THEOREL 301

Religious Texts of Terror


Please note: this is archived course information from 2019 for THEOREL 301.

Description

The contentious relationship between violence and religious texts has long been a topic of debate within religious studies. Sacred texts, including the Christian Bible, the Jewish Tanakh and the Qur’an contain traditions that appear at times to condone multiple forms of objective and systemic violence, including murder, war, genocide, rape, incest, domestic violence, human sacrifice, ethnic cleansing, slavery and sex slavery. Other texts (written, oral and digital) that emerge from religious traditions throughout history and up to the present day may draw on religious doctrine to defend or even encourage various acts of violence towards particular groups and individuals, based on their race, religious beliefs, gender, or sexuality.

In this course, students will trace the historical, cultural and religious roots of some of these "texts of terror", analysing the particular historical and cultural locations from which they emerged. They will also consider their ongoing significance and influence within contemporary cultures at global and local levels. Do these texts continue to have political and cultural authority, even within secular contexts? What impact do they still have in contemporary political and societal debates, around issues relating to war, religious intolerance and even acts of terrorism? And how do we engage critically and ethically with these texts within our own multicultural and multi-faith contexts?

The course will therefore allow students to develop their skills in textual analysis and critical thinking, as they learn to evaluate complex relationships between religious texts and multiple forms of violence using a number of theoretical approaches, including postcolonial, feminist, Marxist and queer theories. Topics covered in the course may include rape culture and religious texts, the use of the Bible to justify war, apartheid and colonialism, religious homophobia and transphobia in sacred texts and social media; religious writings in environmental debates, religious persecution, intolerance and holy wars throughout history; and sacred texts and terrorism.

By the end of the course, students will:

  • Have developed an understanding of the complex ways that multiple forms of violence are articulated and understood within a number of religious texts, traditions, and communities throughout history.
  • Be able to have an informed discussion about contemporary issues surrounding the significance of violence within religious texts, and how these are addressed by contemporary religious and secular communities.
  • Learn to analyse texts using a number of different methodological and theoretical approaches.
  • Have become familiar with some significant scholarly literature around this topic and be able to engage with it in an informed and critical way.
  • Have learned some of the skills required in academic writing and the process of composing a well-argued, well-written and engaging essay.

View the course syllabus

Availability 2019

Semester 2

Lecturer(s)

Coordinator(s) Dr Caroline Blyth

Points

THEOREL 301: 15 points

Prerequisites

30 points at Stage II from the BA Schedule

Restrictions

THEOREL 209