Athens, Jerusalem, and Baghdad: Three Civilizations, One Tradition

Catalog description

We examine core beliefs of early Greek, Jewish, Christian, and Islamic civilizations that form the basis of Western thought. Serving similar ideological purpose in the pre-modern world as have political and economic theories for the modern world, religion and philosophy defined individual lives and collective identities. We focus on the manner of appropriation and modification of thought from one culture to another in order to appreciate that there is far more similarity than difference in belief systems among what are today viewed as separate, even contesting, cultures. Enrollment limited to 20 first year students. Instructor permission required. P