Christendom: The Medieval Mind
$1.00/elective term
Christendom: The Medieval Mind
This class is currently archived, but if you're interested in it being taught again, you can
express your interest here!
About the course
Christendom: The Medieval Mind begins by guiding students through the basics of Thomas Aquinas' Compendium, introducing students to the medieval mindset which greatly influenced later theologians and philosophers. With this foundation, students embark on a journey through Dante's conception of Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise in The Divine Comedy, exploring medieval concepts of guilt, atonement, beauty, and the cosmos. Meet many classic characters from the Greeks to Dante's present day as Dante uses his allegory to explore human nature, as well as the politics of his day.
Course Objectives:
- To become proficient in the conversational approach to learning: close readings, interpretive questions, and Socratic discussions of the texts.
- To gain a grasp of the literary figures and the historical framework of the time period.
- To develop lateral thinking skills by analyzing and synthesizing themes and motifs.
- To cultivate an appetite for learning as a way of life (the life of the mind).
- To cultivate a desire to pursue the highest things.
- To be able to think Christianly and write persuasively about perennial human questions.
Texts or Required Materials:
– Dante’s Divine Comedy – Thomas Aquinas’ Compendium
Materials for this course will be made available free of charge by the instructor.
About the teacher
Dr. Christi Seaward
Dr. Seaward earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts and an M.A. in Humanities from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She became an Air Force wife in 1992 and has lived in Oklahoma, Colorado, South Korea, Japan, Hawaii, and Florida.