Description:

You are invited to journey back 2,000 years to the very start of Christianity and track 450 years of its fascinating early development. In Christian Origins 101, you will explore the rich history, early leadership, and groundbreaking theology, of early Christianity. Through thirty erudite lectures, you will focus on six major themes: the early Church's relationship with its Jewish heritage, the Gnostic movement, Christianity and the Roman Empire, the early Church and women, debates about Jesus' divinity in the fourth century, and debates about Jesus' humanity in the fifth century. Each of these themes served as a locus for significant debates about the nature of Christian beliefs and practices. In exploring the fundamental questions that challenged Christianity from the Apostolic Age to the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, you will gain a deep understanding of the roots of the beliefs Christians hold dear. By learning about Christianity's remarkable origins and development, you will gain a richer understanding of the Church today. You will find these lectures extraordinarily well taught, highly informative, and enjoyable.