Chosen Peoples, Chosen Nation
RELI 210
Spring 2006
| Section:
01
|
| Crosslisting:
AMST 216 |
| Certificates: Jewish and Israel Studies |
| Course Cluster: Jewish and Israel Studies |
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." |
|
Essential Capabilities:
None |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI |
| Course Format: Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
|
Fulfills a Requirement for: (AMST)(RELI) |
|
Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Conrad Cherry, GOD'S NEW ISRAEL: RELIGIOUS INTERPRETATIONS OF AMERICAN DESTINY
Bercovitch, S., THE AMERICAN JEREMIAD
Barkun, M., RELIGION AND THE RACIST RIGHT
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. |
| Instructor(s): Goldschmidt,Henry Times: ..T.R.. 01:10PM-02:30PM; Location: FISK412; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 20 | | SR major: 3 | JR major: 3 | | |
| Seats Available: 4 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 2 | JR non-major: 2 | SO: 5 | FR: 5 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 17 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 2 | 3rd Ranked: 3 | 4th Ranked: 2 | Unranked: 9 |
|
|