RELI 208 - Religion, Revolution, and Reaction

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

Is religion fundamentally conservative or revolutionary? Is it “the opium of the masses” (Marx) or an intense political stimulant? How do different religious traditions become sources of power for both revolutionary and reactionary political movements? Why do different religious communities align themselves with left-wing or right-wing political parties to enact their visions of a well-ordered society? This course addresses these questions by examining several historical case studies of revolutionary and counter-revolutionary moments to uncover the complex and diverse ways religions have contributed to massive political, social, and cultural change. These will include movements less frequently identified as “religious” such as the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution(s), Fascism, National Socialism, and the Chinese Revolution of 1949, as well as movements with easily-discernible religious aspects, including the German Peasant Rebellion of 1525, the Haitian Revolution, and the 1979 Iranian revolution. Working with these case studies helps us think about the relationship between religion and politics and particularly where and when the boundaries between these two spheres of life start to crumble. Klaus Yoder.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS