| University of South Alabama History Department Telephone: 460-6210 (leave message if necessary) Web page: http://www.southalabama.edu/history/faculty/monheit |
Dr. Michael L. Monheit
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Paper Assignment, Reformation
Europe, Spring 2011
The focus of your paper should be an analysis of primary sources. This means that you are to concentrate on the writings of the sixteenth century people you are writing about, not other people’s views of them. For many of the topics, excerpts are included in the required reading for the entire class. However, you need to obtain the full version of the primary sources required for your topic, as indicated under each topic. If you rely primarily upon the excerpts available in Lindberg or handouts/web page documents, you will not do well on this paper. You should make use of secondary sources mostly for background. A very good place to look for background is in the notes and bibliography of MacCullogh, The Reformation. Encyclopedias such as the Encyclopedia Britannica, available to USA students and faculty free through the University Library web site, are useful for finding books and articles, but in themselves are not good sources for background. For example, for Teresa, a biography of Teresa by a scholar is a much better source than an encyclopedia. Very poor places are Wikipedia or Encarta. I will not accept citations to Wikipedia, Encarta or other web sources of dubious reliability. Plagiarism -- the use of another person's ideas or words without citing that person -- is a very serious offense and can lead to a failing grade or expulsion from the University. The Following Are All Forms of Plagiarism: Using someone else's ideas without citing that person as the source. NOTE THAT PUTTING SOMEONE ELSE'S IDEAS INTO YOUR OWN WORDS IS STILL CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM IF YOU FAIL TO CITE YOUR SOURCE. Using someone else's exact words without placing them in quotation marks even if you have cited that person as your source. Using someone else's words without citing that person as the author. Note that this means that you are required to cite each source every time you use it, not just when you are quoting from it directly. Suggested Paper Topics
You may choose a different topic, but only after consulting with Dr. Monheit on your proposed topic. **NOTE: For Calvin’s Institutes, used in several topics below, you can also use the searchable version on CD in the library: Richard F. Wevers, ed., Calvin's Institutes Latin-English search and browser programs, produced by the H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies, Calvin College and Seminary. Also, you can buy a very complete collection of Calvin’s writings, including the Battles edition of the Institutes and all of his biblical commentaries, from http://www.ageslibrary.com/ages_calvin_collection_1.html. The downloadable file is only $14.95. The disk version is $19.95. It comes in pdf format and is not especially humongous in size. **NOTE: Luther and Erasmus, Free Will and Salvation, BJ 1461 L8 1969, used in several topics below, is also available in an electronic format through the USA library. Using the catalogue entry, you can scroll down to a link to the electronic version. Follow the link from there. Note: Do not simply google the title and use any random version that pops up. Doing so will seriously affect your grade. 1. Compare the attitude of Luther and Erasmus to how easy it is to interpret the Bible and how certain one can be of its meaning. The source is Luther and Erasmus, Free Will and Salvation (see note above). Look especially at the following topics, listed in the table of contents: Under Erasmus, “The Obscurity of Scripture,” “The Potter and the Clay.” For Luther: “Christianity Involves Assertions; Christians are No Skeptics,” “The Clarity of Scripture,” “Scripture, with its ‘Internal’ and ‘External’ Clarity ....”, “The Potter and the Clay.” 2. Compare how Erasmus characterizes Luther personally, and how Luther characterizes Erasmus. Source: Luther and Erasmus, Free Will and Salvation (see note above). Look especially at the introduction by Erasmus, “Prefatory Observations,” his “Epilogue,” (pay particular attention to the section of the “Epilogue” entitled “The Dire Results of Exaggerated Views,”). For Luther, look especially at “Introduction: Luther explains his delay in replying and admits Erasmus’ superior talent,” and Luther’s conclusion, “That the case against free choice is unanswerable let Erasmus be willing to admit.” 3. Compare two of the following: Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, Loyola on the role of the imagination and religious images in church practice. In most of the following you need to search the index for such topics as “images,” “idolatry,” “statues,” “art,” “imagination,” “saints,” “prayers to saints,” etc. Praise of Folly [Moria],in Collected Works of Erasmus, vols. 27 & 28 (Index), PA 8502 E5 T5 1978 vol. 5 & 6 (vol. 6 has index for vol. 5), Erasmus, Enchiridion (Handbook of a Militant Christian/Christian Soldier), PA 8502 .E5 O4 1988 vol. 66 of Collected Works of Erasmus; Luther: Against the Heavenly Prophets, in Luther's Works, Volume 40, BR 330 E5 1955. Calvin: search Institutes of the Christian Religion, table of contents and index, BX 9420 I65 1960, 2 vols., and Calvin on Exodus 20:3 (in vol. I) and Exodus 20:4 (in vol. II) and following and associated passages, in vol. I and II of Calvin’s Commentaries on the Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Form of a Harmony, BS 485 .C22 v. 3 (also available at ccel.org); Loyola: Spiritual Exercises, BX 4700 L7 A25 1991. 4. Please compare Luther and Calvin on the status and roles of women in the family and in religious activity: Luther on I Corinthians 7 and I Timothy, Works, BR 330 E5 1955 vol. 28. Calvin on I Corinthians 7, 11 and 14, Calvin's New Testament Commentaries volume 9: Corinthians, on reserve, BS 485 C24 vol. 9. Look through index in last volume of Luther’s Collected Works and Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, BX 9420 I65, 1960, 2 VOLS. 5. Compare Luther and Calvin on Role of Civil Government. Who can criticize or remove a bad ruler, and for what reasons? What about a ruler who persecutes true Christianity as understood by the given author? Sources: Luther, On Government Authority, in Luther’s Works, Volume 45, BR 330 E5 1955, Friendly Admonition to Peace concerning the Twelve Articles of the Swabian Peasants, and Against the Robbing and Murdering Hordes of Peasants, both in Volume 46, BR 330 E5 1955, Luther on Romans 13:1-7 Works, Volume 25, BR 330 E5 1955; Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion, check table of contents and index, on reserve, BX 9420 I65 1960; Comments on Romans 13:1-7 and check index, in Calvin's New Testament Commentaries volume 8: Romans and Thessalonians, BS 485 C24 vol. 8. 6. Compare Luther with Teresa of Avila on their senses of their own sinfulness and how they believed they had succeeded in overcoming sin. Sources: Luther, Preface to Latin Writings, use full version in Luther's Works, BR 330 E5 1955 vol. 34; St. Teresa: Autobiography, BX 4700 .T4 A2 1991. The Autobiography is also available at www.ccel.org – look under “authors.” There is at least one other St. Teresa, Teresea of Lisieux – be sure to get Teresa of Avila. You can download the text and then search it. You will have to register to use it, but it should be free. |
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