Texts of Terror: Violence and the Religions of "the Book"

RE 297

Fall 2006

MW 1:00-2:15

Instructor: Carleen Mandolfo

Lovejoy 346

ext. 4645

mandolfo@colby.edu

Office hours: M 9:30-11:00

W 9:30-11:00

other times by appt. (I usually stay home on Fridays and work on my own research)

Course description:

From the practice of human and animal sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible to the "sacrifice" of Jesus in the Christian Scriptures to the horror of 9/11, an examination of the intersection of violence and religion as portrayed primarily in the texts and traditions of the three Abrahamic religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. To the end, the biblical construction of identity and "othering" will be a primary focus. Sacred texts, works of literature, and current events that illustrate and explore the theme of sacred violence will be the focus.

Texts:

*(New) Revised Standard Version of the Bible (or another version with approval of the instructor); preferably The Access Bible or the Harper Collins Study Bible

*Rene Girard, The Girard Reader (GR)

*Regina Schwartz, The Curse of Cain (CC)

*Mark Juergensmeyer, Terror in the Mind of God (TMG)

*Sam Harris, The End of Faith (EF)

*Sheri Reynolds, The Rapture of Canaan (RC)

**Web reserves (these should be copied in full during the first week of class. You are to treat it as if it is a book I am asking you to buy.)

Requirements:

Since this course will be conducted largely as a seminar (which means that we will spend much of our time in discussion rather than just listening to me lecture), it is imperative that you come to class having read the assigned readings. To facilitate critical engagement with the readings, study questions and other informal written work will be regularly assigned in conjunction with the reading assignments. This, as well as your in-class contributions, will count toward "participation". In this way you should be prepared to verbally engage the material of the day in a thoughtful, critical manner (this does not mean that you have to come to class with a full understanding of what you have read! Only that you have made a sincere effort to do so.).

grading:

Two exams -- 20% each

One small essay – 10%

A final exam -- 25%

Participation (including study questions) -- 25%

*Turning in a late paper (or study questions) without prior approval will adversely affect your grade.

Course goals:

1) To become familiar with examples of the way monotheistic religions contribute to social violence.

2) To develop an understanding of different methodological approaches to the issue of violence and religion. To become somewhat skillful in applying these methods to texts (in our case, mainly biblical) and real life instances of violence, and to be able to evaluate critically the models' usefulness as tools for understanding humankind's propensity for violence as it is manifested in our religious and secular institutions.

CLASS SCHEDULE

9/6 Intro to Course; syllabus

9/11 Introductory comments on religion and violence

Assgn: TMG, ch. 1; EF, ch. 1

9/13 Video: "Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero"

9/18 Understanding the ritual dimensions of religion and sacrifice

Assgn: C. Bell, ch. 1; pp. 108-115 (on web reserve)

9/20 Blood rites in the Hebrew Bible

Assgn: Genesis 8-9; Leviticus 1, 4-8, 16-17; Bruce Lincoln, "On Religion,

Empire, and Torture" (on web reserve) Generate one (intelligent) question to ask Prof. Lincoln based on the paper he is giving

9/25 Intro to Rene Girard; Mimetic Theory

Assgn: GR, pp. 1-6, chs. 1-2; Bruce Lincoln, "On Religion,

Empire, and Torture" (on web reserve) Generate one (intelligent) question to ask Prof. Lincoln based on the paper he is giving.

*Required* to attend evening lecture of Bruce Lincoln

9/27 Girard and Sacrifice

Assgn: Genesis 4, 22; GR, ch. 6

10/2 Application of theory

Assgn: Read "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. You can find it at: http://mbhs.bergtraum.k12.ny.us/cybereng/shorts/lotry.html

Write a two-page essay evaluating whether or not you think her story is a good illustration of Girard's understanding of ritualized and societal violence, as you understand it thus far. Be prepared to discuss your position in class. (Two pages, typed.)

10/4 Girard and the scapegoat; exam review

Assgn: GR, chs. 7-8

10/9 EXAM

10/11 Girard and the Bible

Assgn: Genesis 37-50; GR, pp. 145-58

10/16 Fall Break

10/18 Monotheism and identity formation

Assgn: CC, Intro and ch. 1

10/23 Monotheism, land, and war

Assgn: Joshua 1-8; CC, ch. 2

10/25 Monotheism and women

Assgn: Judges 11, 19; CC, ch. 3

10/30 Monotheism and nationalism; conclusions

Assgn: CC chs. 4-5

11/1 Christianity and violence: case studies; exam review

Assgn: EF, ch. 3; TMG, ch. 2;

11/6 Religion and violence in contemporary literature

Assgn: RC, pp. 1-163

11/8 cont.; exam review

Assgn: RC, pp. 163-end

11/13 EXAM #2

11/15 Judaism and violence: case studies

Assgn: TMG, ch. 3

11/20 NO CLASS: I'm at a conference

11/22 Thanksgiving Break

11/27 Islam and violence: case studies

Assgn: TMG, ch. 4; EF, ch. 4

11/29 Religion and violence: theoretical considerations

Assgn: TMG, chs. 7-8

12/4 Theoretical considerations, cont.

Assgn: TMG, chs. 9-10

12/6 To abolish religion?

Assgn: EF ch. 6