To get started, here's a test of the History 424 blog system. If you don't already have one, you might want to set up a Google/Blogger account. If you use a Google profile, it's easier for me to reply to your posts, something I occasionally do. You also might want to make yourself a follower to this blog.
If you prefer, you can post as an anonymous blogger. However, if you choose that option, you need to add your name to the bottom of the post so I know who to give credit to.
When you have created your blogger account and your profile, click the "comments" link below, and answer one (1) of the following questions:
1. Would you rather make comments on a blog, or write a term paper?
2. Which figure or book from the New Testament interests you the most, and why?
3. Why do you think the study of Early Church history is important--or not so important?
After you have done your own blog post, please reply to at least one other student's post.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI think writing on the blog would be helpful as it allows for more interaction and generates conversations. That being said, I don’t mind a term paper either. On a secondary note, I think Early Church history is extremely important as it lays the foundations for Christianity as we know it. Without the influence of Early Christian’s, “The Church” might not have had the scope of influence it holds today and throughout history. As a Catholic, we view Early Christians as just early Catholics. Their influence established most of the magisterium and dogma we have today. This makes them crucial role models and leaders within the church. Of course, it is imperative to understand how this time period affected the world, but personally I love to see how others outside my own religion identify their relationship with the Early Church and its teachers.
- Grace
Way to go answering two of the questions:) I think blogs are good too, but I wasn't thinking about the interaction so much as the style of writing. I like how laid back the answers can be in the blogs while still being thoughtful. I think the informality of the blogs are a nice contrast to the structured papers we often do.
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ReplyDeleteI am most interested in the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Christians, into Paul, a key evangelist of the Christian faith. His conversion speaks to the truth of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and Paul is so foundational for many of the early churches. His letters were so important in keeping the churches unified under their different circumstances, whether Jew or Gentile. I look forward to digging into what the effects of his letters were to those early churches and how they kept moving forward. Also, Paul's writing is so extremely uplifting for the faith that I am simply excited to read his letters again.
Hi Daria, I agree that Saul's conversion from a vehement unbeliever to one of the greatest evangelizers is fascinating. I'm familiar with Paul's letters, so I am also interested as to the effects they had on their recipients.
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ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI really like doing the blogs, and I like when I can access everything through blogger.com or your website. The format is a lot easier for me to work with than D2L. So I would pick the blogs, but not at the expense of the final exam the way we usually do it. For the final, I like that we have to write an essay along with our ID terms.
I agree emily that the blog is the best and most engaging option for this class. And I also agree with your opinion on the final exam essay to sort of lay everything out that you want to show you have learned.
DeleteI believe the study of early church is vital to learn about for many reasons. It has been a huge part of decisions in history and learning how religions and christianity started and how it become so powerful is very useful information. Also regarless if you are religious or not you should be aware about the origins of the early church and how much impact it was had on the progression of our society.
ReplyDeleteHey Zach! Love your emphasis on how the early church is important to study regardless of your belief system. For all people, there needs to be a recognition of the impact the church has had in society. I'd argue that there are more things done in society that was as a result of the church than people realize.
DeleteAt the least at the top of my head- the figure that interests me the most would have to be Peter. He seems to get quite overshadowed by Paul, maybe for good reason. However, the growth that you see from Peter is outstanding. Starting as an impulsive fisherman who becomes a disciple of Jesus, to then denying Jesus three times but ultimately Jesus restoring him. Then to see how influential he was in the Early Church and his letters to a scattered church, it almost doesn't seem like it's the same person.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to continue to learn about the beginnings of what still lives on today!
What's up Andrew!! I've been with you in multiple classes and I always appreciate the deeper understanding of the Bible that you bring to classes. Your knowledge brings a viewpoint that I might not consider, so after reading your post I too am now interested in Peter.
