To read history is to meet people from the past through the stories they told, the objects they lived with, and the art they created. Telling History introduces students to Christian history through four broad case studies spanning two millennia. Along the way, students build foundational historical literacy and academic skills — including source analysis, interpretation, contextualisation, oral presentation, and essay writing — as they explore how historical narratives shape our understanding of church, faith, and community. The unit also prepares students for further study in Church History and related fields in the humanities.
Unit code: CH8801Z
Unit status: Approved (New unit)
Points: 18.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational
Unit discipline: Church History
Proposing College: St Francis College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Critically evaluate key developments and debates in Christian history across multiple periods, places, and cultures, with attention to historical context, continuity and change, and diverse perspectives. |
| 2. | Apply advanced historical methods — including source criticism, interpretation, contextualisation, and comparison — to analyse complex primary and secondary sources. |
| 3. | Articulate original, evidence-based historical interpretations in oral and written formats, using appropriate academic conventions and critical reasoning. |
| 4. | Synthesise historical knowledge and methodological insight to address contemporary questions related to church, faith, and identity. |
This unit uses a flipped learning model supported by direct instruction, collaborative learning, and guided inquiry. It is offered in on-campus, online, and hybrid modes. Students engage with preparatory materials and participate in workshops that develop historical interpretative skills through structured activities and scaffolded assessments.
Arnold, John. History: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2000.
Fea, John, Jay Green, and Eric Miller. Confessing History: Explorations in Christian Faith and the Historian's Vocation. University of Notre Dame Press, 2010.
MacCulloch, Diarmaid. A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years. Allen Lane, 2009.
Engberg, Jakob, Anders-Christian Jacobsen, and Jörg Ulrich, eds. In Defence of Christianity: Early Christian Apologists. Translated by Gavin Weakley. Peter Lang, 2014.
Asbridge, Thomas S. The First Crusade: A New History. Oxford University Press, 2004.
Nicholson, Helen J. Women and the Crusades. Oxford University Press, 2023.
Harrison, Peter. The Territories of Science and Religion. University of Chicago Press, 2015.
Ferngren, Gary B., ed. Science and Religion: A Historical Introduction. 2nd ed. John Hopskins University Press, 2017.
Sanneh, Lamin. Disciples of All Nations. Oxford University Press, 2007.
Cruickshank, Joanna, and Patricia Grimshaw. White Women, Aboriginal Missions and Australian Settler Governments. Studies in Christian Mission 56. Brill, 2019.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source Analysis | 1500 | 30.0 | |
| Oral Presentation | 1500 | 30.0 | |
| Essay | 3000 | 40.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 15 Oct, 2025
Unit record last updated: 2025-10-15 15:20:11 +1100