Aims

The course seeks to provide the basic elements for understanding in the long term (from the end of the Apostolic age to present) the dynamics of the expansion of Christianity beyond its original milieu. Missionary movements, the methods used, as well as the doctrines underlying this activity are examined in parallel. These facts are constantly contrasted with the social, cultural and religious context of the societies encountered by the movements of evangelisation in the various periods.

Main themes

Given the abundance of material, each period in history is not allotted equal time. Certain periods are covered in a very summary fashion in order to make the global stakes understood. Other periods are examined more thoroughly in order to generate more exact tools for historical analysis. Thus far the focus of attention has been on the five centuries running from the 16th century (evangelisation of the new worlds) to the present. Yet student preoccupations can orient the instructor towards certain problems or certain periods.
Speaking generally, from the encounter of Christianity with cultures and religions, three models emerge in the course, often intermingled: the diffusion, importation and inculturation of Christianity.

Content and teaching methods

The topic is chronologically distributed in inequal parts.
A restricted number of students makes dialog easier and promotes connections with other historical or theological matters.
Furthermore, concerning the most thoroughly elaborated parts (XVIth-XXth Centuries), the lecture often founds upon slides (documents, pictures and maps) in order to better introduce the students to the questions of conflicts between civilizations.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Evaluation: traditional oral examination, which can be replaced by an oral examination based on a personal work whose theme is agreed upon by the student and instructor.

Programmes in which this activity is taught

Other credits in programs