{"id":1698,"date":"2020-08-24T16:29:02","date_gmt":"2020-08-24T20:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/john-reeves\/?page_id=1698"},"modified":"2021-05-19T10:14:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T14:14:00","slug":"course-syllabus-for-thinking-about-angels-and-demons","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/john-reeves\/course-materials\/rels-3122-esoteric-traditions-thinking-about-angels-and-demons\/course-syllabus-for-thinking-about-angels-and-demons\/","title":{"rendered":"Course syllabus for Thinking About Angels and Demons"},"content":{"rendered":"

RELS 3122
\nEsoteric Traditions: Thinking About Angels and Demons
\nTR 11:30-12:45
\nDr. John C. Reeves
\n204B Macy
\nOffice hours: by appointment only
\njcreeves@uncc.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018for You made it (i.e., the human) slightly less than the angels (\u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05dd), and You garbed it with glory and majesty\u2019 (Ps 8:6)<\/p>\n

\u2018The difference between [hu]man and Angel is only one of degree of perfection.\u2019 \u2013 Henry Corbin, \u201cDivine Epiphany and Spiritual Birth in Ismailian Gnosis,\u201d in his Cyclical Time and Ismaili Gnosis<\/em> (trans. Ralph Manheim and James W. Morris; London: Kegan Paul International, 1983), 142 n.209.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2026 we need to study rationally the history of irrationality.\u2019 — Israel Jacob Yuval, Two Nations in Your Womb: Perceptions of Jews and Christians in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages<\/em> (trans. Barbara Harshav and Jonathan Chipman; Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006), 289.<\/p>\n

Course description<\/strong>
\nThe religions of the Near East are replete with stories and traditions featuring an indeterminate number of supernal entities which do not formally count as \u2018deities,\u2019 but which nevertheless exhibit knowledge and behavior which is unmistakably \u2018deity-like.\u2019\u00a0 These entities are typically cataloged under the seemingly self-explanatory labels \u2018angel\u2019 and \u2018demon.\u2019\u00a0 In this course we will engage in the close reading of a large number of narrative and ritual texts which feature such characters in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the variegated roles they play in pre-modern Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and other religious contexts.\u00a0 Careful attention will also be given to the cultural issues surrounding the generation and promulgation of competing character profiles of such figures within and outside the scriptures of these kindred religions.<\/p>\n

Warning<\/u><\/em>: In this class you will hear or read ideas which may disturb, shock, dismay, or outrage you, and you will be compelled to think using methodological paradigms which you may deem troubling, wrong-headed, blasphemous, or even sacrilegious. If you think you might be uncomfortable in this situation, then this is definitely not the class for you<\/u>. On the other hand, if you think you can suspend your uncritical attachments to certain notions about scriptures, their meaning, and the circumstances surrounding their production, then you should undoubtedly learn a great deal about the historical and cultural matrices betwixt which Judaism, Christianity, and Islam arose and flourished.<\/p>\n

Texts<\/strong>
\nYou do not need to buy anything from the bookstore.\u00a0 Web links to many of the texts we will read are available on the course website.\u00a0 Other texts will be distributed by the instructor electronically as needed.<\/p>\n

Course requirements<\/strong>
\na. Readings<\/em>. The nature of this course entails a significant amount of close reading and reflection both within and outside of class. Students are responsible for completing the reading assignments (outlined below or assigned in class or via email) in a timely manner.\u00a0 Every student must read and critically engage substantial portions of Bible, Qur\u2019\u0101n, parascriptural works, commentaries, testimonia, folktales, incantations, prayers, hymns, and assorted esoterica which have been englished from texts originally written in Sumerian, Akkadian, Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, Mandaic, Greek, Latin, Coptic, Arabic, Persian, and Ethiopic.<\/p>\n

b. Take-home written exercises<\/em>. An indeterminate number of written exercises (usually one per week; optimally one per class) will be prepared and submitted for in-class discussion and out-of-class evaluation. These exercises vary in length from less than one (1) to a maximum of five (5) pages.\u00a0 All of these exercises will be announced and explained by the instructor during the course of or at the conclusion of a class meeting.\u00a0 The instructor\u2019s evaluation of the student\u2019s collective written exercise performance (using a scale \u221a+ = A-; \u221a = C+; \u221a- = D) will comprise 65% of the course grade.<\/p>\n

