Class Schedule

Introduction
    Mon., 8/30:  Orientation to the Course
    Wed., 9/1:  Introduction to Electronic Resources
    Guest Lecturer:  Steve Sowards, Main Library
Readings:  Boyer, 1-18; 77-9

Mon., 9/6:  NO CLASS -- LABOR DAY SECTION I:  Sacred Text

Origins and Sources
    Wed, 9/8:  Book of Revelation
    Mon., 9/13:  Book of Revelation and The Seventh Sign
Readings:  Book of Revelation (CP); Pippin, "Fantasy and the Female:  The Ideology of Desire" (CP); Boyer, 36-45; Foster 3-20.
Focus Questions:  How does the author of the Book of Revelation describe the end of the world?  What events lead to the end?  Who initiates these events?  Are these events inevitable?  How do you survive the end of the world?  Is Armageddon an event or place?  What bothers Pippin about the Book of Revelation?  Why does she compare it to science fiction?

Film:  The Seventh Sign SECTION II:  Millennialist Groups:  Case Studies

Nineteenth-Century America
    Wed., 9/15:  Millerites
    Mon., 9/20:  Ghost-Dance, Nat Turner
Readings:  Mooney, The Ghost-Dance Religion and the Sioux Outbreak of 1890 (HO); "Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion" (CP); Rowe, "Millerites" (HO); Anderson, "The Millerite Use of Prophesy" (HO); Boyer, 80-86
Focus Questions:  In what ways did the Sioux adopt Christian theology and practice in their Ghost Dance?  Where did Nat Turner locate authority for his rebellion?  How did Millerites date the end of the world?  In which two years did Miller predict the second coming of Christ?
    Wed., 9/22:  Shakers
    Mon., 9/27:  Oneida Perfectionists
Readings:  Foster, 21-122
Focus Questions:  How do each of these groups envision the end of the world?  How do these three groups understand sexuality and reproduction?  What constitutes a "family" for them?  Does the physical construction of their sacred space relate to or contradict their theology?  In what ways should these groups be considered millennial?  What is Noyes' millennial timetable?  According to the Oneida Perfectionists, when did the second coming of Christ occur?

Shaker Apolypticism  --  overview of the Shaker movement
Shakers:  United Society of Believers  -- brief history of the movement
Shaker Manuscripts  -- texts from the Shakers themselves
Shaker Manuscripts:  Testimony #1  -- eyewitness account of the Shakers in action
Shaker Manuscripts:  Testimony #2  -- another eyewitness account
Hancock Shaker Village -- Hancock Shaker Village is an historic site in western MA
Canterbury Shaker Village -- experience 200 years of the Shaker way of life
Shaker Village History -- Shaker village of Pleasant Hill

The Oneida Community -- quick encyclopedia-like overview
The Oneida Community (another site, same name) -- another quick overview

"Cults":  Programming and De-Programming
    Wed., 9/29:  Defining Cults
    Mon., 10/4:  Jim Jones and Jonestown
Readings:  Ellwood, "The Several Meanings of 'Cult'" (CP); Chidester, Intro., Ch. 2
Focus Questions:  How does Ellenwood define a cult?  What are the main characteristics?  When does a cult become a religion?  Were the Shakers and Oneida Perfectionists cults?  What do you think about de-programming?  Who was Jim Jones?  How did Jones understand racial problems in America?  What were the two main issues that Chidester believes Jones focused on his whole life?  What are Jones' three strategies for salvation?  What is divine socialism?

Jonestown
    Wed., 10/6:  Jim Jones and Jonestown
    Mon., 10/11:  Jim Jones and Jonestown
Readings:  Chidester, Ch. 3 (Tue.); Ch. 4 (Th.)
Focus Questions:  What is Jones' understanding of heaven on earth?  What are the specific steps needed to create heaven on earth?  What does Jones mean by "Revolutionary Suicide"?  What was the People's Temple's relationship to American society and values?  How does Jones' belief in an imminent nuclear annihilation translate into an apocalyptic theology?  Are there signs of the coming apocalypse?  What does Jones believe about reincarnation and immortality?

