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HIST 340

The History of Christianity in Africa and the African Diaspora

M 7:00-9:30 pm, Wyse318
Spring 2006

Professor Jan Bender Shetler
Office — Wyse311, phone 535-7108
Home phone — (not after 9:00 p.m.) 534-5116
email — jans@goshen.edu
Office Hours – T and Th 8:00-12:00, or by appointment, or by email

Course Description:

A comparative studies in world history course.  Examination of the development of Christianity in Africa and the Americas with an emphasis on the religious traditions Africans brought to the encounter with Christianity and how they shaped its practice both in mission and independent churches in Africa.  The history of slavery in the New World, particularly Brazil and the Caribbean will frame the exploration of Christianity in the Diaspora.

Course Objectives:

1. To gain knowledge, various perspectives and insight in respect to the development of the Church in Africa and the African Diaspora.
2. To develop the art of reading critically, evaluating historical sources, articulating ideas in a group setting, and expressing arguments clearly in writing.
3. To discover the relevance of history and the historical mode of inquiry to the critical questions of our lives and world today.

Required Texts:

Thornton, John Kelly.  The Kongolese Saint Anthony : Dona Beatrix Kimpa Vita and the Antonian Movement, 1684-1706. (Cambridge University Press, 1998).
Sanneh, Lamin. Abolitionists Abroad:  American Blacks and the Making of Modern West Africa (Harvard University Press, 1999).
Spear, Thomas, and Isaria N. Kimambo, editors. East African Expressions of Christianity (Ohio University Press, 1999).
Hoehler-Fatton, Cynthia.  Women of Fire and Spirit : History, Faith, and Gender in Roho Religion in Western Kenya (Oxford University Press, 1996)
Oyvind M. Eide.  Revolution and Religion in Ethiopia, 1974-85 (Ohio University Press, 2000).

Other readings on Reserve in the Library

Course Requirements

1. Since so much of the course depends upon class discussion, attendance at all classes is mandatory.  After one unexcused absence your grade will drop accordingly.  You demonstrate respect for the teacher and fellow students by prompt arrival and attentiveness in class.  
2. All assignments should be submitted in class on their due date.  Late papers will be docked 10 percentage points for every day that they are late.  Academic dishonesty, plagiarism and other forms of cheating are serious offenses at Goshen College and will be dealt with according to the school policy.
3. Reading assignments must be completed before the class for which they are assigned. Students must come to class EACH SESSION with written responses to the reading.  These written responses will be handed in after the discussion during the class period. 
4. Your written responses to the reading each week will be no more than one typed page including:
5. questions from the readings that you would like to bring up for discussion in class
6. a short summary of the main points raised by the author
7. your response to the discussion question posted on the syllabus for each week

Please make reference to specifics in the readings so that I can see that you have engaged the reading as you respond to the questions. 

1. Since this is a small class you WILL be called upon during class to offer your questions or observations for the benefit of the discussion.  If you are not prepared for discussion and do not participate your grade will suffer accordingly.  You may post your questions or observation on the Blackboard site for this class anytime during the week.  You may also get participation credit by responding to someone else’s comments on-line. 
2. You will get credit for your written responses and class participation.  If you have answered the questions in good faith you get the credit.  I will only look to see that you have answered, not whether it is right or wrong.  I will not accept late responses unless you clear it with me before class.
3. Each class session will begin with discussion or questions concerning the reading for the day.    Productive discussions are not automatic.  They require a clear sense of purpose, an attitude of respect, and a commitment to the productivity of the whole group on the part of all participants.  We cannot have productive discussions unless everyone comes to class well-prepared.  We will need to develop the ability to clearly articulate differences of opinion, and to base arguments on evidence while respecting other opinions.  
4. In addition to keeping up with the weekly readings each student will choose a topic that interests them for further research.  You may choose among the following topics or clear a different one with me:
1. the history of a particular African church or mission, the early church, etc.
2. the history of a particular African-American church (Latin American too) or religious movement
3. the interaction of African-American and African churches
4. African Christian theology
5. African religion
6. The church and resistance/independence movements
7. The church and slavery
8. Women in the church
9. African independent churches
10. The African church in literature
11. The African church in music and dance or art
12. Islam and the church in Africa
13. The church and healing
14. The church and ethnicity
5. Using your chosen research topic you will need to choose a book to review that will be presented to the class as well as given to me in written form.  I have suggested books for review that would fit into the topic of discussion for the week.  You may suggest other books but must clear them with me and sign up for a day to present in class.  More on book review format later.
6. Using your chosen research topic you will need to do a search of the literature on this topic and find out how they fit into the overall development of scholarship in this field.  You do not have to read every one of the books but you do need to find out what they are about, how other scholars have critiqued them and how they each contribute to our knowledge of the subject.
7. The final research paper topic must be cleared with me by mid-term.  The paper should be a thesis paper in the style of historical writing.  More specific guidance for the papers will be provided in class.  I will give you comments for improving your paper if you turn it in 1 week before the deadline. 
8. The exams will include both objective and essay questions.  The final exam will have one comprehensive essay.

Class Schedule

7:00-7:05         Announcements
7:05-7:30         Discussion of the Readings, from your own questions and responses
7:30-8:15         Lecture
8:15-8:25         Break
8:25-8:45         Student Book Review (15 min. + 5 min. questions/discussion)
8:45-9:00         Short introduction to the discussion topic
9:00-9:30         Discussion question from the syllabus

Evaluation:

About one third—participation and preparation
Reading responses and participation                                         130
(12 x 10 each week + 10)
About one third—research project
Book Review and class presentation                                         50
Review of the Literature (3-5 pages)                                         50
Final Research paper (8-10 pages)                                          100
About one third—tests
Mid-term Exam                                                                        70
Final Exam                                                                              100
TOTAL                                                                                   500

NOTE:  THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE!  PLEASE KEEP UP WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CHANGES THROUGH THE COURSEINFO WEBSITE!

Schedule:  History of Christianity in Africa and the African Diaspora