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Academic Year 2003/2004

Religion and Politics
GOVT 393 FA

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? Do political movements based on religion change the moral basis of a constitutional state? 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
John Locke, LETTER CONCERNING TOLERATION
James Reichley, RELIGION IN AMERICAN PUBLIC LIFE
U.S. Supreme Court decisions
Shlomo Avineri, THE MAKING OF MODERN ZIONISM
Asher Arian, POLITICS IN ISRAEL
John Esposito, ISLAM. THE STRAIGHT PATH; ISLAM AND POLITICS
Bernard Lewis, THE POLITICAL LANGUAGE OF ISLAM

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

One short paper and class presentation, based on the reading for class; midterm paper; final exam.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

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-19-2004

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