocci, 2006 (ed. orig. 1997), pp. 224.

- E. Prinzivalli, Questioni di Storia del cristianesimo antico (I-IV sec.), Roma, ED. Nuova Cultura, 2010, pp. 5-111 e.173-191.

B.

- A. Destro-M. Pesce, Il Racconto e la Scrittura. Introduzione alla lettura dei Vangeli, Roma, Carocci 2014, pp. 174.

- C. Gianotto-E. Norelli-M-Pesce, L’enigma Gesù. Fonti e metodi della ricerca storica, ed. E. Prinzivalli , Roma, Carocci, 2008, pp. 127

- M. Pesce, Il Cristianesimo, Gesù e la modernità. Una relazione complessa, Roma, Carocci 2018, pp. 279.

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.