Drew University

The Caspersen School of Graduate Studies & The Theological School

RLSOC 795 001 TOPICS: RELIGION AND THE AMERICAN EMPIRE

CHSOC 447 001: RELIGION AND THE AMERICAN EMPIRE

Wednesdays Sept. 3rd to Dec. 3rd, 2003 – 8:40 to 11:10 am – SEM 4B

 

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Instructor: Otto Maduro                                                              E-mail: omaduro@drew.edu

Phone: 973-408-3041                                                             Office: 12 Campus Drive # 206

Office hours: Wednesdays, 2:00-4:00 pm (other days and times are available by appointment)

 

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DESCRIPTION: The U.S. official response to the 9/11 tragedy has been one of reasserting problematic political-religious traditions of American Exceptionalism and Manifest Destiny – assuming the U.S. as having an exclusive, God-given mission to/over all nations on earth.  This course adopts a postcolonial approach to examine some common traits of empires past and their religious-theological underpinnings before honing in on the worrisome trends toward a new "American Empire."

 

REQUIREMENTS: Students are expected – besides punctual, full attendance at all sessions – to participate in a cooperative way in class discussions; to prepare every class meeting by doing all the assigned readings and thus being prepared to discuss such readings; and, finally, by delivering a monthly research report on the due dates (see instructions further below).  Inclusive language is expected in all work in accordance with the practice of the Caspersen and Theological Schools. Note: Students are expected to read well beyond the texts assigned – including further than the readings recommended by the instructor or the lecturers. The students’ written work, as well as their participation in the class, should reflect that outstanding level of engagement with the subject-matter of the course.  Students are also required to attend the Transdisciplinary Theological Colloquium “An American Empire? Globalization, War, and Religion” (Sept. 25-27 at Drew: see http://www.users.drew.edu/mnausner/ttc3.html).

 

GRADING: Students taking this course for credit will be graded between AH (A+) and C- (or F) according to the quality and degree of satis­faction of the previous requirements. Bear in mind that A means "work of unusual excellence"; B means "superior work above average"; while C means a "satisfactory work of average quality" (and that we all have an interest in fighting grade inflation!). Most students are expected to perform above a C level. Classes missed, late ar­rivals, early departures, low and/or non-cooperative participation, late and/or low quality essays will indeed EACH contribute to LOWER final grades. Each two (2) late arrivals/early departures will be considered as one class missed; three classes missed (for whatever reasons, justified or not) will entail the failure of the course. Essays will usually be re­turned with a grade and comments pointing both the strengths and weakness­es jus­tifying such grade (except late essays, which will be given a grade but most probably no comments). Doing only the minimum required, even very well, will rarely earn a student more than a B-.

 

WORKING ROUTINE: Our meet­ings will usually start with a 50' to 75’ presentation by a lecturer on a topic previously announced for the session and related to the monthly readings. After a very short "stretch break," the second half of the class will be usually devoted to a discussion of the day's theme ── all within a spirit of a hum­ble, participatory and very open inquiry and dialogue. Every student should carefully study beforehand a previously assigned, common set of readings for the session, and should demonstrate such study throughout the class’ discussions.

 

MONTHLY RESEARCH PAPERS: Students should present each month, by the dates listed, one of three (3) drafts of a final research & reflection paper – or, alternatively, three shorter monthly papers on three different themes (8-12 pages each, basically following the format of a final paper, except for length). You might also substitute a class presentation for the second draft of your final paper [requirements below]). Larger papers are to be presented in three "installments" or drafts: the FIRST one should be the project (2-5 pages), containing title, tentative outline, initial bibliography (of at least three books or 10-15 arti­cles or book chapters), and a 10-15-LINE description of what you intend to say and do in such paper. The SECOND "installment" (7-35 pages) should be either a first draft of the final paper, or a "final" draft of one of the sections of the paper. The THIRD and last one should be the finished, full final draft of the paper (24 pages minimum, 35 maximum counting notes, bibliography, appendices, etc.). Final papers are expected to be printed, double spaced and numbered; divided into at least seven parts (title page, outline, introduction, main body, conclusions, endnotes and bibliography). The main body of the essay (and only this main body) should be further subdivided (in at least three sections, each with its own pertinent, explicit title and specific focus) and only this central section can be longer than two pag­es (introduction, conclusions, endnotes, and bibliography should NOT be over two pages each). The topic of these monthly research reports should be clearly connected with the gist of this course and should be cleared beforehand with the instructor.

