RLBcB259 Sexuality in the History of Christianity

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025

The course is not taught in Spring 2025

Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. David Zbíral, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Zbíral, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Kristýna Čižmářová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
( RLA06 Christianity I || RLKA06 Christianity I || RLBcA006 Christianity I || RLBcKA006 Christianity I ) && ( RLA07 Christianity II || RLKA07 Christianity II || RLBcA007 Christianity II || RLBcKA007 Christianity II ) && ! RLB259 Sexuality in Christianity
Proficiency in English required (required reading in English).
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those 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, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 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 up to modern times. It addresses general topics (sexuality and the canon law, homosexuality and the Christian tradition) as well as some particular cases judged by the Inquisition and other courts.
Learning outcomes
After completing 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 interpretation of Christianity;
  • apply social scientific concepts in the interpretation of Christian sources on sexuality, sexual morals and regulation of sexuality;
  • summarize and assess information from literature in analytical excerpts.
    • Syllabus
    • Introduction.
    • History of sexuality: theoretical preliminary.
    • Sexual renunciation in the early Christianity and its legacy.
    • Gregorian reform and the phantom of the priest’s wife.
    • Feudal codes of conjugal and sexual morals.
    • Canon law and sexuality.
    • Homosexuality in the Christian tradition.
    • Four cases from the inquisitional register of Jacques Fournier, 1318-1325.
    • Inquisition and the control of sexuality - overview.
    • Some Venetian cases, 14th-15th century.
    • Chastity and sexual discipline in the early modern Protestant and Catholic culture.
    • Colonial sexual identities, 16th-20th century.
    • Test; conclusion of the course.
    • See Study materials for details.
    Literature
      required literature
    • 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
      recommended 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
    • 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) Students choose to submit either detailed excerpts from a book (18,000 signs minimum) or a seminar essay (9,000-18,000 signs). Graded passed or failed. To pass the course, it is necessary to get at least 60 points from the test and have the submission graded passed. These two conditions constitute 100 % of the grade.
    See Study materials for details.
    Language of instruction
    Czech
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    The course is taught once in two years.
    The course is taught: every week.
    Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/RLBcB259