Spring 2025. For links to the readings (homework assignment before class), see the major syllabus.
Jan. 16: Introduction: What is the relevance of religion as a cultural-historical topic. This course aims for a cultural-historical approach and is not meant to instruct or convert you to any faith. This is an academic university course. So, we’ll study for today: what is religion. Then, we explore the field for ourselves within a German Studies context: 1. What role does religion play in culture? 2. Literature and religion. 3. What is the difference between spirituality and religion? 4. Religion and history? 5. Religion and art/music.
Jan. 21: Picking up on the material not yet covered on the 16th. Then: Critical approaches to Religious Studies: Read the texts in the links above in the syllabus (1. Swarthmore, 2. Chapel Hill, 3. Harvard, 4. Why Study Religion – my letter to the editor). And read the first section of the Wikipedia article on religion in antiquity and the early Middle Ages: To simplify, let’s focus on the table of contents and discuss then what the major steps have been and where we will need to investigate it further.
Jan. 23: History of religion and German culture, from the high Middle Ages to the 20th c., Wikipedia. Same link as on Tue in the general syllabus. There are 9 sections (from late antiquity to the 20th c. Let’s divide them up into groups. I’ll assign those to each two of you. Thanks.
Jan. 28: We outline the historical overview, going quickly from antiquity to the 20th century (use the same Wikipedia link as listed for Jan. 23). Let’s build a scaffold via google.docs. Here is our worksheet for today Please study the article on Wikipedia at home, and then provide brief statements for each historical term. Be ready to read out those on Thu. Please also read (my trans.) Rieger.hermeneutics I will be out of town today coming back from a conference. I will replace myself with a list of questions on Top Hat, assigned for the time of our class. I have assigned 11 questions for you that will open up at 12:30 p.m. and close at 2 p.m. Thank you.
Jan. 30: Please also read (my trans.) Rieger.hermeneutics. For today, homework is also to watch the trailer, read about the movie, and think about the underlying issue. What is anti-Semitism, and why does it exist until today? We watch this short video and discuss it in class. Time permitting: Let’s watch a short film: Maseltov Cocktail. trailer 2; Now, here is the full version, in German, with English subtitles, posted on D2L. Please watch the movie at home and be ready to discuss it in class.Discussion of the movie. Another trailer with English subtitles
Feb. 4: A few questions on Tophat about anti-Semitism. Then Rieger.hermeneutics. Then we discuss Maseltov Cocktail. Then we turn to: Max Mueller Max Müller, Introduction to the Science of Religion, 1870. I have also scanned the text and uploaded the first chapter to our D2L page.
Feb. 6: First, we work through the lecture by Muller. Then we turn to Karl Barth, time permitting: let’s study his biography first, then we’ll look at a sample of his major statements (very brief quotes)
Feb. 6: Barth: his essay, see the link in the syllabus. Then, time permitting: Friedrich Nietzsche: The Madman (see also link above in the syllabus)
Feb. 13: cont. with Nietzsche
Feb. 18: 1st exam, on top hat; then we discuss Nietzsche (maybe with a few fleeting comments on Marx). Here is a video of Nietzsches Life
Feb. 20: Questions reg. Nietzsche:
- Why did the madman lit a lantern at full daylight?
- Why is he looking for God?
- Why do the people laugh at him?
- What does the madman charge them with? What have they done to God?
- What god have people killed? What does that mean?
- How does the madman characterize God?
- What can we not do, really, to compensate for the killing of God, according to the madman?
- What is the response of the listeners?
- Why does he throw down the lantern?
- What does his comment, “I have come too early” imply?
- What future event might happen?
- Why does it take so much time to happen?
- How does the madman characterize the various churches, and what does he mean by that?
- Could we critique the final comments by the trans./editor?
- Is Nietzsche an atheist, nihilist, existentialist?
Romanticism. Then we study the paintings by Caspar David Friedrich today: Biography, Romanticism, and his artworks. See images online. For an introduction, let’s watch this video (biography), and then we turn to this video for 1:27 min., and then more at ca. 3 min.
Feb. 21: I’ll post the questions for the 1st paper in D2L, ca. 11 a.m.
Febr. 25: Lessing: Enlightenment. Biography. Lessing’s biography. Nathan the Wise, Act 1
Feb, 27: 1st paper, due at 8 p.m.: we continue with Act 1
March 4: Lessing Act 2
March 6: Lessing Act 2
Spring break: March 8-15
March 18: Lessing Act 3
- Again, what is the conflict between Hafi, Saladin, and Nathan?
