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Academic Year 2005/2006


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)
Weber, SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION (parts)
Heschel, THE PROPHETS
Locke, LETTER CONCERNING TOLERATION
Reichley, FAITH IN AMERICAN POLITICS
Avineri, MAKING OF MODERN ZIONISM
Arian, POLITICS IN ISRAEL
Qutb, SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ISLAM
Kepel, JIHAD. THE TRAIL OF POLITICAL ISLAM
Chambers and Kymlicka, eds. ALTERNATIVE CONCEPTIONS OF CIVIL SOCIETY

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

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

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students who wish to be eligible to register for the course during Drop/Add should add themselves to the enrollment request system during on-line registration. Enrollment request preference rankings will be one factor I will consider in making Drop/Add period registration decisions.

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-30-2006


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