RLB259 Sexuality in the History of Christianity

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. David Zbíral, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Dušan Lužný, Dr.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Lucie Čelková
Timetable of Seminar Groups
RLB259/P: Mon 13:20–14:55 B11, D. Zbíral
RLB259/K: Fri 13. 3. 10:00–11:35 J31, Fri 10. 4. 10:00–11:35 J31, Fri 15. 5. 10:00–11:35 N21, D. Zbíral
Prerequisites
( RLA06 Christianity I && RLA07 Christianity II ) || ( RLKA06 Christianity I && RLKA07 Christianity II )
Proficiency in English required.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course analyses various understandings of sexuality and sexual identity in the history of Christianity from the very beginnings till modern times. It addresses general topics (sexuality and the canon law, homosexuality and the Christian tradition) as well as particular cases judged by the Inquisition or other courts.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- recall and analyze the problems and examples addressed by the course (sexual renunciation in early Christianity, Gregorian reform and the priest’s wife, feudal codes of conjugal morals, canon law and sexuality, homosexuality in the Christian tradition, colonial sexual identities, etc.);
- appraise the importance of sexuality, sexual morals and regulation of sexuality for the overall image of Christianity;
- apply science of religion’s models to interpret Christian sources on sexuality, sexual morals and regulation of sexuality;
- restate the information from secondary sources in analytical excerpts.
Syllabus
  • (0) Introduction.
  • (1) History of sexuality: theoretical preliminary.
  • (2) Sexual renunciation in the early Christianity and its legacy.
  • (3) Gregorian reform and the phantom of the priest’s wife.
  • (4) Feudal codes of conjugal and sexual morals.
  • (5) Canon law and sexuality.
  • (6) Homosexuality in the Christian tradition.
  • (7) Four cases from the inquisitional register of Jacques Fournier, 1318-1325.
  • (8) Inquisition and the control of sexuality - overview.
  • (9) Some Venetian cases, 14th-15th century.
  • (10) Chastity and sexual discipline in the early modern Protestant and Catholic culture.
  • (11) Colonial sexual identities, 16th-20th century.
  • (12) Test; conclusion of the course.
  • See Study materials for details.
Literature
  • KARRAS, Ruth Mazo. Sexuality in medieval Europe : doing unto others. 1st pub. New York: Routledge, 2005, viii, 200. ISBN 9780415289634. info
  • DUBY, Georges. Rytíř, žena a kněz :manželství ve Francii v době feudalismu. Praha: Garamond, 2003, 238 s. ISBN 80-86379-44-2. info
  • OTIS-COUR, Leah. Rozkoš a láska : dějiny partnerských vztahů ve středověku. Vyd. 1. V Praze: Vyšehrad, 2002, 179 s. ISBN 8070215429. info
  • WIESNER, Merry E. Christianity and sexuality in the early modern world : regulating desire, reforming practice. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 2000, ix, 277. ISBN 0415144345. info
  • BROWN, Peter. Tělo společnosti :muži, ženy a sexuální odříkání v raném křetanství. 1. vyd. Brno: CDK-Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2000, 435 s. ISBN 80-85959-72-0. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, home reading, analytical excerpts.
Assessment methods
1) Written test (content of lectures and of the required reading; 100 points maximum, less than 60 points = failed).
2) Submitting of a detailed abstract of one of the books in recommended (not required) reading (9,000 characters minimum), in time.
See Study materials for details.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2011, Spring 2013.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2009, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2009/RLB259