Module 13: Medieval Theology
Hi everyone, and welcome to the thirteenth module of the History of Christianity 1 Course. In this section, we'll be looking at a large period of time in the western European church. We'll study the ideas and theology of the Medieval church with special concentration on the influences, theologians, approaches, and resulting doctrines.
This module will help you to understand the theology and theological approaches of this era of Christ's church. You will be exposed to the main ideas of this longer period of church life, and some key approaches from this time that influenced later European history, as well as the western church. You will be exposed to some of the major influences and leaders, and the way that they sought to investigate and learn truth about God and His world in medieval times. You will survey some of the major doctrines to come out of this era. You will be given opportunity to think through some strengths and weaknesses about the practices of medieval theology. And the student will be given opportunity to process how these lessons can be applied to current situations, by learning a variety of possible approaches and expressions of theological investigation.
Introductory Scenario
Imagine that you are asked to judge and decide a debate. However, this debate is about the most important ideas in the world, and the answers have eternal consequences. What kind of ideas do you think will be argued? Where do you think these ideas come from? How can you best decide what is right? What kind of consequences will each of the various ideas have for the church and for the wider society? Please consider these questions and be watching for material that will help you answer them as you work through this module.
Module Objectives and Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:
- Understand the background influences that shaped medieval theology.
- Describe and evaluate the most influential medieval theologians, their ideas, and their influence.
- Connect the main medieval approaches to theology to the influential theologians and the results that came from their theology in the church, academy, and wider society.
- Understand and evaluate various approaches to the relationship between faith and reason, and how they correspond with the various approaches to theology.
- Understand and evaluate the main doctrines of medieval theology in light of Biblical authority.
- Place the main medieval theologians and doctrines in a general chronology.
Instruction Guides
In this section, you'll find links to important instructional documents for this module. Click the following links to open each document. There is a set of instructions for individual study and a document for group study.
Textbook Content
In this section, you'll find a study guide for the textbook reading for module 8. And then you'll find the link to a practice quiz covering this textbook reading.
This section also contains a review quiz to test your understanding of the textbook material for this module. By clicking the banner below, you will be given a series of questions, in random order. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once.
Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the Submit
button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.
Lecture Content
In this section, you will find the video lectures for the Medieval Theology module. Click the banner to open access to the video. There are also links with the video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface or download just the audio to listen offline.
Reviews
In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 13. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the banner to open the slide show.
Click the prev.
and next
buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.
Discussion/Reflection Questions
This section contains questions for further thought and discussion from Module 13. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. Below, you will find links to the Response and Application Reflection Instructions for Individuals, and the Response and Application Discussion Instructions for Groups. And you will find a link to the detailed question document for this module. Or Click the banner below to view the questions in a simplified format.
The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:
- What is good (or bad) from medieval theology? What difference did it make? How can you apply it to life and ministry?
- What is good (or bad) about their approach to doing theology? What were the results? What should you imitate and/or avoid in your theology?
- How should we relate faith and reason? How can we best pursue knowledge? How can we put this into practice?
- What else did you learn? How does it apply?
(Optional) Timeline - Part 13
This section contains instructions for an optional Timeline activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.
Step Thirteen of the Timeline should include the following information:
- Any significant theologians in the medieval church and their significance for the church.
- Any significant ideas and practices that resulted from those ideas, and their contribution to the church and wider society.
- Any other significant events, ideas, and practices, which had bearing on the medieval period.
Annotate any significant approaches, people, principles, mindsets, and practices in the medieval church, including the immediate and long-term impact on the larger church, the surrounding society, and how these are applicable in the current church and and Christian life.
(Optional) Principles Chart - Part 13
This section contains instructions for an optional Principles Chart activity to be constructed over all sixteen modules. Below is a link to the detailed instructions for this activity.
Step Thirteen of the Principles Chart will add any important principles noted from the theologians, theological ideas, and the subsequent practices of the medieval church, and their consequences, and how those principles can be applied.
It is suggested that the student begin this activity before watching the Guiding Principles
portion of the lecture. Then the student may supplement their work after learning additional insights from the Guiding Principles.
(Optional) Term Project - Writing
The student will continue researching their chosen topic for their term project and organizing the material they have found. The student should also continue writing (or otherwise creating their presentation, based on their chosen means of communication) the first draft of their term project. Based on the organization of the material, which was based on their research, the student should continue communicating what they learned, as well as the principles they gained from the historical data, and how it applies to current life and ministry.
Below is a link to detailed instructions for the entire project.
Primary Source Reading
This section contains instructions and resources for the Primary Source Reading activity. The student should read a minimum of 10-20 pages from a primary resource or resources discussed in this module's lecture and write or discuss a brief response to their reading. Below is a link to detailed instructions for the Primary Source Reading, which contain a list of recommended resources, by module. And click the banner below to access a list of recommended resources with links to where they may be found.
The following is a list of the recommended primary sources for this module. This list contains links to the resources in print and/or online format. These links may change, so feel free to search for other sources for these same titles. In addition, please do not feel you are limited only to this list. Feel free to choose from any primary source from the period and topic covered in this module:
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Pastoral Rule,Print ISBN: 978-0881413182, or 978-1603867955Online: NewAdvent.org, archive.org, or ccel.org
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Proslogion,Print ISBN: 978-0199540082, 978-0334051978, 978-1600391118, or 978-1078752053Online: ccel.org, logoslibrary.org, larhzal.com, or fordham.edu
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Cur Deus Homo (Why God Became Man),Print ISBN: 978-1725293687, 978-0199540082, 978-1600391118, or 978-1648630316Online: ccel.org, fordham.edu, or sacred-texts.com
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Yes and No,Online: archive.org, or scribd.com
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The Sentences,Print ISBN: 978-1932589740, or 978-0888442956Online: archive.org, or scribd.com
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Summa Theologica,Print ISBN: 978-1732190320, or 978-0870610639Online: ccel.org, NewAdvent.org, or archive.org
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The Journey to God,Print ISBN: 978-1953450128, 979-8330226221, or 978-1614272786Online: sbu.edu, archive.org, or ntslibrary.com
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Canons of the Fourth Lateran Council,Print ISBN: 978-1088194638Online: fordham.edu, or catholicaomnia.eu
Review Quiz
This section is a link to a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 13. By clicking the banner, you will be taken to a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit
button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the banner to begin the quiz.
Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.
Module Completed!
Congratulations, you have reached the end of the thirteenth module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.
I encourage you to continue on the next module as soon as is convenient. The button below will take you to Module 14.
