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Academic Year 2004/2005


Chosen Peoples, Chosen Nation
RELI 210 SP

Crosslistings:
AMST 216

This course will examine a range of social, political and philosophical issues surrounding the concept of "chosenness" - the belief that a particular community (usually one's own) has been singled out by God for some special favor or purpose. We will trace the roots of this concept in the Hebrew Bible, and examine a number of religious communities (including orthodox Jews, Black Hebrew Israelites, Mormons, Puritans, and Rastafarians) who have claimed divine chosenness through narratives of Israelite descent. Above all, however, we will examine the role of chosenness in popular understandings of American national identity-tracing the history of U.S. claims to be a "chosen nation."

MAJOR READINGS

Conrad Cherry, GOD'S NEW ISRAEL: RELIGIOUS INTERPRETATIONS OF AMERICAN DESTINY
Arnold Eisen, THE CHOSEN PEOPLE OF AMERICA: A STUDY IN JEWISH RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGY
Regina Schwatz, THE CURSE OF CAIN: THE VIOLENT LEGACY OF MONOTHEISM
Ernest Tuveson, REDEEMER NATION: THE IDEA OF AMERICA'S MILLENNIAL ROLE

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

A series of short papers on the readings, and a longer paper based on library research.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS RELI    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Goldschmidt,Henry    
Times: .M.W... 01:10PM-02:30PM;     Location: RSCSEM;
Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 20)
SR. major: 0   Jr. major: 4
SR. non-major: X   Jr. non-major: X   SO: 8   FR: 8

Special Attributes:
Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005


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