6000 Years of Religion (in 60 minutes)
Sol Gittleman is a Professor Emeritus at Tufts University. Professor Gittleman was named the Alice and Nathan Gantcher University Professor, one of three current university professors at Tufts. Professor Gittleman lectures extensively on topics of American immigration, the National Pastime, and comparative religion. He has received two Fulbright awards, the Harbison Prize of the Danforth Foundation for Outstanding Teaching, a citation as Professor of the Year from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and is the recipient of the 2009 Robert J. McKenna Award from The New England Board of Higher Education.
Overview
Since the beginning of recorded civilization roughly 6000 years ago, religious groups have been making war on someone. What is there in monotheism and in the three faiths that most clearly represent this idea-Judaism, Christianity and Islam that has made them so aggressive? The world was once destroyed by flood; all three faiths believe that it will once again be destroyed by flames. Is this inevitable? What do we mean by the end of time? Will our grandchildren live to have children? How does an academic approach to the study of these topics prepare us for the world to come? What is Millennialism? Eschatology? The meaning of the Apocalypse? This fascinating fast-paced class will cover all this and more.