Religious Studies | 16th Century Christianity: Sacrifices,
Sacraments and Ceremonies R201 | 3871 | Furey R201 16th Century
Christianity: Sacrifices, Sacraments and Ceremonies (Furey) (3
cr.) MW 11:15-12:30P SY212 Why are some Christian churches
filled with statues and pictures while others are largely bare
except for a cross? Why do some Christians receive the Eucharist
in a mass while others share communion in the midst of a Sunday
service? In this course we will examine how the Protestant
Reformation brought about these differences. During the
sixteenth century in Europe, Protestants insisted that many
traditional Catholic practices misled people and encouraged
ignorance. Both Catholic and Protestant reformers argued that
people should focus on morality and theology rather than
ceremonies. At the same time, however, religious practices
remained important in Christianity. Catholics confirmed the
significance of the sacraments, and Protestants expressed their
beliefs by altering some rituals and by developing