People's Temple (Jonestown) -- quick overview
Primary Documents from the U.S. Department of State -- very interesting and detailed site WEBSITE DUE:  10/11/99

Jonestown and Branch Davidians
    Wed., 10/13:  Jonestown and Branch Davidians

Fri., 10/15, 3-5 PM:  Millennial Lecture Series
Dr. Daniel Wojcik, Northwestern Room, Student Union

    Mon., 10/18:  Branch Davidians
Readings:  Chidester, Ch. 5 (Tue.); Wright Ch. 2-3 (Th.)
Focus Questions:  Do you see any similarities between Jonestown and the Branch Davidians?  What are the images associated with Waco and Jonestown?  What are the theological and social significances of the "compound" for all of these groups?  Is martyrdom an appropriate term for the Branch Davidians?  What is Koresh's role in the unfolding of the end times?  What theological understandings made suicide a viable option for Jim Jones' congregation?  According to Ammerman, why did the FBI dismiss religious beliefs?

Branch Davidians
    Wed., 10/20:  Branch Davidians
    Mon., 10/25:  Branch Davidians
Readings:  Wright, Ch. 5, 9 (Tue.); Ch. 10-11; Barkun, "Reflections After Waco" (Th.)
Focus Questions:  In what ways (and through whose interpretive lens) did Waco become Armageddon?  According to Barkun, what was the government's biggest error?  How could the government avoided the catastrophe?

The Teachings of David Koresh -- actual transcripts from his teachings
Text of Koresh Sermon -- Sermon from 3.2.1993
"Waco: The Inside Story" -- site from the PBS program "Frontline"
Seven Seals Revelation, Book 1
Seven Seals Revelation, Book 2
Seven Trumpets -- "Seven Seals Revelation" in RealAudio

Wed., 10/27:  Midterm

Section III:  Millennialism in Popular Culture

Religious and Secular Raptures
    Mon., 11/1:  Religious Rapture
    Wed., 11/3:  From Anti-Christ to Anti-Semitism
Readings:  Paul's Letter to the Thessalonians (Tue.); Boyer Ch. 6; Boyer, 86-112; Wojcik, Ch. 3 (Th.)
Focus Questions:  What is the Rapture?  When will it occur?  What happens?  How is Israel involved?  Why did Zionist leaders ally with Premillenialists?  Can you recall any examples in popular culture in which rapture themes are used, incorporated, mocked, represented?

Film:  The Rapture

Bible Prophesy and the Rapture Report -- very detailed site
The Harpazo Network -- specializes in prophesy
Rapture Ready -- "The rapture is going to strike without warning."
Rapture Zone -- another "The rapture is going to strike without warning."

Nuclear and Biological Ends
    Mon., 11/8:  Nuclear Ends
    Wed., 11/10:  Biological Ends
Readings:  Boyer, Ch. 4; Lindsey, "The Late Great Planet Earth" (CP);
Focus Questions:  What causes the end of the world in Dr. Strangelove and Twelve Monkeys?

Film:  Dr. Strangelove

Apocalyptic Visions
    Mon., 11/15:  Marian Sightings
    Wed., 11/17:  Local Prophecy
Readings: Wojcik, Ch. 4
Focus Questions:

Virgin Mary's Endtime Prophecies -- TLDM Ministries' site on Marian Prophesies

Mon., 11/22:  Twelve Monkeys
Wed., 11/24:  NO CLASS

PAPER DUE:  Mon., 11/29

Other Worlds / Other Bodies
    Mon., 11/29:  UFO Sightings, Conspiracy Theories
    Wed., 12/1:  Heaven's Gate
Readings:  Ellwood, "UFO Religious Movements" (CP); Bullard, "UFO Abduction Reports" (CP); Wojcik, Ch. 8; Look at Heaven's Gate Site
Focus Questions:  Do UFO sightings constitute a religious experience?  Do you see any millennial themes in abduction or sighting stories?  How do these people envision the end of the world, or other worlds?  Are American social norms (nuclear families, gender roles, institutional religion, capitalism) reconstructed or toppled in these new worlds?

Biblical Prophesies Regarding UFOs -- the Bible and UFO's
Heaven's Gate (Mirror of Official Site) -- the famous suicide cult / website builders
UFO Cults -- quick overview
UFO Millennialism and Conspiracy -- detailed, with many links
Web of Conspiracy -- extension of the previous site

Looking Ahead
    Mon., 12/6:  Militia Groups
    Wed., 12/8:  Christian Identity
Readings:  Barkun, "Oklahoma City and the Rise of Militias" (CP); Wojcik, 97-121; Boyer, Ch. 4
Focus Questions:  What millennial underpinnings can you discern in militia groups?  Are militia groups families?  What sort of New World Order do they hope to create?  Who is the anti-Christ?

Turner Diaries -- full text of the controversial militia book Final Exam