Apocalypticism in Early Judaism and in Christianity
(Graduate course; Fall 2002)
Course description:
Books:This course investigates the origins, development and legacies of apocalypticism within early Judaism and Christianity. Beginning with the ancient context, we will focus on understanding: (1) the earliest apocalyptic literature (biblical and non-biblical); (2) apocalyptic or millenial movements within early Judaism and Christianity; and (3) the apocalyptic world-view, which centres on the notion of God's ultimate intervention in order to destroy evil and inaugurate an eternal perfect kingdom. The latter part of the course surveys the legacies of apocalypticism in religious movements, popular culture and artistic representation to the present day. Throughout we will also draw attention to correspondences between ancient apocalypticism and modern religious life and popular culture (music, film and TV).
Evaluation:
- The Bible (Modern translation such as RSV, NRSV, NIV, NEB, Jerusalem, preferably including the "Apocrypha")
- Course pack (with primary readings)
- Norman Cohn, Cosmos, Chaos and the World To Come: The Ancient Roots of Apocalyptic Faith. 2nd edition. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001.
- John J. Collins, The Apocalyptic Imagination: An Introduction to Jewish Apocalyptic Literature. 2nd edition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
- Frances Carey, ed., The Apocalypse and the Shape of Things to Come. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999.
Readings, Discussions, and Presentations
- Discussion leadership, presentation, and participation (= 40%)
- Analysis of primary source (1 Enoch 37-54:6 in course pack), due October 7 (6 pp. double-spaced = 20%)
- Essay proposal and critical bibliography, due November 4 (= 5%)
- Major research paper, due December 2 (20-25 pp. = 35%)
Everyone is responsible for reading works listed for a particular week and should come prepared for discussion. Our principal focus for discussion will be the primary or ancient sources; scholarly sources (esp. Collins and Cohn) will help us to make sense of the primary sources. In addition to ongoing participation from week to week, each student will have the opportunity: (1) to lead the main discussion (with my help) once (in Units 1, 2 or 3); and, (2) to make another smaller presentation (about 15-20 minutes) on a different week (list of topics to be provided). We will discuss these requirements more fully in class.
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DISCUSSION SCHEDULE
Unit 1: Orientation
Sept 9
Introduction: Apocalypticism and the Academic Study of Religion
Readings: Cohn, chs. 1-4; Collins, ch. 1
Sept 16
Origins of Ancient Apocalypticism: Antecedents and Influences (Near Eastern, Persian, Greek, Roman and Israelite)
Readings: "Anzu" (course pack); "Zoroastrian Dualism: Verses from [Gathas ] Yasna 30" (course pack); Job 38-42; Ezekiel 37-39 and Isaiah 24-27 (Bible); Cohn, chs. 5-8
Unit 2: Earliest Jewish Apocalypses
Sept 23
Book of Daniel: "Historical" Apocalypse
Readings: Daniel 2, 7-12 (Bible); Collins, ch. 3; Cohn, ch. 9
Sept 30
Literature Associated with Enoch: Otherworldly Journeys
Readings: 1 Enoch 1-36 (course pack); Genesis 5:21-24; 6:1-8; Collins, ch. 2, 6; Cohn, ch. 10
Unit 3: Developments in early Apocalypticism (Jewish and Christian)
Oct 7
The Apocalyptic Community at Qumran: Dualism and the Final Cosmic Battle
Readings: "Community Rule" (1QS) chs. 3-4, "The War Rule," and "The Heavenly Prince Melchizedek" (course pack); Collins, chs. 4-5
Oct 14 No class -- University closed for Thanksgiving
Oct 21
Apocalypses Responding to the Destruction of the Temple (70 CE): 4 Ezra
Readings: 4 Ezra (course pack, esp. 4 Ezra, chs. 6-10); Collins chs. 7
Oct 28
Apocalypticism in Earliest Christianity: Jesus and Paul
Readings: Mark 13; 1-2 Thessalonians (Bible, esp 1 Thess 4-5); Collins, ch. 9; Cohn, ch. 11
Nov 4
John's Apocalypse and its legacies (to 600 CE)
Readings: Revelation (esp. chs. 1-3, 13-22); Sibylline Oracles 3.350-380; 4.103-192; 8.110-215 (course pack); Collins, ch. 8; Cohn, chs. 12-13; Hultgren and Haggmark, "Montanists" (handout)
Unit 4: Apocalyptic Legacies to the Present
Nov 11
Legacies 600-1800: Visualizing and Realizing the Apocalypse
Readings: Alexander, "The Last Things: Representing the Unrepresentable" (in Carey); Peter Marshall, "The Vision of the Apocalypse in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries" (in Carey); Hillerbrand, "Radical Reform Movements", pp. 253-266; Cohn, The Pursuit of the Millenium, chs. 2, 13
Nov 18
Legacies 1800-1945: Modernism, Colonialism and the End
Readings: Frances Carey, "The Apocalyptic Imagination: Between Tradition and Modernity" (in Carey); Michael, "The Origin of the Taipings and their Rise in Kwangsi" and "The Taiping Heavenly Chronicle" (course pack)
Nov 25
Legacies: Movie (Apocalypse!)
Dec 2
Legacies 1945-Y2K: Margins and Mainstream
Readings: Christie, "Celluloid Apocalypse" (in Carey); Daniels, "The Order of the Solar Temple" and "Comet Hale-Bopp, Planet Nibiru, the Mass Landing, and Heaven's Gate" (course pack); Hal Lindsey, Late, Great Planet Earth, introduction and pp. 81-45 (course pack)
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Assignment descriptions:
Analysis of primary source (5-6 pages, double-spaced maximum):
Essay proposal and final research paper (to be discussed in class).The purpose of this assignment is to deepen your understanding of the ancient apocalyptic worldview. Read and study 1 Enoch 37-54:6 (course pack), taking note of dominant themes and issues. Put yourself in the shoes of this Jewish apocalyptic writer of ancient times. Discuss (in your own words) what is important to you and explain how you perceive or understand the cosmos.
For example: What are your views of God and other cosmic beings, of humanity (both your fellows and outsiders) and of the world (and its future)? How does therealm relate to what is happening (or will happen) here on earth? What does all this mean for how you and those you are addressing are to think, behave and live in the present?