Reformation and the Modern World

Taught by Christian Finnigan
Discipline: Core
Crosslist: Christian History
Runs 4/7/25 – 6/14/25
Meets Tuesdays, 7-9pm ET

This Core course will be taught by Christian Finnigan. This course will run from April 7, 2025 through June 14, 2025.

Once upon a time, Protestants liked to take credit for the glories of the modern world: freedom, prosperity, civilization. As attitudes on modernity have soured, many have been quick to turn the narrative around and blame Protestantism for the licentiousness, greed, and exploitation that we see around us. Influential books by Catholic scholars have told a tale of a Reformation that disenchanted the cosmos, banished beauty and sacraments, and opened the door for rampant individualism. What is the true story? This course will offer students a fuller perspective on why the Reformation was necessary, what aspects of Christendom it did and did not seek to change, and the lasting legacy it left, both good and ill, for the world we live in today.

The course will be divided into two main sections. Part I, comprising the first six weeks, will focus chiefly on the Reformation itself, its protest against Rome, and the debate over seminal doctrines—with particular emphasis on developments often seen as having harmful unintended consequences in the modern world. Part II, comprising the last four weeks, will look more closely at certain downstream effects of the Reformation that are generally (though not unambiguously) recognized as positive achievements of modernity. The key texts for this course will be the Davenant Institute’s anthology, Reformation Theology, along with selected secondary literature.

Online only, runs 10 weeks, meeting 2 hr./wk. via Zoom. Students will also have the option to participate in class discussion on the Davenant Common Room Discord server. This is a graduate-level course. Although a BA is not a necessary pre-requisite for this course, students should come prepared to do graduate-level work.

Registration after March 24 will be considered late. There is an additional $25 fee for late registration.

Auditor: $225

Enroll for Credit (Part Time): $449

Enroll for Credit (Full Time): $325

LECTURER

Christian Finnigan

JD, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University; PhD Candidate, McGill University

Christian D. Finnigan formerly served as an assistant professor of history and politics at Colorado Christian University, where he was twice named Faculty Member of the Year, received the Junior Faculty Award, and was voted Professor of the Year by CCU student-athletes. He has also served as an adjunct professor of government at Patrick Henry College, an instructor in history at Sacred Heart University, and a teaching fellow in history at Yale University. In 2019, he was an Emo F.J. Van Halsema Fellow at the H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies at Calvin University.

His academic work includes a chapter he recently contributed to From Generation to Generation: Writings in Honour of Douglas F. Kelly (Mentor, 2023), and papers presented at conferences such as the Sixteenth Century Studies Society, the Society for Reformation Studies, and the Southern Political Science Association.

Finnigan holds a BA in religious studies from Randolph-Macon College, an MA in the history of political thought and intellectual history from University College London, an MLitt in Reformation studies from the University of St Andrews, an MDiv from Reformed Theological Seminary, a ThM in historical theology from Erskine Theological Seminary, and a JD with a concentration in homeland and national security law from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. He is currently a PhD candidate at McGill University, where his dissertation explores the political thought of the Protestant reformer Martin Bucer.

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Faq

Do I need to be a graduate student or seminarian to participate in a course?

No, in fact, you do not need to currently belong to an academic institution at all. Undergraduate students, pastors, teachers, and independent scholars are welcome as well.

Do I need to apply?

If you want to participate as a degree-seeking student in one of our Certificates, M.St, or M.Litt program, then yes, you do, although the application process is very straightforward. Click HERE to apply. If you are participating as an auditor or just want to take individual classes for credit now (which could later be applied to a degree), then no, you can register for individual courses.

Are there any prerequisites?

Not generally, although certain courses may require certain other courses as prerequisites (e.g. languages). All classes are open to students 18 and over who are capable of deep reading, charitable engagement, and coherent writing (though of course students will be expected to grow in these skills through participation). While a wide range of people may take courses, admittance to one of our programs generally requires an undergraduate degree or significant undergraduate coursework, though this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

What is the time commitment?

The standard format for online courses is 10 weeks, 2 hrs/wk (summer 8 weeks, 2.5 hrs/wk). For-credit students should plan on spending roughly 4 hrs/wk on average outside of class for each online course. Full-time students should plan on enrolling in four to five classes each term (no less than four, no more than six).

How do the live classes work?

All of our live classes use industry-leading videoconferencing software, Zoom. Recordings of each class session, including any “whiteboards” or screen-shares, will be made available for students who were unable to make a particular class meeting.

Does it matter what time zone I am in?

It is important that for-credit students be able to participate in live classes, although auditors may participate via recordings only if desired. It is our goal to schedule live class times that are convenient for all enrolled students. If the scheduled time does not work for you, you should consult the Drop Policy in the Registration section of the catalog. If you are an international student, please consult our International Student Policy in our Registration section of the catalog.

Is there a drop/add date?

Please see the Academic Catalog for exact dates.

Drop Date (100% Refund): Before the term starts, students may drop with a 100% tuition refund. Registration fee is non-refundable.
Drop Date (50% Refund): Within the first two weeks of a term, students may drop the course with a 50% tuition refund. Registration fee is non-refundable.
Withdrawal: Within weeks three and four of a term, students who drop a course will receive no refund and will earn a “W” on their transcript. Students cannot drop after this time and will receive a letter grade.

What is the transfer credit policy?

Degree students may request to transfer credits of graduate courses from another graduate institution. Undergraduate credits will not be accepted. Acceptance of credits will be conducted on a case-by-case basis, will require an academic transcript, and may require a course description or syllabus from the other institution’s catalog. Transfer credit cannot be applied to a certificate degree. To request transfer credit, please email the registrar (registrar@davenantinstitute.org).

Courses from the previous institution must have earned a minimum of B. Up to 6 courses may be transferred in one of our degree subject areas. Up to 6 language courses (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) may be transferred, but actual competency will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Transfer credits will be translated into our program may not reflect the same number of credits as the other institution. Transfer credits cannot substitute for required core courses in each subject area, though elective credit may be granted.

How do the residential courses work?

Residential intensive courses will run for two weeks in the summer and should be considered full-time commitments during the two-week period. Davenant Discipleship Weeks will be scheduled with each student at a time that is convenient for them and their family. For more information, please see the residential courses page on our website and email our Residential Teaching Fellow Dr. Joseph Minich (j.minich@davenantinstitute.org). You may view detailed information on residential courses on our Catalog in our Residential Courses section under the Course Offerings in our catalog.

Are scholarships available?

At present, no. We have made an effort to price these classes at rock-bottom levels, so that cost will not be an obstacle to most students. Moreover, students who complete the M.Litt will be eligible for generous scholarships from the Davenant Institute toward future graduate study. In particular, any student who successfully completes the M.Litt and then goes on to finish a PhD in an approved program (including the partnership with Union Theological College) will, upon successful completion of their PhD, receive a reimbursement of $10,000 paid for the M.Litt. See catalog for details. See Tuition Reimbursement Policy in the Catalog for details.

Is your program currently accredited?

Davenant Hall is not currently accredited by any outside agency, although we believe our courses and our program as a whole conform to high standards of professional qualification, academic rigor, and student assessment. However, we are currently building relationships with other academic institutions to have our courses and degrees recognized for transfer credit or advanced standing.

Have additional questions? Get in touch!

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