The expansion of Christianity in the East will be traced from its inception to the contemporary period. It includes the development of early Christianity in the eastern Mediterranean region, such as Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, Syria, and Roman Palestine before the arrival of Islam in these territories, as well as the spread of Christianity in later periods, including Armenia, Bulgaria, Russia, India, and others.
Many students in the West are woefully ignorant of the Eastern Christian tradition. This course fills that gap and gives the student the historical and theological background for understanding the expansion of Eastern Christianity.
Global history and current global situations require understanding of the Christian tradition of the East.
The course includes how the Eastern tradition interpreted and developed Biblical doctrine.
The study of the Eastern tradition serves to better understand the national and cultural contexts where many students may be on mission.
The course springs from the interest of how Christianity developed in Eastern contexts and how it has shaped much of the near Eastern world.
The Eastern tradition crosses numerous national and cultural boundaries.
The course leads the student to have a better understanding of different Christian traditions and how to relate better with them.
Students, whether from a Western or Eastern background, expand their knowledge of this important tradition.