- What does Daya want, and why does Recha disagree? What is Daya’s major error in thinking?
- There is a major disagreement between these two women, so what are Recha’s arguments? Those foreshadow the future development.
- What does Recha say about her own happiness and destiny?
- How do we know that Recha is a rationalist despite her initial emotional reactions to the Templar?
- What does Recha say about the nature of God?
- In the conversation between Recha and the Templar, she suddenly demonstrates a very sober and realistic mind (Mount Sinai).
- How does Recha’s feelings for the Templar begin to change?
- Why does Saladin feel so disgusted about himself in preparation for the audience with Nathan?
- What does Sittah say about Nathan?
- How does Nathan critique the people’s use of a sobriquet for him, the Wise?
- What does Nathan believe the Sultan wants from him? 2 points
- What does Saladin really want to know from Nathan?
- Why is Nathan so troubled by this inquiry? What does he worry about?
- What is Nathan’s solution to his dilemma?
- For whom does Nathan want to tell his story? This is clearly Lessing speaking
- What is the relationship between Nathan’s tale and our entire course?
- What is the property of the opal?
- What is the practice with the ring, father-favorite son?
- What is the problem of the man at the end of the story?
- What is the outcome with the three rings?
- What are the sons all fighting about?
- How does Nathan explain his own religion?
- How does the judge and the sons respond?
- What does the judge complain about?
- What is the suggestion at the end?
- Is there no true ring, no true religion?
- Or did the father no longer want to tolerate the tyranny of the one ring?
- What has Saladin then learned?
- What is the relationship between the Templar and Nathan
- What does Daya reveal to the Templar?
- What does the Templar accuse Nathan of reg. Recha?
- What does Daya want from the Templar?
- What is the near-catastrophic outcome of Daya’s revelation to the Templar?
- What do we learn about the Patriarch?
- What is so wrong about the statement by Daya, and why does the Templar react so wildly?
- Why is the Templar so furious about Nathan?
- What does the Friar reveal to Nathan?
- Why does the Friar say that Nathan is more Christian than all Christians?
March 20: Lessing Act 4
March 25: Lessing Act 5.
- Let’s examine this statement: I see religion too is party, and
He, who believes himself the most impartial,
Does but uphold the standard of his own, - Again, characterize the Patriarch? What is a zealot? A fanatic? Analyze his conversation with the Templar
- Whom does the Templar want to consult with?
- Why is reason not acceptable for the Patriarch in his arguments?
- What would the Patriarch have preferred in the case of the infant? What religion is that he embraces, really?
- How does Saladin reminisce his brother?
- What does Saladin mean when he says: ”
We’ll try the experiment.
Wilt thou stay with me? dwell about me? boots not
As Mussulman or Christian, in a turban
Or a white mantle—I have never wished
To see the same bark grow about all trees. - After the Templar has admitted his disappointment to Saladin, he states this:
Yet the superstition
In which we have grown up, not therefore loses
When we detect it, all its influence on us.
Not all are free that can bemock their fetters. – meaning? - The Templar angrily comments on Nathan: The prating tolerationist unmasked— meaning?
- Find the passage with: “Among the Christians, will be once again
What she was born to, will be what she was; – what does Daya imply here? - How does Nathan see his relationship with Recha?
- Comment on this passage: Brought up at second hand by some good Christian
In her own faith. But your friend’s orphan child
You would not then have loved. Children need love, - What had been Nathan’s destiny?
- Again, what makes the Friar say: ”
Nathan, you are a Christian! Yes, by God
You are a Christian—never was a better. - In Act V, the Templar says this: As yet. And Saladin has undertaken
To bring him round. And does the Christian nestle
Deeper in me than the Jew lurks in him?
Who, who can justly estimate himself? - How does Nathan view the Templar, following this statement: But there is only one
Now in Jerusalem; and him I know; – discuss this. - How does the Templar come clean with Nathan when they meet again? ” Nathan do hear me—I am not the man”
- What does the Templar then hope to receive from Nathan? How does he try to coerce him?
- How does Recha see her father? What does she lament about to Sittah? What has she learned from Daya?
- How does Recha identify a true father, following: “Nor more nor less than leave my father to me,”
- When Saladin wants to return the credit to Nathan, the latter reacts differently: “Why first about this trifle?—I behold
- What does Saladin say about the true rewards for a hero? “Why first about this trifle?—I behold”
- Comment on the Templar’s remark: ”
TEMPLAR (very bitterly).
