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DISCUSSION SCHEDULE

 Unit 1: Orientation

 Week 1 (Jan. 4)

                  Introduction: Apocalypticism and the Academic Study of Religion

                  Film: Apocalypse! (PBS documentary)

Readings:   Cohn, chs. 1-3; Collins, ch. 1

 Week 2 (Jan. 11)

                  Origins of Ancient Apocalypticism: Antecedents and Influences (Near Eastern, Persian, Greek, Roman, and Israelite)

Readings:   "Anzu"; "Hesiod's Theogony 820-885: Myth of Typhoeus and Zeus"; "Zoroastrian Yasna 30" (http://www.avesta.org/yasna/y28to34b.htm#y30); "Plutarch, Isis and Osiris 370: Zoroastrian dualism"; Job 38-42; Cohn, chs. 1-5

Week 3 (Jan 18)

                  Origins of Ancient Apocalypticism: Antecedents and Influences (cont'd)

                  Discussion of  Norman Cohn's Cosmos, Chaos, and the World to Come

                        Readings:   Ezekiel 37-39 and Isaiah 24-27 (Bible); Cohn 6-8 

Unit 2: Earliest Jewish Apocalypses

 Week 4 (Jan 25)

                  Book of Daniel: "Historical" Apocalypse

Readings:   Daniel 2, 7-12 (Bible); Collins, ch. 3; Cohn, ch. 9

 Week 5 (Feb 1)

                  Literature Associated with Enoch: Otherworldly Journeys

Readings:   1 Enoch 1-36; Genesis 5:21-24 (Bible); 6:1-8; Collins, ch. 2, 6; Cohn, ch. 10

 Unit 3: Developments in early Apocalypticism (Jewish and Christian)

 Week 6 (Feb 8)

                  The Apocalyptic Community at Qumran: Dualism and the Final Cosmic Battle

Readings:   "Community Rule" (1QS), columns 1-5, "The War Rule," and "The Heavenly Prince Melchizedek"; Collins, chs. 4-5      

**Reading week, Feb 12-16 – no classes**

 Week 7 (Feb 22)

                  Apocalypses Responding to the Destruction of the Temple (70 CE): 4 Ezra

Readings:   4 Ezra = 2 Esdras 3-14 (in the Apocrypha of the Bible); Collins chs. 7

 Week 8 (March 1)

                  Apocalypticism in Earliest Christianity: Jesus and Paul

Readings:   Mark, especially chapter 13; 1-2 Thessalonians, esp. chs. 4-5; 1 Corinthians, especially chs. 7, 15; Collins, ch. 9; Cohn, ch. 11 

Week 9 (March 8)

                  John's Apocalypse

                        Readings:   Revelation (esp. chs. 1-3, 13-22); Sibylline Oracles 3.350-380; 4.103-192; 8.110-215; Collins, ch. 8; Cohn, chs. 12-13

 Week 10 (March 15)

                  In class test

 Unit 4: More on Modern Legacies of Ancient Apocalypticism

 Week 11 (March 22)

                  Legacies: Documentary film on Waco and the Branch Davidians

                        Readings:   Robbins and Anthony, "Sects and Violence" and TBA

 Week 12 (March 29)

                  Legacies: Apocalypticism in modern film and television (Twelve Monkeys and others)

                        Readings:   TBA

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Outline of Assignments

 Book Review Paper (5 pages, no longer; Feb 7)

Carefully read and study the assigned book, making note of the main arguments of the author.   Write a review of the book, which entails:

-    Outlining the main argument (or point) of the book and how the author builds up this argument in sub-arguments throughout the chapters.

-    Discussing the author's methods (or approach) and use of evidence to support his or her points.

-    Providing a critical assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the book.  Does the author achieve what she set out to do?  Is the argument convincing or not, and in what ways?  What theoretical assumptions and/or value judgements influence the author's reconstruction of history?  Be sure to provide concrete examples (citing page numbers in parentheses) of the problems or strengths you discuss. 

The review paper should have a clear thesis statement (concerning your evaluation of the book) which is supported throughout the paragraphs.  The paper should be clearly written and structured with no spelling or grammatical errors.  Be succinct and do not exceed the prescribed length. 

Major research paper proposal and critical bibliography (2-3 pages)

Choose a topic relating to the course that interests you.   Speak with me to confirm that the topic will work and to get advice on how to proceed.  Write a succinct proposal and outline of the paper, which entails:

-    Stating your topic, its relevance to the course, and the sort of material you expect to cover.

-    Outlining your tentative thesis or main argument and how you expect to structure the paper.

-    Discussing primary and secondary sources that will be useful in research.  Provide a bibliography (following an accepted academic style of bibliography correctly). 

Major Research Paper (15 pages double spaced)

This paper will build upon your earlier proposal, demonstrating research and analysis of both primary and secondary sources.  A good research paper includes the following characteristics (and more):

Form:    

-    Opening paragraph that provides context by noting the broader relevance of the topic.  Ease the reader into the subject, yet get to your main topic or point promptly.

-    Clear thesis statement that encapsulates your main argument or point.

-    Clearly structured paragraphs, with each paragraph addressing a specific point (or sub-thesis) that helps to support your overall thesis.

-    Clearly written sentences that communicate your ideas in a direct and succinct manner (without repetition).

-    Succinct concluding paragraph that pulls things together without merely repeating what has already been said.

-    No spelling or grammatical errors.

                -    Complete bibliography listing all sources consulted or cited in the paper.  Follow an accepted academic format of bibliography (do not create your own variations). 

Content:

-    Early indication of your purpose, the way you will be approaching your topic, and the methods you will be using (e.g. historical, sociological, anthropological, psychological)

-    Discussion of a range of material relevant to your topic and purpose.

-    Provision of historical and cultural context.  Where does your topic fit within the broader historical trends of the period you are studying?  How does your topic relate to political, social or cultural developments of the time?

-    Thorough references to the sources (both primary and secondary) of your information throughout the paper (using an accepted form of citation).  Find out what plagiarism is and avoid it like the plague.

-    Critical use and analysis of primary sources (that is, materials from the period you are studying produced by contemporary participants or observers).  Primary sources include not only writings but also visual and artefactual materials (e.g. archeological findings, buildings, artistic productions, films in the modern context).

-    Critical use and analysis of secondary sources (that is, scholarly materials).  Demonstrate that you have read relevant scholarly sources.  Show that you are aware of the key issues of debate among scholars and take sides in the matter.   Which scholarly positions do you agree or disagree with and why?

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Presentation topics on legacies of apocalypticism

Focus questions: What is the apocalyptic worldview of a particular person or movement? What, if anything, actually happens as a result of this worldview (how does it affect behaviour)?  What connections or innovations are evident in relation to ancient apocalypticism?

The Phrygian movement (Montanism) (2nd century)

Joachim of Fiore's apocalyptic worldview (12th century)

The figure of the Antichrist in the middle ages (medieval)

Münster as the New Jerusalem (16th century)

John Nelson Darby and the doctrine of the rapture (19th century)

Hung Hsiu-ch'uan's "Heavenly Chronicle" and the Taiping rebellion (19th century)

Antonio Conselheiro and Canudos in Brazil (19th century)

Children of Peace in Toronto (19th century)

Millerites (19th century)

Jehovah's Witnesses (20th century)

Hal Lindsey's Late Great Planet Earth (20th century)

Jonestown (1970s)

Heaven's Gate in USA (1990s)

Order of the Solar Temple in Quebec and Switzerland (1990s)

Aum Shinri Kyo in Japan (1990s)

 

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