You are encouraged to present your written work in recycled paper, preferably using both sides of the pages, or else using the blank side of paper already used on the other side.

 

LANGUAGES: You are welcome to write your essays in the language that is easier for you, provided the instructor is able to understand it (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, and Galician are all acceptable in this course alongside English). You are also encouraged to take advantage of certain reading materials in other languages, especially if that makes it easier for you and/or helps you prepare for language exams and/or further research. Please always use inclusive language when appropriate.

 

ORAL PRESENTATION: An oral presentation on a specific case of religion & empire might substitute for either one of the three monthly short papers, or for the 2nd draft (only) of a longer paper. You have to prepare your presentation by (1) clearing its focus, bibliography & date with the instructor, and (2) distributing to the class, at least in the class prior to your presentation enough copies of one or two articles or chapters on the topic of your presentation. Your presentation (not less than 15', not beyond 40') should be very clearly organized (with at least an intro­duction, not less than three key points, and a conclusion), and preceded by distributing to the class a printed, detailed outline of your presenta­tion, and a printed, organized bibliography on the theme of your presentation.

 

 

REQUIRED TEXTS: (besides those listed under each session):

 

Ahmad, Eqbal: Confronting Empire. Cambridge, MA: South End Press, 2000 (ISBN: 0896086151).

Chang, Nancy: Silencing Political Dissent. New York, Seven Stories Press, 2002 (ISBN 1-58322-494-7).

Chomsky, Noam: What Uncle Sam Really Wants. Berkeley, CA: Odonian Press, 1993 (ISBN 1-878825-01-1).

Hardt, Michael & Antonio Negri: Empire. Cambridge, MA: Harvard U. Press, 2000 (ISBN 0-674-00671-2).

Lernoux, Penny: Cry of the People. New York: Penguin, 1991 (ISBN 0140153853) (DON’T BUY: This book will be made available in class).

Todorov, Tzvetan: The Conquest of America: the question of the other. U. of Oklahoma Press, 1999 (ISBN: 0806131373).

 

CONTENTS AND CALENDAR:

Wednesday, 3 September: Preface to the Course (Dr. Otto Maduro). Round of introductions. Reading and discussion of syllabus. Introductory lecture on the topic of this course.

      Required reading: Hardt & Negri: Empire (the sooner and the more you read of this book during this course, the better).

 

Wednesday, 10 September: Empire in/and the Hebrew Bible. (Dr. Danna Nolan Fewell).

Previous required readings:  (1) Gottwald: “Israel’s Colonial Politics,” in The Politics of Ancient Israel. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 2001, pp. 96-112 (please read this text first of all); (2) Fewell: “Building Babel,” in Postmodern Interpretations of the Bible—A Reader. A.K.M. Adam, ed. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2001, pp. 1-16; (3) Suggested biblical readings: Genesis 11:1-9; Isaiah 9:7 to 12:6; 14:1-23; 65:17-25; and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, and I Maccabees 1.

 

Wednesday, 17 September: Islam and Empire (Dr. Ahmed Afzaal).

Previous required readings: (1) Marshal Hodgson: The Venture of Islam. 1974, Vol. 1, pp. 187-279. (Chapters "The Early Muslim State" and "The Islamic Opposition"); (2) Robert Bellah: "Islamic Tradition and the Problems of Modernization," in Beyond Belief: Essays on Religion in a Post-Traditionalist World. 1970, pp. 146-167 (focus on "Early Islam," pp. 149-154); (3) Ahmad: Confronting Empire (as much as you can read of it, but at least chapter 2 "Distorted Histories," pp. 73-130).

 

      ● First Research Paper due today at 8:40 am !!!

 

Wednesday, 24 September: Christianity Goes Imperial: Ambiguities of Martyrdom Discourse (Dr. Virginia Burrus).

