Jews, Christians and Others

Dit is een conceptversie. De vakomschrijving kan nog wijzigen, bekijk deze pagina op een later moment nog eens.

Faculteit Godgeleerdheid en Godsdienstwetenschap
Jaar 2019/20
Vakcode THMJCOE10
Vaknaam Jews, Christians and Others
Niveau(s) master
Voertaal Engels
Periode semester I a

Uitgebreide vaknaam Jews, Christians and Others: Pluralism and Politics in the Graeco-Roman World
Leerdoelen The student who successfully completes this course will be better able:
  • to read and understand primary sources from a very different world
  • to lead a productive discussion of a well-chosen question
  • to distil the central arguments from a scholarly study
  • to explain the possible foundations and limitations of a pluralistic outlook in Graeco-Roman perspective
  • to compare ancient factors (in ethnographic or polis-based thinking) affecting pluralism or intolerance with those obtaining in modern nation-states and religions.
Omschrijving This foundational seminar explores the root belonging-categories of ethnos (notional kin-group) and polis from the classical period through the conquests of Alexander and the Romans. How diverse was this constantly changing world and what criteria permitted or constrained what we might call pluralism: tolerance or even support of difference? How did such tolerated variety manifest itself in areas connected with ‘religion’, such as polis calendars, deities, and holy days, translocal sacrificial cults, philosophical schools, and voluntary associations? What limits did the Hellenistic kingdoms and Roman Empire impose on diversity? Why did Antiochus IV move against Jerusalem, or the Roman senate against the Bacchants? What did Hasmonean expansion mean for Judaea’s neighbours? How did Jews/ Judaeans fare in their homeland under foreign rule and as minorities abroad, before and after Jerusalem’s destruction (70 CE)? How did Christianity relate to polis life and to expatriate Jewish communities, in its first generations and as it gained strength in the third and fourth centuries? Through the period of Christianity’s expansion, what possibilities for pluralism existed among Roman leaders (Constantine, Julian, Theodosius I and II), philosophers (Celsus, Porphyry), Jews, and Christian leaders?
Uren per week 3
Onderwijsvorm werkcollege
(Weekly seminar, including both a presentation (quasi-lecture) for context and discussion of readings.)
(50% of the grade comes from cumulative assessment of participation, 50% from the final research paper (3000 word max.). Participation is assessed on the basis of attendance and submission of five weekly reading reports (KAVV format) in preparation for discussions.)
Vaksoort master
Docent(en) prof. dr. S.N. Mason
Verplichte literatuur
Titel Auteur ISBN Prijs
Literature will be announced later.
Opmerkingen Research master students, have a different course code:THRMJCOE10. These students submit an extra assignment.
Opgenomen in
Opleiding Jaar Periode Type
Exchange programme: mastermodules 1 semester I a keuzegroep
Ma Programme Religion and Pluralism, Ancient and Modern 1 semester I a verplicht
Ma Programme Theology and Religious Studies (Research) 1 semester I a keuzegroep
Ma Programme Theology and Religious Studies (Research) 2 semester I a keuzegroep