c. Individual involvement<\/em>. Almost perfect attendance (see below) is an essential requirement for this course. Each class meeting builds upon the knowledge gained during previous meetings.\u00a0 Moreover, in-class discussion and analysis comprises a significant portion of every class meeting.\u00a0 Preparation for every class usually involves the completion of a series of assigned readings and\/or written assignment(s).\u00a0 Students are expected to contribute in an informed manner<\/u>\u00a0to the public analysis and discussion of any assigned topic, and the instructor reserves the right to transform class discussions into unannounced oral \u2018pop-quizzes\u2019 should he deem the situation so warrants (grades for such quizzes are averaged with those of the take-home exercises).\u00a0 The instructor\u2019s assessment of one\u2019s attendance, class preparation, and informed oral contributions will constitute 35% of the final course grade.<\/p>\n

d. Zakhor<\/em> (Remember!): Mastery of the assigned readings and diligent class attendance are necessary prerequisites for the successful completion of this course. Each student is responsible for all lectures, class discussions, assignments, and announcements, whether or not he\/she is present when they occur.<\/p>\n

e. It is the policy of UNC Charlotte for the Fall 2020 semester that as a condition of on-campus enrollment, all students are required to engage in safe behaviors to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Such behaviors specifically include the requirement that all students properly wear CDC-compliant face coverings <\/a>while in buildings including in this classroom. Students are permitted to remove face coverings in the classroom only when I explicitly grant permission to do so (such as while asking a question, participating in class discussion, or giving a presentation) and while at an appropriate physical distance from others. Failure to comply with this policy in this classroom may result in dismissal from the current class session. If a student refuses to follow this policy, s\/he will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity for charges under the\u00a0Code of Student Responsibility<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Miscellaneous information<\/strong>
\na. The grading scale used in this course is as follows:<\/p>\n

91-100\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0A\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 =\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 demonstrable mastery of material; can creatively synthesize<\/p>\n

81-90\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0B\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 =\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 some demonstrable proficiency in control of material & analysis<\/p>\n

71-80\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0C\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 =\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 satisfactory performance of assignments; little or no analysis<\/p>\n

61-70\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0D\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 =\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 inadequate and\/or faulty understanding of material<\/p>\n

0-60\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 F\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 =\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 unacceptable college-level work<\/p>\n

b. One of the requirements of this course is to complete the work of the course on time. Sometimes there are legitimate reasons for late work\u2014an illness or other emergency. \u2018Emergency,\u2019 however, does not include your social involvements, travel plans, job schedule, disk, wi-fi, and\/or printer failures, the state of your love life, your obligations to other courses, or general malaise over the state of the world.\u00a0 The world has been in a mess as long as anyone can remember, and most of the world\u2019s work is done by people whose lives are a mass of futility and discontent.\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t learned yet, you had better learn now to work under the conditions of the world as it is.\u00a0 Therefore:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) All missed quizzes and neglected homework exercises will be averaged as a 0 in the computation of the course grade.\u00a0 There is no such thing as a \u2018make-up pop quiz.\u2019\u00a0 No exceptions will be considered or granted.<\/p>\n

2) For accounting purposes, letter grades bear the following values: A=95; A-=92; B=85; C+=78; C=75; D=65; F=30.<\/p>\n

3) Homework exercises are due on the date announced by the instructor in class (usually the next class meeting). They must be typed, double-spaced, and submitted by email to me in either Microsoft Word or Adobe format prior to the start of the class for which they have been assigned.\u00a0 No physical copies of homework will be accepted or returned.\u00a0 Since we will normally discuss these exercises together in class on that date, it would clearly be unfair to those who submitted their work on time for me to accept \u2018late\u2019 work from those who were privy to our in-class discussion. Hence I will not accept \u2018late\u2019 homework submissions (even from those physically absent during our discussion); however, \u2018early\u2019 submissions are always welcome and will receive full credit.<\/p>\n

4) Attendance at class meetings will be monitored by the instructor.\u00a0 One or two absences are somewhat understandable, three (3) is the limit of tolerability.\u00a0 Each successive absence lowers the Individual Involvement component of your assessment by one letter grade; seven (7) or more earns an automatic F in that component.\u00a0 Please note that the instructor does not distinguish \u2018excused\u2019 from \u2018unexcused\u2019 absences.\u00a0 Unsanctioned late arrivals and early departures will be tallied as absences.<\/p>\n

c. For absences related to COVID-19, please adhere to the following:<\/p>\n