Provisional INAF/THEO 457. Spring Wed. 10: Dr. Jonathan Brown

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1 Provisional MIRACLES IN ISLAM AND THE WEST INAF/THEO 457 Spring 2011 Wed. 10: Dr. Jonathan Brown Class Description: Many people today would respond to news of a miracle with skepticism. Others would embrace such a report as evidence of divine favor or presence. The cultural and intellectual circumstances that govern our reactions to reports of miracles have fluctuated over the centuries, and different faith traditions have addressed miracles and their credibility in contrasting ways. This course will explore how the Western intellectual tradition has dealt with religious miracles, starting with GrecoRoman historians, proceeding through early Christian writers like St. Augustine, exploring the work of Renaissance humanists and finally studying Enlightenment stances on religion and science. Islamic civilization shared a great deal with the Western tradition, including a Greco Roman heritage and medieval scholasticism. This course will compare the Western tradition with medieval and modern Islamic scholarly discussion of miracles and when they should be believed. Learning Goals: students will advance in their ability to engage and think critically about primary sources, comparative thinking, research and expository writing Required Texts (available at GU bookstore): Herodotus, The Histories. Penguin, Livy, Early History of Rome. New York: Penguin, Early Christian Lives (Penguin Classics). New York: Penguin, Benedict Spinoza, Theological Political Treatise. Ed. Jonathan Israel. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Montaigne, Essays. Penguin, Jonathan Brown, Hadith (Oneworld, 2009) 1

2 Secondary Source Readings (optional & on reserve): Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic. Cathy Legg, Naturalism and Wonder: Peirce on the Logic of Hume s Argument Against Miracles Philosophia 28, no. 14 (2001): Thomas Lund, ed. The Margins of Orthodoxy: Heterodox Writing and Cultural Response CUP, (on Thomas Woolston debate) Balthesar Bekkar, A World Bewitched kar Conyers Middleton on Inquiry in to Miraculous Powers ( Julian's Against the Galileans (trans. R. Joseph Hoffman, at LOC), French version translated by Voltaire, PQ2105.A2 B4 vol. 322 Grading and Evaluation: Class Participation: 35% InClass Presentation: 25% Final Paper: 40% Meetings and Assignments: readings are due the day listed. Wed. 1/12 Herodotus and the Logographers: Herodotus, Histories, Books 1, 16370, Book 7:175 Book 8:79 Wed. 1/19 Livy and Rome s Historical/Mythic Past Livy, The Early History of Rome, all Wed. 1/26 Miracles and Early Christianity: the Critics Celsus, On the True Doctrine, pgs (LAU reserves) Porphyry, Against the Christians, pgs (LAU reserves) Wed. 2/2 Miraculous Lives of the Saints Early Christian Lives (Life of Antony, Life of Paul, Life of Hilarion, Life of Malchus), pgs Augustine, City of God, pgs (Book X:1519); pgs (Book XII:510) (LAU reserves) Wed. 2/9 Late Antique Cynicism 2

3 Lucian of Samosata, The Liar, pgs (ereserves) Robert M. Grant, Historical Criticism in the Ancient Church, Journal of Religion, 25, no. 3 (1945): (ereserves) Wed. 2/16 The Life of the Prophet Life of Mohammed 6973, 1789, 1817, 31821, , 4503, (LAU reserves) Brown, Hadith, chapters 12. Wed. 2/23 Classical Islamic Theology and Miracles Brown, Hadith, chapters 3 & 6 Sa d aldin altaftazani, A Commentary on the Creed of Islam (ereserve), pgs Baqillani, On Miracles (Kitab al-bayan), pgs (ereserve) Wed. 3/2 Miracles of the Prophet Qadi Iyad bin Musa, Muhammad Messenger of Allah (trans. of Kitab alshifa), , (LAU reserves) Sindawi. The Role of the Lion in Miracles Associated with the Shiite Imams, (e- reserves) Wed. 3/16 SixteenthCentury Skepticism Montaigne, Essays, Book I: 27, 31; Book II: 32; Book III: 6 Wed. 3/23 Making the Modern World: Benedict Spinoza Spinoza, Theological-Political Treatise, pgs. 196 (through Chap. 6) Hobbes, Leviathan, Chap. 1112, 3337 (LAU reserves) Wed. 3/30 The Deists Thomas Woolston s Discourse on Miracles ( Laura M. Stevens, Civility and Skepticism in the WoolstonSherlock Debate over Miracles, Eighteenth Century Life 21: 3 (1997): 5770 (ereserves) Wed. 4/6 The Enlightenment and the Philosophes Locke, On Miracles, (ereserves) Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, chapt. 10 (LAU reserve) Reimarus, Fragments, section 35 (pg. 210 to end) (LAU reserves) 3

4 Wed. 4/13 Miracles in the Islamic Middle Period Ian Netton, "Myth, miracle and magic in the Rihla of Ibn Battūta" (ereserves) Erik Ohlander, Abdallah ibn As ad alyafi i s Defense of Saintly Marvels, in Tales of God s Friends, ed. John Renard, pgs (ereserves) Wed. 4/20 Modern Muslim Skepticism & Responses Brown, Hadith, chapter 9 Zebiri, Contemporary Muslim Understanding of the Miracles of Jesus, (ereserve) Wed. 4/27 Modern Western Discourse CS Lewis, Miracles Final Paper Due: TBD Administrative Policies Contacting the Instructor: Jonathan Brown Phone: brownj2@georgetown.edu Office: 165 ICC (office hours: Wednesday 13) Delays and Make-Ups: Late papers and makeups will be accepted in the case of medical (with provision of physician s note) or family emergency. Absence and Tardiness: Tardiness of over 15 minutes will be penalized in the absence of extenuating circumstances. Plagiarism & Academic Integrity: You will be expected to abide by Georgetown s Honor system: see especially Concerning plagiarism, the following is cited from GU Honor Council website: Plagiarism is defined by the Honor Council document as "the act of passing off as one's own the ideas or 4

5 writings of another." In the Appendix to the Honor Council pamphlet called "Acknowledging the Work of Others" (which is used by permission of Cornell University), three simple conventions are presented for when you must provide a reference: 1. If you use someone else's ideas, you should cite the source. 2. If the way in which you are using the source is unclear, make it clear. 3. If you received specific help from someone in writing the paper, acknowledge it. 1 Grading: Grades will be based on and assigned according to the following system. Inclass activity is based on reading and discussion. Completing the reading assignments is essential for full participation, and not reading or not contributing to discussion will hurt one s final grade. Obviously, attendance is essential for participation as well. The paper assignments are due on the days listed above, and tardiness in turning them in late will negatively affect one s grade. Here are the standards for each grade: A/A Superb, Excellent. Student has demonstrated an ability to offer original and insightful analysis of the facts. The essay must have a clearly identifiable thesis, the thesis must make use of scholarly points to support itself, it must take a position that can be argued for or against, anticipate objections, and respond persuasively. B (+/) Solid Work. The facts have been grasped, and significant moves have been made to interpret the material in an analytical fashion. The majority of good papers usually fall in this range. C (+/) The student has made a reasonable attempt to engage the readings, and has a fair grasp of the factual material presented. The analysis of these facts, and an attempt to contribute towards an original interpretation, however, is severely missing. D (+/) A simplistic familiarity with the subject matter can be gleamed through the assignment. F A disappointment no attempt being shown on the behalf of the student to 1 5

6 engage the material, to respect the parameters of the class and its schedule, or the turning in of assignments. Help with Writing: If you would like assistance in improving your writing, contact the Writing Center: ( , 217A Lauinger Library). 6