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Academic Year 2001/2002

Religion and Politics
GOVT 393 FA
Clusters:

Christian Studies
Jewish and Israel Studies

How has religion affected political institutions and ideologies, and, in turn, been affected by them? Which religious values and institutions are compatible with democracy, and which ones go beyond democracy? Can the concepts of law in religion and politics be reconciled? We will explore the relation of three monotheisms--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam--to political life in nation-states and empires through theoretical and empirical readings from ancient, medieval and modern times.

MAJOR READINGS

BIBLE (selections)
KORAN (selections)
Max Weber, SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION (selections)
Abraham Heschel, THE PROPHETS
Bourke, ed., THE ESSENTIAL AUGUSTINE
Bigongiari, ed., THE POLITICAL IDEAS OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
Edmund Morgan, THE PURITAN DILEMMA
U.S. Supreme Court decisions
James Reichley, RELIGION IN AMERICAN PUBLIC LIFE
Charles Liebman and E. Don-Yehiya,  CIVIL RELIGION IN ISRAEL
John Esposito, ISLAM AND POLITICS and ISLAM AND DEMOCRACY

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

One short paper and class presentation, based on the reading for class; one term paper (15 to 20 pages.)

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's office.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2002

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