The religious quest: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Ian Mabbett and Constant Mews
8 points * First semester * Clayton
Judaism, Christianity and Islam each claim to present a vision of `the people of God'. This subject will examine critically the nature, evolution and interaction of these three monotheist religions as they have developed from late antiquity to the modern period. It will investigate their common heritage from the borders of the Mediterranean world - belief in one god, the idea of prophetic inspiration and the notion of a sacred scripture - and ask why each of these traditions has evolved in ways that have often been mutually exclusive. How does each tradition cope with the major questions of life? What role have non-religious factors, such as ethnicity, political ambition and gender, played in their evolution and interaction? To what extent have these religions been able to coexist with each other in the past? This subject will examine the experience of religious persecution and dissent, as well as the encounter of monotheistic traditions with secular and scientific ideas in the modern world.
Assessment
Written (4000 words): 45% * Examinations (2 hours): 50% * Seminar participation: 5%
Prescribed texts
The Bible Old and New Testaments, any version
Dawood N J The Koran Penguin
Epstein I Judaism Penguin
Guillaume A Islam Penguin
Hinnells J Handbook of living religions Penguin
Johnson P A history of Christianity Penguin
Recommended text
Eastman R (ed.) The ways of religion 2nd edn, OUP