Senior Seminar
St. Augustine
of Hippo:
His Life
and Theology
Roy Hammerling
hammerli@gloria.cord.edu
Office: Academy 209
Phone: (218) 299-3427
General Course Description and Objectives
Limited to religion majors and minors, this course uses the seminar
format to engage students in systematic reflection about the ways in which
the subdisciplines in the field of religion can contribute to the consideration
of a common topic. Each studetn will complete a research project
under the supervision of the instructor and present the results in a paper
to the seminar for criticism, discussion, and enlightenment.
Topic for Study
The general topic for the 2000 Senior Seminar is "St. Augustine
of Hippo: His Life and Theology". Augustine is arguably the most
influential post-biblical thinker in the history of the church. His
life and theology have been the basis for exciting and vigorous discussion
in the area of religion, since Augustine's death in 430. An introduction
to Augustine, quite literally is an introduction to the basic tenets and
theology of the Western Christian Church.
The assigned readings will give students a basic understanding of the
issues raised by Augustine's life and theology. The methodological
emphasis of the seminar is primarily historical and secondarily theological.
As a result students will engage in historical and theological modes of
inquiry in the readings, class presentations, discussions, and papers.
Expectations
1. Research Paper
The primary focus of the seminar is the production of a paper
which results from sustained, thorough, and disciplined investigation of
a specific topic related to the seminar topic. A successful outcome
of the paper depends upon careful articulation of a project proposal, a
clear statement of thesis, the judicious selection and use of primary and
secondary sources, and thoughtful revisions.
An important element of the research paper is meeting the various
deadlines assigned to the paper, see below. Each participant is expected
to produce a paper which documents one's research project. The paper
will be no shorter than 20 pages.
2. Conversation
Seminars by their very nature are intended to promote collaborative
scholarship. This class assumes that each member of the seminar is
responsible for sharing in the investigation of the topic. This will
be done by . . .
a. carefully reading the assigned readings, being prepared to share
insights and questions that they raise,
b. engaging the views of others with regard to these texts,
c. leading discussions regularly in class,
d. working on and eventually presenting original scholarship to the
class.
3. Leadership of Seminar Discussions
Each course participant will contribute during the seminar session.
This will take several forms. . .
a. leading discussions of various readings during the course.
b. leading a discussion and reacting to one's own and other students
papers.
Evaluation
Preliminary matters for paper
Bibliography
5%
Thesis information
5%
Preliminary Outlines 5%
Class Participation 15%
Discussion Leadership 20%
Final Draft of Paper 50%
Text Books
Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo (Berkley: University of California
Press, 1967). ISBN: 0520014111
Augustine, The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love (Regnery Pub. Co., 1966). ISBN: 0895267039
Augustine, On Christian Doctrine (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1958). ISBN: 0024021504
Mary T. Clark, Augustine (Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 1994). ISBN: 0225666812
Other readings will be assigned later in the course to match paper assignments.
Seminar Schedule and Reading Assignments
September 5
Introduction to course and method.
Beginning discussion on course topics.
An Introduction to the life and works of Augustine.
Bring Mary T. Clark's Augustine to class.
September 12
Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo, pp. 16-114
Class discussion:
Africa and Monica
Education and Wisdom
Manichaeism
Friends and Success
Ambrose
Neoplatonism and Philosophy
Part of this class will be to decide on a paper topic.
Part of this class will look at the initial bibliography for the paper.
Be sure to have all interlibrary loans ordered as soon as possible.
September 17
No class because of symposium but read . . .
Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo, pp. 115-188
Continue work on bibliography
The last of the interlibrary loans should be ordered by this time.
