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RELI294
The End of the World: The Millennium and the End Times in American Religious Thought
RELI294 SP
Crosslistings: AMST288
Not Currently Offered
The approach of each millennium has been fraught with
uncertainty and anxiety for many societies. As we approach
the year 2000, some religious groups in the U.S. herald
the hastening of the End Times, when a Messiah will appear
to cleanse the earth of all unrighteousness.
This course examines various American eschatologies and the
religious communities that imagine them. Among the topics we
will discuss will be Americanism, or the ways groups imagine
the United States to be favored by God; religious politics
(both Christian and Jewish fundamentalists); and the ways
that American eschatologies are gendered and racialized. The
End Times in pop culture will be considered through various
novels and films.
MAJOR READINGS
BOOK OF DANIEL
BOOK OF REVELATION
Sacvan Bercovitch, THE AMERICAN JEREMIAD
Paul Boyer, WHEN TIME SHALL BE NO MORE
Octavia Butler, THE PARABLE OF THE SWORD (novel)
David Chidester, SALVATION AND SUICIDE:
William Pierce, THE TURNER DIARIES (novel)
Hal Lindsey, LATE GREAT PLANET EARTH (novel)
Elijah Muhammed, "Message to the Blackman in America"
Scott Peterson, NATIVE AMERICAN PROPHECIES
Michael G. Reddish, ed., APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE: A READER
William Shaffir, "Luvavitch Millennialism" in THE JEWISH
JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Midterm, final, three essays.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS
This course
fulfills a "critical disciplines" departmental requirement.
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: Discussion Lecture
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Level: UG Credit: 1.00
Gen Ed Area & Dept: SBS RELI
Prerequisites:
None
Last Updated on MAR-22-1999
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Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459