RELS 3022

This course introduces the interconnected past and present of Jews and Muslims, from ancient origins to contemporary movements for dialogue and coexistence, through the study of scholarly sources, fiction, and film. We will trace the connections between these two traditions through units like: Scripture and Commentary; Medieval Encounters; Law; Prayer; Mysticism; Gender; and Contemporary Conflict and Coexistence. By the end of the course, you will be able to: explain how Muslims and Jews have been intertwined historically in ancient, medieval, and modern times, through scripture, religious practice, intellectual exchange, and social and political relationships; understand both the continuities and the profound differences between premodern and modern Jewish-Muslim cultural links and coexistence; understand and explain each tradition’s internal diversity on key religious, social, and political issues; articulate your own informed, carefully-thought-out approach to dialogue and solidarity building based on examples studied in class.