This topic will consider some of the major themes in Christian history from the 17th to the 20th Centuries. The Reformation crises of the 16th Century ended in stalemate, with the countries of Western Europe divided according to religious affiliation. Yet they were unwittingly united in the belief that Christianity mattered. In subsequent centuries, however, the Christian churches faced the challenges of the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the rise of liberalism and secularism, and war and totalitarian regimes. This topic will consider not only how institutional churches responded to these challenges, but also developments in popular piety and religious art. While the expansion of the church around the world will be explored briefly, the focus will be on developments in Western Europe, with some consideration of the impact that these have had on religion in Australia.
This topic aims to:
Timetable details for 2021 are no longer published.