He has imposed a father on the girl,”
- When Nathan says this about Assad: ”
He was my friend.” What does this imply for Nathan and all 3 religions?
- How does Saladin react to the revelation, when he says: “I not acknowledge my own brother’s children”
- What does the Templar have to realize at the end? It is a bit shocking for a Christian.
- Why is Nathan hence the Wise?
- And what does Lessing say about the relationship of all these 3 world religions?
- Why could we call this play a drama based on tolerance?
- What emotions and relations bond all major people in this play?
March 27: Lessing Act 5: Final comments: group work. Please jot down your essential points:
- Why did Nathan adopt Recha? There are several reasons.
- Why does everyone really like the Templar although he is so rash and impatient?
- Saladin turns out to be a benevolent ruler. Explain that.
- What makes Nathan truly to a wise person?
- What is Lessing’s ultimate message about religions, reason, rationality?
- Then we turn to Baroque poetry. Let’s use this article, For the historical background, the religious conflicts, and then the 30 Years’ War, watch this excellent lecture by Peter Wilson and take some notes. But this very brief summary might help you better. I will ask you about the information provided there. but focus only on the images included. Then, please read this introductory article first. Angelus Silesius: Baroque, Pietism. We read the first epigrams up to 1.47: use these translations, A quick video
April 1: Baroque poetry, Silesius cont. 1.97-5,242. We continue with Silesius.
April 3: Andreas Gryphius, esp. pp. 145, 147, 149 (both in German and in English).
April 08: 2nd exam, on Tophat
April 10: Protestant Reformation. Introduction to the Reformation. Then: Basic Facts. Then: Martin Luther: Protestant Reformation: theses 1-15
April 15: Review of the Introduction to the Reformation. Then we consider Luther’s translation of the Bible. We continue with the theses by Luther: 1-3016-30
April 17: A few more questions about Luther’s essential theology, via top hat. Then: we study a selection of his theses in groups. Then we turn to the Renaissance. Summarize quickly what we need to know about Boccaccio, then we read: Boccaccio: I/2 and 3. The Brown Univ. Decameron website is easier to read. I have added a link to it in the syllabus, but here it is again.
April 22: SCS. Boccaccio: I/2 and 3, X/9. Then: We read this short but most insightful recent article on Nicholas of Cusa and Saint Francis of Assisi as to ‘interreligious dialogue’. I have uploaded this short article also to Content in our D2L page. We might not get to this, but in case you have time: Please also study this Introduction. This is a good, brief summary.
April 24: Today, a radical change of pace. We’ll meet at the Museum of Art, Olive Street, across from the Architecture School, and study some medieval Gothic paintings to understand the religious framework in aesthetic terms. We begin with the Retablo Room. You need to keep your backpacks in lockers.
April 28: 2nd paper is due at 8 p.m.
April 29: Mysticism: Hildegard of Bingen: her hymns. Please read just the beginning of this excellent study, on mysticism. Then turn to her own text, link above in the syllabus. The Stanford article might be too esoteric, so let’s focus instead on this online article, which is rather broadly conceived, global, but easier to understand. Please read first this entry on Wikipedia, esp. the chapter on Hildegard.
May 1: 3rd exam (on tophat). Then we continue with Hildegard
May 2-3: symposium to which you are invited, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Cesar Chavez 301. Topic: Community, Peace, and Happiness. Extra credit opportunity.
May 6: We finally switch to Abelard Video. Our text is an abbreviation, it begins on p. 19 and goes to 51.; please have read the entirety of the dialogue between the Jew and the Philosopher. The point here is to understand that the discourse on religion began already in the high Middle Ages, if not even before that. Final discussion.
Semester ends on May 7 (no class)
Extra credit: attend the conference on May 2-3 for some of the papers, and write an essay about one or more papers, ca. 200 words. Due: May 6: 8 p.m. Up to 50 points (4%).
Perhaps also: Rilke, Sonnets to Orpheus
For the background, please read the questions/assignments as posted on D2L.
Thanks.
Possible Changes: The information contained in the course syllabus, other than the grade and absence policies, may be subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.
Final Grade Review: If there might be a problem with your grade, you can ask me for a review until May 12, 2021. Beyond that, there will not be any opportunity to revisit your grade.