Previous required readings: (1) Richard A. Horsley: Jesus and Empire: The Kingdom of God and the New World Disorder (Fortress, 2003), pp. 15-34, 129-149; (2) Daniel Boyarin: Dying for God: Martyrdom and the Making of Christianity and Judaism (Stanford, 1999), pp. 42-66.

 

Thursday, 25 September (8 pm through Saturday, 27 September (6 pm): Transdisciplinary Theological Colloquium: An American Empire? Globalization, War, and Religion (http://www.users.drew.edu/mnausner/ttc3.html)

 

Wednesday, 1 October: Religion and Empire in African History (Dr. Obiri Addo).

Previous required readings: TBA

 

3-13 October: Reading Week: No class, write second essay!!!

 

Wednesday, 15 October: European Empires and Religions in the Genesis of the Americas (O. Maduro).

Previous required readings: Todorov: The Conquest of America (as much as you can read of it, but at least Chapters 1 and 2, pp. 3-97, and Epilogue, pp. 245-254).

      ● Second Research Paper due today at 8:40 am !!!

      ● Mid-term evaluation of the course by the students today, too!!!

 

Wednesday, 22 October: The British Empire and Religion in Asia (Dr. Wesley Ariarajah).

Previous required readings: TBA

 

Wednesday, 29 October: A New Empire? Religious Representations of the U.S. at the End of the 19th Century (Dr. Terry Todd).

Previous required readings: (1) The World's Columbian Exposition: Idea, Experience, Aftermath http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA96/WCE/title.html (NB: This is a large website: please glance through the pages, getting a feel for the Fair through photographs and other data on this site; this is required background for the print readings that follow). (2) Richard Seager: The World's Parliament of Religions, pp. 3-39 (the last two readings will be distributed to the class in advance). (3) Carrie Tirado Bramen: The Uses of Variety:  Modern Americanism and the Quest for National Distinctiveness (Harvard University Press, 2000), Chapter 6, "East Meets West at the World's Parliament of Religions," pp. 250-291. (4) John Burris: Exhibiting Religion, Chapter 5, "Exhibiting Religion at Chicago's Columbian Exposition," pp. 123-166 (plus notes).

 

Wednesday, 5 November: Puerto Rico and the Beginnings of the “American Century” (Mayra Rivera, MTS).

Previous required readings: (1) Rivera: "En-Gendered Territory: US Missionaries Discourse in Puerto Rico (1898-1920)," in New Horizons in Hispanic/Latino(a) Theology. Benjamin Valentin, ed. Cleveland, OH: The Pilgrim Press, 2003; (2) Trías Monge: Puerto Rico: The Trials of the Oldest Colony in the World. New Haven/London: Yale U. P., 1997, pp. 21-51.

 

Wednesday, 12 November: Latin America, the Christian Churches and the U.S. Empire.

Previous required readings: (1) Lernoux: Cry of the People (as much as you can read of it, but at least Part Two, pp. 137-310, and Appendix, pp. 467-477). (2) LaFeber: Inevitable Revolutions, "Introduction," pp. 5-16. (3) William Blum: Killing Hope, Appendix II, pp. 444-452. (4)

 

Wednesday, 19 November: Religion & Empire from the Eve of 9/11 to the U.S. War on Iraq.

Previous required readings: Chomsky: What Uncle Sam Really Wants (all of it: pp. 6-101).

      ● Third and last Research Paper due today at 8:40 am !!!

 

22-30 November: Thanksgiving Break

 

Wednesday, 3 December: Afterthoughts: Religion & Empire Here at Home.

Previous required readings: Chang: Silencing Political Dissent (all of it!).

● Closing  evaluation of the course by the students today, too!!!

 

RECOMMENDED READINGS: A bibliography of recommended readings will be permanently posted and renewed in this course’s webpage.

WEBPAGE: The webpage for thiscourse is at http://blackboard.drew.edu. You can also access the updated version of this syllabus at http://www.users.drew.edu/omaduro/syllabi/empire.htm and the recommended readings at http://www.users.drew.edu/omaduro/syllabi/empirebibliography.htm