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Religious Fundamentalisms: Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hinduism
Syllabus for Religious Studies Course Björn Krondorfer, Professor of Religious Studies
(sample)
The course “Religious Fundamentalisms” aims at understanding and
comparing fundamentalist movements in Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Hinduism. We will
examine the term "fundamentalism" as it has evolved from describing an American
Protestant form of religiosity to signifying a global phenomenon spanning different religions
and cultures. What is fundamentalism? How do religious fundamentalist describe
themselves, how are they described by others? What are the grievances, ambitions and
goals of “fundamentalists”? Can we differentiate between fundamentalist piety and religious
extremism? In what ways have fundamentalist movements begun to intersect with ethnic,
national and political identities? Do fundamentalists of different religious backgrounds share
common world views? How do fundamentalists see humans interacting with divine
commandments? What are the roles of men and women? Do fundamentalist principles
legitimate new forms of religious violence?
Required Reading Richard Antoun, Understanding Fundamentalism: Christian, Islamic and Jewish Movements (2
nd)
Martin Marty, Scott Appleby, Fundamentalisms and the State (Fundamentalism Project, vol 3)
Youssef Choueiri, Islamic Fundamentalism: The Story of Islamist Movements (3rd
ed)
Mark Juergensmeyer, Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence
Arvind Sharma, Fundamentalism and Women in World Religions
Handouts
Outline
1/17 Introduction; R: Definition; “Intro” to Fundamentalism Project (FP vol. 1)
What is Fundamentalism? Definitions, Features, Boundaries
1/19 What is Fundamentalism?
R: “Introduction,” in: G. Almond, S. Appleby, E. Sivan, Strong Religion: The
Rise of Fundamentalisms around the World;
R: Antoun, Preface and ch. 1, 1-20; ch 2
1/24 Scripturalism, Traditioning, Purity, Totalism, Selective Modernization
R: Antoun, chs 3, 4, 5 and 6
Christian Fundamentalism
1/26 American Roots: Revivalist, Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christians
R: Carpenter, Intro, ch. 1
1/31 Millenialism and Dispensationalism
R: Carpenter, Appendix; Marsden: handout (dispensationalism);
R: Ammerman, “North American Protestant Fundamentalism,” (FP, vol. 1)
2/2 American Fundamentalism
R: Garvey, “Fundamentalism and American Law” (FP, vol. 3
R: ibid. “Intro: Fundamentalism and Politics” (FP vol. 3)
Video: Power & Glory: Fighting Back
2/7 Science and Fundamentalism
R: handouts
2/9 Women and Fundamentalism
R: Faye Ginsburg, “Saving America’s Souls:” (FP vol. 3)
2/14 Poster Presentations: Christian Fundamentalist Movements
Problematizing our Project: Juergensmeyer, “Antifundamentalism” (FP vol. 5)
Fundamentalist Movements in Islam
2/16 Fundamentals of Islam
R: Choueiri, Intro and ch 1 Quiz 1: General & Christianity
2/21 Revivalism and Reformism
R: Choueiri, chs 2-4
2/23 Radicalism
R: Abul Mawdudi (Process of Islamic Revolution)
R: Sayyid Qutb, Milestones
2/28 Radicalism
R: Choueiri chs 5 and 6
3/1 Video: Power & the Glory: Remaking the World
R: Choueiri chs 7 and 8
3/6 Women and Islam (Group Work)
R: Jameelah (Islamic Movement and Islamic Culture in Theory and Practice)
R: Fatima Mernissi & Meshal (in Sharma & Young, ch 6)
R: Saba Mahmoud
3/8 Poster Presentations: Islamic Revivalist Movements
Quiz 2: Islam
SPRING BREAK
Jewish Fundamentalist Movements
3/20 What is Jewish Fundamentalism?
R: Landau, Into + chs 1, 2, 4, 6
3/22 Orthodox, Hasidic, Haredi
R: Landau, 18, 20, 21, 28, 32
3/27 ADVISING
3/29 (Anti-) Zionism and Fundamentalism
R: Ehud Sprinzak, “Three Models of Religious Violence” (FP vol. 3)
Video: Power & the Glory: This is our Land
4/3 Jewish Feminists and Fundamentalist
R: Fishman (in Sharma & Young, ch 4) Poster Presentations: Jewish Fundamentalism
Hindu Nationalism and Fundamentalism
4/5 The Rise of Hindu Religious Nationalism
R: Daniel Gold, “Organized Hinduism” (FP vol. 1, pp. 531-555, 559-583)
Quiz 3: Judaism
4/10 Hindutva and Politics (Group Work)
R: Frykenberg, “Hindu Fundamentalism & Structural Stability of India” (FP
vol. 3)
4/12 Hindutva and Women
R: Hellman (in Sharma & Young, ch 1)
R: John Hawley, “Hinduism: Sati and its Defenders”
Fundamentalism and Violence
4/17 Poster Presentations: Hindutva
Soldiers for Christ, Zion Betrayed, Islam’s Duty
R: Juergensmeyer, chs. 2, 3, 4
4/19 The Logic of Religious Violence I
R: Juergensmeyer, chs. 7 Quiz 4: Hinduism
4/24 The Logic of Religious Violence II
R: Juergensmeyer, chs. 8-11
4/26 Comparative Fundamentalisms: What have we learned?
5/4 Final Meeting: Wednesday, 2-4:15