"The schools and the colleges should be the training grounds for prophets."

-Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)

For brief consultations, please see me before or after class. I am also available for longer meetings during my office hours. E-mail is the least preferred form of communication and should be used judiciously.

If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may affect your ability to carry out assigned course work, I urge you to contact the Office of Disability Services at 5453. The Coordinator of Disability Services, Erin Salva (salvae@kenyon.edu) will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are appropriate. After your meeting with Erin Salva, please see me to discuss accommodations and learning needs.

A working definition of prophecy as it will be used in this course can be found in Abraham Heschel’s study, The Prophets:

Heschel’s study of prophets and prophecy focused solely on the prophetic figures of ancient Israel. This will be our starting point. Beginning with classical Hebrew prophecy in the context of the ancient near east, we will examine the roots of the prophetic voice and its classical manifestation. Then we will study a number of modern works with a view to determining if there are prophetic voices in the modern world. We will end with a reading of Flannery O'Connor's The Violent Bear it Away. While I may occasionally lecture briefly, primarily class time will be spent discussing the assigned readings. It is expected that every student will come to class prepared to raise questions and contribute to discussion. It is highly recommended that you take notes on the reading in order to fulfill those expectations.

A. Regular attendance (no more than two unexcused absences will be accepted); timely completion of reading assignments and active participation in class discussions. Come to class with 1-3 written questions or observations on the reading. I will occasionally collect these. (20%)

B. Writing Assignments All writing is due on the date announced, or, in the case of short response papers, on the day the reading is discussed. Missed due dates on longer pieces will result in grade penalties unless properly excused. I do not consider e-mail requests for extensions and no extensions will be given for short response papers. Please plan accordingly. Carefully read and follow my Guidelines, which will be distributed early in the semester, and review the College rules on Academic Honesty (see pp. 24-27 in the Course of Study). Please keep copies of all your writing until you receive your final grade.

1. Response essays: Ten 1-2 page, typed essays. (PLEASE SAVE PAPER: single space, print on both sides of paper if possible; if not, staple or paperclip your pages together.) These essays should be brief and immediate, yet polished, responses to primary texts. They must be turned in at the beginning of class on the day in which we discuss the assigned reading. You may turn these in at your own discretion; however, they must come in at an even pace throughout the semester so that you have an opportunity to reflect in writing on the varieties of literature covered. At least 5 essays must be turned in before spring break. You may not turn in an essay after the reading has been discussed in class. (30%)

2. Short essay (5-7 typed pages, double-spaced) on a topic to be announced in advance of the due date. (20%)

3. Paper (10-12 typed pages, double-spaced, bibliography) on an individual whose impact on the modern world you think may be considered prophetic. Your paper should constitute a carefully considered argument as to why (or why not, if upon further study, you come to this opinion) this person’s contribution to human society should/could be considered prophetic. Topic and brief bibliography are due at a time designated in the syllabus. You should pick your topic by the middle of the semester. An outline (required) and rough draft (optional) are due prior to the deadline for submission of the final paper. You will be given an opportunity to share your research with others in small group discussions. Prepare a brief handout for your fellow classmates. (30%, all components of assignment)

Harper-Collins Study Bible
Jonathan Kozol, Savage Inequalities
Wendell Berry, Another Turn of the Crank
Jeremy Rifkin, Beyond Beef, The Rise and Fall of Cattle Culture
Flannery O' Connor, Three by Flannery O' Connor

*Coursepack (excerpts):

Abraham Heschel, The Prophets, ch. 1
Max Weber, The Sociology of Religion, ch. 1
Cornel West, Prophetic Thought in Post-Modern Times
Shirley Dirks, Congregation of the Condemned
Helen Prejean, Dead Man Walking

All required reading is on course reserve at the library.
Additional texts available on the web are cited within the course outline.

In reference: The Encyclopedia of Religion

Encyclopedia of Religion, "Prophecy: An Overview"

Max Weber, "The Prophet," in The Sociology of Religion,"*

Cornel West, "Beyond Multiculturalism and Eurocentrism"*

recommended: Victor Turner, "Religious Specialists" in International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences," pp.437-443

Weeks 2-3: The Hebrew Scriptures

"Biblical Prophecy," The Encyclopedia of Religion*

Abraham Heschel, The Prophets, ch. 1, "What manner of man is the prophet?"*

recommended: Martin Buber, "Prophecy, Apocalyptic and the Historical Hour" in Pointing the Way (CR)
Harper-Collins Study Bible: Leviticus 19; Deuteronomy 24:6-21; Judges 4-5; I Kings 17-22; II Samuel 11-12; Amos; Isaiah 1-6, 10-11; Hosea 6, Micah 3 and 6; Jeremiah 7, Jonah

Weeks 3-4: The New Testament

Harper-Collins Study Bible: Mark 1-6, Luke 7:1-35, John 1:19-28; John 6:1-15; Matthew 5-7; Mark 13 ; Acts 3; I Corinthians 12:27-31;
I Corinthians 13-14; James

Week 5: The Qu'ran

Readings in the Qur’an (E-res)

SHORT PAPER DUE: THURS February 21st at 4:30 (my office)

WEEKS 6-12: C0NTEMPORARY PROPHETIC VOICES?

Week 6: Civil Rights in America

Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter from Birmingham Jail"
http://www.almaz.com/nobel/peace/MLK-jail.html

Malcolm X, "God’s Judgment of White America (The Chickens are Coming Home to Roost)" in The End of White World Supremacy 121-148 (E-res)

Week 7: Capital Punishment

Joshua Green, "Deadly Compromise," The Washington Monthly, Nov. 1999, 9-15 (E-Res)

Helen Prejean, Congregation of the Condemned (ed. Shirley Dirks), 276-282*

Dead Man Walking, excerpt*

recommended: http://www.prejean.org/

<<SPRING BREAK>>

Weeks 8-9: America’s Public Schools

Jonathan Kozol, Savage Inequalities

Andrea Dworkin
http://www.nostatusquo.com/ACLU/dworkin/vargas.html
http://www.nostatusquo.com/ACLU/dworkin/remember.html

RESEARCH PAPER DUE APRIL 19th at 4:30 (my office)
ABSTRACT AND HANDOUT DUE APRIL 22nd (in class)

Weeks 11-12: Animal Rights/The Meat Industry

Peter Singer, "Animal Liberation" (E-Res)

Jeremy Rifkin, Beyond Beef, parts III-VI

recommended: Sue Coe, Dead Meat

Week 13: Community, Global Economy and the Environment

Wendell Berry, Another Turn of the Crank, selections

Week 14: Prophecy in Fiction

Flannery O'Connor, The Violent Bear it Away (expect brief writing assignments)

Group Discussions on research topics outside of class: attendance required; informal setting. The class will decide by consensus whether to hold these during exam week or during the last 10 days of the semester.