Defense of the Christian Faith: From the Patristic Age to Scholasticism
Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 220 AD) was a prolific early Christian author from Carthage in the Roman province of Africa. He was the first Christian author to produce an extensive corpus of Latin Christian literature and was an early Christian apologist and a polemicist against heresy, including contemporary Christian Gnosticism. Tertullian was the first theologian to write in Latin, and so has been called "the father of Latin Christianity", as well as "the founder of Western theology".
He is perhaps most famous for being the first writer in Latin known to use the term trinity (Latin: trinitas). Tertullian originated new theological concepts and advanced the development of early Church doctrine. His notable ideas included concepts of hypostasis, ousia, sacrament, consubstantiality, and religious liberty.
Scholasticism and the High Middle Ages
Defense of the Faith, Scholasticism in the High Middle Ages, immerses students into one of the most misunderstood periods of history. This study is the second unit of Christendom, year three in the Old Western Culture curriculum on the Great Books. Learners start by learning about Anselm’s theological defense of the faith as he explains his ontological argument for the existence of God.
Through Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain, students learn about the background to the Crusades. Finally, the curriculum covers the Crusades themselves, both the good, and the bad. It includes harrowing tales of Vikings escaping Constantinople and knights fighting for the faith!
Resources for Defending the Faith
Modern works such as The Case for Faith are for those who may be feeling attracted to Jesus but who are faced with difficult questions standing squarely in their path. For Christians, such resources will deepen their convictions and give them fresh confidence in defending their faith to skeptical friends, or during the hardest of times, when they have to defend their faith to themselves in moments of doubt.
The following table summarizes key theological figures and historical subjects covered in the defense of the faith:
| Subject / Figure | Notable Contribution or Topic |
|---|---|
| Tertullian | First writer in Latin to use the term trinity and founder of Western theology. |
| Anselm | Theological defense of the faith and the ontological argument for the existence of God. |
| Scholasticism | Exploration of the High Middle Ages and intellectual defense of doctrine. |
| The Crusades | Historical background involving Monmouth’s History and knights fighting for the faith. |
Curriculum and Accompanying Materials
Comprehensive study materials include:
- A Student Workbook and Answer Key in PDF format.
- A “Guide to the Art” booklet.
- An A and B exam with teacher guide and answer key.
- All required texts in eText (PDF and Kindle edition).
The workbook gives the student questions to answer for every reading assignment and lecture, discussion questions to think about, and a host of further resources for the student that wants to go further. These self-paced courses and facilitated groups provide essential homeschool support for those exploring Biblical Archaeology, Understanding the Old Testament, and the history of Christendom.