[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2005/2006

Chosen Peoples, Chosen Nation
RELI 210 SP

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

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

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: ..T.R.. 01:10PM-02:30PM;     Location: FISK412;

Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 20)

SR. major: 3   Jr. major: 3

SR. non-major: 2   Jr. non-major: 2   SO: 5   FR: 5

Special Attributes:

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006

Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459