RS 340 - Saints and Holiness

An overview of the Christian concept of sanctity from its New Testament origins to the present day. An examination of the “saints” from various periods of Christian history reveals the diverse ways that particular communities have understood and practiced essential elements of the Christian Gospel, expressed through martyrdom, monasticism, mysticism, pious living, and social activism. Readings will concentrate on primary sources including acts of the martyrs, lives of the saints, allegorical texts, histories, catechisms, treatises on Christian holiness, and contemporary autobiographies.

Credits: 4

Prerequisites/Restrictions: A 100-level Religious Studies course.

Core: Catholic Intellectual Traditions