September 26
Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo, pp. 189-281
Class discussion (also covers previous weeks readings):
Cassiciacum and Ostia
Servus Dei: Thagaste and Presbyter Ecclesiae Catholicae: Hippo
The Lost Future
The Confessions
Hippo Regius and Saluberrima consilia
Ubi Ecclesia? And Instantia
Disciplina and Poplulus Dei
Doctrina Christiana
"Seek His Face Evermore"
October 3
Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo, pp. 282-377
Class discussion:
Senectus Mundi: The Sack of Rome and the City of God and
Unity Achieved
Pelagius and Pelagianism
Causa Gratiae
Fundatissima Fides
Discussion on bibliography.
Hand in final bibliograpy.
October 10
Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo, pp. 378-434
Julian of Eclanum
Predestination
Old Age
The End of Roman Africa
Death
Hand in preliminary outlines for paper.
Outlines should include
1. Preliminary Thesis
2. Basic Structure of the paper
This would include all the basic parts/sections
3. The basic sources covered in each section of the paper
Both primary and secondary
4. Preliminary Conclusion
October 17
Augustine, The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love, pages through
2nd
Article.
Discussion
about outlines continues, hand-in revised out line.
Hand in articles for discussion in next few class periods.
Students should present articles that they want to discuss or
further
feedback on.
October 24
Augustine, The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love, pages 3rd
article to the
end.
Discussion of crucial articles.
Students presentations on articles.
October 31
Augustine, On Christian Doctrine, pp. 1-78
Discussion of crucial articles.
Students presentations on articles.
November 7
Augustine, On Christian Doctrine, pp. 79-169
Preliminary draft #1 due.
Discussion of crucial articles.
Students presentations on articles.
November 9 (A Friday: ALL PAPERS DUE)
November 11 Pick up papers at Religion Department Office for Nov. 14
Class
November 14 Presentation of Papers
Three Presentations
Format: 1 hour presentations. 10 minute intro by author,
30 minute discussion by
class, author silent
10 minute for author rebuttal
and clarification
November 21 Presentation of Papers
Three Presentations
November 28 Presentation of Papers
Three Presentations
December 5 Presentations of Papers
Three Presentations
December 12 Presentations of Papers
Three Presentations
AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO(354-430)
The Life of Augustine
Confessions
I-XIII
Confessions
(translation by A.C.
Outler or E.
B. Pusey)
How
to Read the Confessions
and
paper suggestions by James O'Donnell
Augstine Links
Augustine,
more
Augustine,
still
more on Augustine
Augustine's Theology
Class Books
Enchiridion
I-CXXII
On
Christian Doctrine
Other Major Works of Augustine
Augustine
Archive (IPB-e's
archive which includes the
Confessions,
the
Enchiridion, and On Christian Doctrine)
City
of God (Another
translation of City of God)
On
the Trinity
The
Rule of St. Augustine
Soliloquies
Selected Biblical Works by Augustine
On
the Psalms
Selected
Lessons on the New Testament
On
the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
On
the Gospel of John
On
the First Letter to John
Selected Treatises by Augustine
On
the Good of Marriage
On
Baptism
On
the Good of Widowhood
On
Catechising the Uninstructed
On
Continence
On
Faith and the Creed
A
Sermon on the Creed for Catechumens
On
the Morals of the Catholic Church
On
the Profit of Believing
On
Virginity
Dialtectica
(translation by J. Marchand)
Augustine's Letters
Selected Polemical Works by Augustine
On
the Correction of the Donatists
To
Petilian, the Donatist
Debate with Fortunatus, the Manichaean (Day
1, Day
2)
Against
the Manichaean Letter "Fundamental"
Against
Faustus, the Manichaean
On
the Morals of the Manichaeans
On
the Nature of Good, Against the Manichaeans
Two
Souls, Against the Manichees
Worth While Papers on Augustine (Be cautious with internet texts)
Papers
by James O'Donnell on Augustine (On
Augustine's
Idea
of God)
Other
Papers on Augustine from a James O'Connell Seminar
The
Teachings of St. Augustine by the Augustinian Brothers at
Villanova
University
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Last updated April 19, 2000.