DeleteHi Art!! I like writing, so term papers are what I've come to expect and prefer. But making blog posts isn't so bad either, it just wouldn't be my initial choice. I don't really have a deep knowledge of the Bible, I don't practice that faith, but it is such an impactful work that I would be missing out to not study it. I am probably the most interested in Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteHey David!! I really like that you enjoy writing papers because I also don't mind doing them. Most classes have had a term paper, so at this point in time it becomes expected that we will just be writing them regardless. The thing that caught my attention was your interest in Jesus Christ though. That is very interesting, and I totally enjoyed your response.
DeleteI would tend to think that making blog posts would be much easier and less stressful than the term paper. It is very nice to switch things up for a change and the blogger-style assignments are a very nice change.
ReplyDeleteHey Luke! I would agree that the blog posts are much more relaxed and less stressful than a paper. It's nice being able to write in a more laid back style rather than worrying about the structure and research of a term paper.
ReplyDeleteI think that Early Church history is important for both Christians and non-religious people alike. I think it is important for Christians to be aware of Early Church history to observe whether modern Christian organizations are true to the original purpose of the Early Church. I think it is important for non-religious people to be aware of because Christianity has played a large role in shaping western civilization's values and traditions.
ReplyDeleteHey Ruth, I totally agree with everything that you said here in your blog post! I totally agree heavily with your comment about how both non- religious and religious people should understand and learn about the history because it truly has shaped western civilization's and even the world!
DeleteHello ruth, I agree learning about the early church gives us a lot of contexts for societies throughout history. It still affects us today with how widespread religion is and many governments formed around the church.
DeleteI like both term papers and blog posts but I think that blog posts are the way to go because you can really dive deep into one subject and not have to write paper about multiple topics. Paul is someone who has started to interest me a little more recently because of his role in spreading the faith to many people and cultures. I think that Early church is very important to to study because we can really understand what happened at the beginning and how the faith and practices and beliefs were able to grow and continue to survive.
ReplyDeleteI like doing the blogs more than term papers. I cannot name one figure from the New Testament that I am most interested in. The history of the early church is very important to learn about; it can tell us more about religions today and gives us knowledge of the time period, and an understanding of the church from the beginning and how it grew up to what it is today.
ReplyDeleteI prefer blog posts to a term paper just because it's doing small assignments frequently which keeps me engaged in the material, instead of a big, time-consuming, stress-generating paper at the end. The history of the early church is important to learn about, particularly as a historian, because as Dr. Marmorstein pointed out, it's the dividing line in history. And it's amazing to think that this motley crew of nobodies (in the world's eyes) could make such an impact on the history of the world. I have a Christian world view, so it seems clear to me that there had to have been a spiritual influence. I look forward to learning about all the New Testament figures, and I especially want to know as much as possible about the women mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI agree that one of the most attractive and comforting parts of the Bible is the recruitment of unlikely candidates for great things. The culmination of so many "nobodies'" works of faith are what established the foundation for the faith and church that has changed many of our lives. And to think that Jesus told those nobodies, and us by proxy, that we would do even greater things than He did is mind-boggling but empowering.
DeleteI prefer term papers to blog posts, mostly due to being able to better express my thoughts in 10 pages then 2-3 paragraphs and one big stressful event rather than 20 or more mini events. Don't have a figure that interests me at the moment. The study of early church is very important, due to its interaction with other religions and how it became a major source of influence around the world.
ReplyDeleteBlog posts seem mostly identical to discussion posts on D2L, but I like this method more than discussion posts. Maybe it's the leather brown background and picture of Art greeting me every time I open a blog post, but I'd say so far I like doing blog posts more than a broad, cohesive paper. A couple people mentioned in here that blog posts could also help keep engagement at a consistent pace, which I agree with. As for my favorite NT person, I can't say I have an all-time favorite, but Paul and John are up there. I took a Greek class a few years ago, and although my skills are very rusty now I did appreciate their language and writing in Greek. I especially appreciate Paul because many of his letters seem to be notably valuable in today's climate, and I have no doubt he would be writing more letters today than ever before if he were alive. I believe studying Early Church is important because it helps contextualize scriptures that many of us have read for a long time but may not have delved into the historical underpinnings of - at least I know that's the case for me. I suppose I will be able to give a better answer to this question after the semester has ended!
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