RLB265 Proselytization and Conversion in Greco-Roman Religions

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Aleš Chalupa, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Dušan Lužný, Dr.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Lucie Čelková
Timetable
Wed 13:20–14:55 B12
Prerequisites (in Czech)
• Základní znalost dějin antického světa a antických náboženských tradic.
• Základní vhled do problematiky náboženské proselytace a konverze.
• Vzhledem k téměř naprosté neexistenci odborné literatury na dané téma v českém jazyce je rovněž nutná znalost anglického jazyka.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The main objectives of the course are the following: a) to provide in-depth analysis of proselytizing strategies of various ancient religions (Greek and Roman polis religions, ancient mystery cults, hellenistic judaism, ancient christianities etc.) and suggest a possible typology of conversion mechanisms exploited by these religions; b) to compare them with modern sociological theories of conversion and; c) thus to assess their applicability in the conditions of ancient Mediterranean world.
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:
- explain elementary proselytizing and missionary strategies of ancient religions
- assess why many of ancient religions were not interested in any systematic proselytizing or missionary activity
- analyze the history of the study of the proselytizing and mission in ancient religions during the 19th and the 20th century
- interpret critically our most important literary sources and secondary literature concerning the problem of proselytization and mission in ancient religions
- characterize main problems connected with the modern scientific conceptualizing of the proselytization in ancient religions
Syllabus
  • 0. Introduction to the course; 1. Conceptualization of proselytizing and conversion in modern scientific discourse; 2. Proselytization and conversion in ancient religions: problems and challenges; 3. Proselytization and conversion in ancient mystery cults 4. Seminar I. 5. Proselytization and conversion in ancient judaism; 6. Proselytization and conversion in Early Christianities I.; 7. Seminar II.; 8. Proselytization and conversion in Early Christianities II.; 9. Seminar III.; 10. Manicheism and its missionary activities; 11. Seminar IV. 12. Final discussion.
Literature
  • Goodman, Martin, Mission and Conversion: Proselytizing in the Religions History of the Roman Empire. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1994.
  • STARK, Rodney. Cities of God : the real story of how christianity became an urban movement and conquered Rome. 1st ed. San Francisco: Harper, 2006, vii, 280. ISBN 0060858427. info
  • STARK, Rodney. The rise of Christianity :a sociologist reconsiders history. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1996, xiv, 246 s. ISBN 0-691-02749-8. info
  • NOCK, Arthur Darby. Conversion : the old and the new in religion from Alexander the Great to Augustine of Hippo. 1st ed. London: Oxford University Press, 1961, xii, 309. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminars and class discussions. Home reading of texts concerning themes of individual lectures and seminars is required. Students have the duty to submit position papers to each seminar.
Assessment methods
1) In time submission of position papers to seminar reading subjects; 2) Attendance at seminars and active participation in seminar discussions; 3) In time submission of a semestral paper accepted by the teacher; 4) Successful completion of a colloquium (defense of the semestral paper; examination of the subject matter of the course).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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