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This course uses a general survey of classic and contemporary theories
of sacrifice as a point of entry into the role played by violence
in social formations.
Although the course begins with a survey of 19th and 20th century
theorists who attempted to explain the origins and functions of
rituals widely classified as "sacrifice," the course concludes
by asking students to generalize some of their findings so as to
offer a more broadly social theory of violence. In doing so, the
course implicitly argues for the widely utility of scholarship on
that segment of culture we commonly know as religion.
The course consists of lectures, discussions, writing assignments
summarizing the assigned readings, and a final research essay.
Spring 2005
syllabus (PDF)
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About our Books and Authors...
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The course books (the first four of which are required) will
be used in the following order. All will be in stock at the campus
SUPE store.
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Jeff Carter (on the right in this photo)
received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in the History
of Religions and is the Founder and Director of the cross-disciplinary
Castle
Rock Institute, in Brevard North Carolina, which combines classes
in the Humanities and oudoor adventure.
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The participants in the conference proceeding entitled Violent
Origins--among them are Jonathan
Z. Smith, Rene
Girard, Walter
Burkert, and Burton
Mack--are among the leading scholars of religion studying the
history and function of ritual and sacrifice. Note: Smith's
work was the focus of REL
490 in the Spring of 2004--a course inspired, in part, by his
2003 Aronov Lecture.
Michael Ignatieff, a Canadian who lived and worked in Britain
for a number of years but who now holds a position at the Kennedy
School of Government, is the author of The Lesser Evil: Political
Ethics in an Age of Terror. He has written extensively on contemporary
geo-politics.
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Russell McCutcheon's
latest book (to be published in early 2005) is an examination of
the manner in which classification systems--such as "faith"
versus "fanaticism"--are used to negotiate socio-political
conflict and, in the process, legitimize certain sorts of violence.
Brian Morris's Anthropological Studies of Religion--a recommended
book for this course--is one of the most comprehensive surveys
of the history of the study of religion practiced as part of the
human sciences. Morris is an emeritus professor in the Department
of Anthropology Goldsmiths
College, University of London.
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Course Resources
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If the academic study of religion is a new subject area for you,
please read at least one of the following brief essays (all are
PDF files):
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What is the Academic Study of Religion? by Russell McCutcheon
(PDF)
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Religion:
A Survey by Russell McCutcheon (PDF)
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The
Problem of Definition by Russell McCutcheon (PDF)
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Religion:
Some Basics by Malory Nye (PDF)
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"Between
Theory and Specialty: Sacrifice in the 90s" by Ivan Strenski
(PDF)
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Looking for an online
dictionary?
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Remember, that apart from resources in Gorgas Library's reference
section, the Encyclopedia of Religion, along with other reference
resources and samples of faculty books, are all available in the
Department's library
(Manly 200-A), usually open to students through the day.
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