The Western Church in Context
Ethics & Sustainability Program
Rome, Italy
Dates: 8/26/25 - 12/13/25
The Western Church in Context
OVERVIEW
CEA CAPA Partner Institution: CEA CAPA Rome Center
Location: Rome, Italy
Primary Subject Area: Religious Studies
Instruction in: English
Course Code: REL353FCO
Transcript Source: University of New Haven
Course Details: Level 300
Recommended Semester Credits: 3
Contact Hours: 45
DESCRIPTION
This course investigates the Western Church through a combination of ethnographic observation, textual analysis, and physical immersion in the artifacts and aftermath of two millennia of Christian presence in Rome. Students will explore the spirituality, doctrine, liturgy, ideological diversity, congregations, and architecture of the Catholic Church and Papacy.
Through analysis of the Western Church in its infancy to the contemporary day, students will identify and analyze the religious challenges faced, and caused, by Christianity. The assigned readings will present an essential synthesis of key issues concerning the Western Church and will provide students with a corpus of material fostering critical thinking and classroom discussions.
Through analysis of the Western Church in its infancy to the contemporary day, students will identify and analyze the religious challenges faced, and caused, by Christianity. The assigned readings will present an essential synthesis of key issues concerning the Western Church and will provide students with a corpus of material fostering critical thinking and classroom discussions.