Instructor: Azzan Yadin-Israel

GOD AND THE GODS

Course Canvas Site: https://canvas.rutgers.edu/XXX E-mail: [email protected]. I will respond to student emails within two work days. Office Hours: Tuesdays 12:00-1:30

Course Description: This course examines three core issues in the way religious communities conceive of the divine: whether there are many gods or just one, whether the divine has a physical form, and what gender it should be assigned. Each of these questions is addressed through analysis of written and visual sources drawn from Judaism, Christianity, and Ancient Greek religion. In doing so, the course highlights the complexity of fundamental issues in the history of religion, including and especially issues that are commonly presented as uncontroversial: God’s masculinity, God’s incorporeality, and the superiority of monotheism to polytheism.

Textbooks: There is no textbook for the course, all readings and images are available on Canvas or otherwise online.

Learning Methods and Resources: Students are expected to attend each class. You are permitted three unexcused absences (after drop-add period ends). Any absences beyond those three will detract from your final grade. Participation is integral to your success in the class: please read the material in advance, bring it to class, and be prepared to discuss it. For modules that focus on visual material—these are texts as well. Please study the images closely and be prepared to discuss and analyze them.

Final Grade will be determined as follows: i. Class participation and preparedness: 20% ii. Two exams over the course of the semester: 25% each iii. Paper (6-8 pages): 30% ***Please note that all these components must be met to complete the course***

Class Participation consists of several criteria: • Presence: The course is based on the class preparing the assigned material and then discussing it as a community. Consistent attendance is key, as it provides the framework for you to raise questions and learn from the instructor and other students.

• Participation: Thoughtful contributions to classroom conversation and analysis; willingness to respond to questions posed by the instructor or by other students, and to use your ideas and perspectives to enrich the class.

• Preparedness: Participation that demonstrates familiarity with the assigned material. This does not mean that students are expected to master the material on their own; I expect you to have questions—but they should be question that arise from your engagement of the material.

• Being respectful to other points of view and fostering an environment that is conducive to an open exchange of ideas and perspectives. I encourage different views, so long as they are based on the material we are studying and not framed in a way that demeans other perspectives.

Written work will be graded on the basis of content, clarity of argument, quality of writing, and how well it analyzes the material and answers the questions. Written work, except for that which is a classroom assignment, must be typed (double-spaced, 12 pt. font), and spell-checked. One letter grade per day will be deducted for late papers unless you have a written medical excuse.

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all classes; if you expect to miss one or two classes, please use the University absence reporting website https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra/ to indicate the date and reason for your absence. An email is automatically sent to me. Religious holidays are automatically excused per university policy: http://catalogs.rutgers.edu/generated/nb- ug_current/pg1433.html

More than three unexcused absences will lower your final grade. If you have more than ten unexcused absences you will not pass the course.

Grading Scale: 100-90 A 89-87 B+, 86-80 B, 79-77 C+, 76-70 C, 69-60 D, 59-below F.

Classroom Policies: Plagiarism and cheating will be penalized according to the full extent of University policy. Please consult Rutgers University’s Policy on Academic Integrity for Undergraduate and Graduate Students: http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/integrity For tips on how to avoid accidental plagiarism, please consult: http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/avoid_plagiarism

Office of Disability Services: Any student requiring special accommodations to participate in and successfully complete this course must contact the Office of Disability Services and ask to speak with a Coordinator (848- 445-6800 or http://ods.rutgers.edu) to discuss accommodations.

Learning Centers: https://rlc.rutgers.edu/

Academic Advising for SAS students: https://sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/advising/advising

Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services (CAPS) (848) 932-7884 / 17 Senior Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901/ http://health.rutgers.edu/medical- counseling-services/counseling/ CAPS is a University mental health support service that includes counseling, alcohol and other drug assistance, and psychiatric services staffed by a team of professionals within Rutgers Health services to support students’ efforts to succeed at Rutgers University. CAPS offers a variety of services that include: individual therapy, group therapy and workshops, crisis intervention, referral to specialists in the community, and consultation and collaboration with campus partners. Crisis Intervention: http://health.rutgers.edu/medical-counseling-services/counseling/crisis- intervention/

Report a Concern: http://health.rutgers.edu/do-something-to-help/

Violence Prevention & Victim Assistance (VPVA) (848) 932-1181 / 3 Bartlett Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 / www.vpva.rutgers.edu/ The Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance provides confidential crisis intervention, counseling and advocacy for victims of sexual and relationship violence and stalking to students, staff and faculty. To reach staff during office hours when the university is open or to reach an advocate after hours, call 848-932-1181.

***Syllabus is subject to change***

SYLLABUS

Module 1. Introduction: Religion and the Academic Study of Religion Introduction to the course. Overview of syllabus, and expectations. An introduction to the academic study of religion: what counts as religion, and in what ways does the study of religion in a university setting differ from traditional religious institutions? Read: Kim Knott, “The Insider/Outsider Perspective in the Study of Religion, in The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion, edited by John Russell Hinnells, 243-258. Jonathan Z. Smith, “Religion, Religions, Religious,” in Mark C. Taylor, editor, Critical Terms for Religious Studies, 269-284.

