LIB478
War and Religion: A Brief Introduction
Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr once said, "Religion, as the guardian of moral values, has always had a paradoxical relation to war. While it condemns the inhumanity of war, it also becomes an instrument for the moral justification of war." We will examine this paradoxical relationship, beginning with ancient wars and continuing through to conflicts involving non-state actors, such as ISIS. Along the way we will try to make sense of anomalies, such as Gott mit uns ("God is with us"), the phrase on the belt buckles of German Wermacht soldiers in the Second World War.
A $50 discount will be applied automatically for adults 55+.
This course will be offered at Harbour Centre on Thursdays, Jan 16–Feb 20, from 1:30 pm – 3:20 pm.
Overview
Location: Vancouver
Duration: 6 weeks
Tuition: $180
Can be applied to:
Liberal Arts for 55+ Certificate
Upcoming Offerings
- Thu, Jan 16, 1:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Thu, Jan 23, 1:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Thu, Jan 30, 1:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Thu, Feb 6, 1:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Thu, Feb 13, 1:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Thu, Feb 20, 1:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
Course outline
- Week 1
We will look at seven different philosophical approaches to understanding war, and briefly apply each method to the 30 Years’ War (1618-1648). After exploring the concept of national myths, we will consider the two millennia of history behind the current Palestinian conflict. - Week 2
We will examine some ancient concepts of the relationship between war and religion, discuss how French post-modernist philosopher Michel Foucault’s theory of power offers insights into the rise of radical splinter groups, and offer examples of how such groups selectively read scripture to support violence. - Week 3
We will review the history of the Crusades, how they began as a religious mission to “reclaim” the Holy Land and became overtly political over time, as the Papacy sought to enhance its power, and knights and nobles viewed participation as an opportunity for land, wealth and social advancement. - Week 4
We will trace the role of religion in the conflicts during the colonization of North America, focusing on New Spain, New France and New England. - Week 5
Each side in the First World War presented its war effort as a “holy” war, but in the Second World War this religious emphasis was largely missing. We will investigate the reasons why and see also how a religious revival against communism marked the Cold War. - Week 6
In our final class, we will look at how religious divisions fuelled the 2003-2011 Iraq war and examine the appeal of religious extremism in the 21st century. We will also look at several instances where religious leaders in Europe, Africa and Asia were successful in brokering peace agreements.
What you will learn
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
- Explain at least one philosophical method of understanding war
- Recognize the ways in which proponents conceptualize a “just war”
- Reflect on historical factors that have led to long-standing conflicts still present today
How you will learn
- Lectures
- Participation in discussions
- Supplementary resources accessed through Canvas
- Reflective essay (applicable only to certificate students)
Learning Materials
No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.
Technical Requirements
Handouts and other course resources will be available on Canvas, SFU’s online learning system.
To access the resources, you should be comfortable with:
- Using everyday software such as browsers, email and social media
- Navigating a website by clicking on links and finding pages in a menu
- Downloading and opening PDF documents