Political Theology

In this course, we will study the phenomenon of politics by attending to its theological dimensions, as well as the historical and philosophical underpinnings of states both ancient and modern. Each week we will take up a specific theme, e.g., universality, man, violence, brands, and analyze our topic through a close reading of major works in political theory/theology. Our objective will be to learn how to read and speak about politics in a way that allows us to move beyond the headlines and towards the very ideological foundations upon which our societies rest. This inquiry will also help us in making sense of that elusive aspect of the human condition which we call, for better or worse, "religion." Undergraduates register for 200-level for 5 units. Graduate students register for 300-level for 3-5 units