UNIT I: GOD OR GODS Module 1. Introduction Paula Fredriksen, “Gods and the One God,” Bible Review February 2003, 12; Jan Assman, “Monotheism and Polytheism” in S. I. Johnston, editor, Ancient Religions: Beliefs and Rituals Across the Mediterranean World, 17-31

Module 2. Biblical Polytheism (Hebrew Bible) Read: 2 Kings 22-23; Psalm 82:1-8; Psalm 89:1-8; Psalm 29:1-2; (primary sources) Benjamin Sommer, “Monotheism and Polytheism in Ancient Israel,” in idem., The Bodies of God and the World of Ancient Israel, 145-173

Module 3. Biblical Monotheism and Monolatry (Hebrew Bible) Read: Genesis 1 (note verse 21); Exodus 20:1-4; (Second-) Isaiah 41:21, 44:1-6 (primary sources) Mark Smith, The Origins of Biblical Monotheism, 148-179.

Module 4. Christianity and the Doctrine of the Trinity Read: Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Tertullian, Against Praxeas §2 (primary sources). Marian Hillar, “Tertullian, Originator of the Trinity,” in her From Logos to Trinity: The Evolution of Religious Beliefs from Pythagoras to Tertullian, 170-189. Michael Rea, “Christianity and Polytheistic Belief,” Journal of Theological Studies, 57 (2006), 133-148.

Module 5. Pagan Polytheism Read: D. G. Rice and J. E. Stambaugh, Sources for the Study of Greek Religion 1-20 (“The Divine World of Homer”), 107-111 (“Sacrifice”), and 147-149 (“Prayer”); Acts 14 (primary sources). Giulia Sissa and Marcel Detienne, “Dealing with the Gods,” in their The Daily Life of the Greek Gods, 166-178.

Module 6: Pagan Monotheism Read: Aristotle, Metaphysics Book 12 (1072b), “The Unmoved Mover”; Philostratus, The Life of Apollonius of Tyana, Book 1, §§14-15; Apuleius, On the God of Socrates §123; Porphyry, On Abstinence from Killing Animals Book 2, §§34-37 (primary sources). Michael Frede, “Monotheism and Pagan Philosophy in Later Antiquity” in Michael Frede and Polymnia Athanassiadi, editors, Pagan Monotheism in Late Antiquity, 41-67.

UNIT II. DIVINE BODIES

Introductory Reading: Wiliam R. LaFleur, “Body,” in Mark C. Taylor, editor, Critical Terms for Religious Studies, 36-54.

Module 7: The Body of God in the Hebrew Bible Read : Genesis 1:26-27; Exodus 24:1-11; Exodus 33:12-23; Ezekiel 1 (primary sources). James Kugel, The God of Old: Inside the Lost World of the Bible, 71-107.

Module 8: God’s Body in Rabbinic Judaism Primary sources: Mekhilta to Exodus, Bahodesh; Leviticus Rabba 34.3; Tosefta Yevamot 8.7 Reading: Yair Lorberbaum, “Blood and the Image of God,” in D. Kretzmer and E. Klein, editors, Human Dignity, 134-175.

Module 9: The Bodies of Greek GodsView the still photos of the Acropolis Museum at: (https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/acropolis-museum) and take a virtual tour of its full exhibit at: (https://tinyurl.com/AcropolisTour). T. H. Carpenter, “Greek Art and Religion,” in David Ogden, editor, A Companion to Greek Religion, 398-420.

Module 10: Early Christian Art in its Pagan Context Explore: The Christian Catacombs of Naples at: https://tinyurl.com/NaplesCatacombs. Read: Jaś Elsner, “Inventing Christian Rome: The Role of Early Christian Art,” in Catherine Edwards and Greg Woolf, Rome: The Cosmopolis, 71-99. In-class analysis of key early Christian works that depict God, with a focus on Roman sarcophagi and catacomb frescoes.

Module 11: Medieval and Renaissance Christian Art Explore: The Met’s Exhibit on the representation of Christ in Renaissance art: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/chri/hd_chri.htm. Read: William Diebold, “Meaning in Early Medieval Art,” in idem., Word and Image: An Introduction to Early Medieval Art, 71-98. In-class analysis of medieval and Renaissance works that depict God.

UNIT III: DIVINE GENDER

Introductory Reading: Daniel Boyarin, “Gender,” in Mark C. Taylor, editor, Critical Terms for Religious Studies, 117-135.

Module 12: Greek Goddesses Read: “The Power of Women: Hera, Athena, and Their Followers,” in Giulia Sissa and Marcel Detienne, The Daily Life of the Greek Gods, 208-229. Mary R. Lefkowitz, “Women in the Panathenaia and Other Festivals,” in Jennifer Neils, editor, Worshipping Athena, 78-94.

Module 13: Goddess Worship in Ancient Israel Read: Jeremiah 44 (primary sources); the Kuntilet Arjud inscription Steve Davies, “The Canaanite-Hebrew Goddess,” in Carl Olson, editor, The Book of the Goddess, Past and Present, 68-79. Ze’ev Meshel, “Did Yahweh Have a Consort?” Biblical Archaeology Review 5 (1979).

Module 14: Kabbalah and the Nonbinary God Read: Genesis 1:27; Zohar III, 61b-62a (Tishby, 365-366) (primary sources). Arthur Green, “Teachings of the Kabbalists: The Ten Sefirot,” in his A Guide to the Zohar, 28- 59.