REL 204 Endtimes: Messianism in Modernity (Same as Jewish Studies 204 and Philosophy 204) (Not offered 2008-2009; to be offered 2009-2010) (W)
The sociologist Zygmunt Bauman has described modernity as the period of the world's disenchantment, when God absconded and religion was either rationalized or reduced to the category of superstition. Ironically, this very disenchantment might help to explain the persistence of the concept of the messianic in even the most secular branches of modern European thought. One of Judaism's most powerful and elastic concepts, the notion of the messiah saw a variety of radically different interpretations between the 17th and 20th centuries. This course will consider the range of modern interpretations of the messiah, taking as its concrete starting point the Sabbatian Heresy of the 17th century and concluding with Derrida's philosophical development of the concept of the messianic as pure interruption. The course's aim is to use messianism as a focal point around which to consider the dynamic relationship between philosophy and Judaism in modernity. This course will expose the mutual influences of these two forces, illustrating both how Enlightenment conceptions of progress helped to create the notion of "messianism" understood as an abstract idea, and how the modern/post-modern philosophical conception of the "messianic" as a force that interrupts time is dependent upon historical studies of the messianic dimension of traditional Judaism. The readings for each class will not generally exceed 40 pages but will require close attention. Authors to be read include GWF Hegel, Immanuel Kant, Hermann Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, Gershom Scholem, Walter Benjamin, and Jacques Derrida.
Format: seminar. Requirements will include regular participation, weekly writing assignments of 2-3 pages, and a final 12- to 15-page paper an approved topic of the student's choice.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected: 19). Preference given to Religion majors and Jewish Studies concentrators.
HAMMERSCHLAG