Overview
An introduction to Judaism in the modern world, with emphasis on contemporary issues and debates.
Although there are only 14 million Jews worldwide, Judaism is the precursor of both Christianity and Islam and has played a significant role in the cultures of Europe, the Middle East and the US. This paper focuses on modern Judaism, as it developed over the last two centuries, so as to understand the beliefs and practices of contemporary Jews.
We will consider questions such as: why are there disagreements between different Jewish sects or movements, including Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Judaisms? What is the Ultra-Orthodox movement, and are they 'fundamentalists'? What do Jews mean when they claim to be the Chosen People? What are Jewish beliefs about a coming Messiah in the end times? How does Judaism treat women? What is Jewish mysticism - Hasidism and Kabbalah? Why has antisemitism arisen in Europe and in Christianity, and how did it result in persecutions and the Holocaust? How did Zionism - the movement to establish a modern state of Israel - arise, and what are the religious dimensions of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine? Can we say that Israel is a secular state, as it sometimes claims? This paper provides an introduction to the academic study of a social group that challenges the boundaries of religion, politics and culture. No background in religion is required.
About this paper
| Paper title | Special Topic: Zionists, Fundamentalists and Liberals: Jews in the Modern World |
|---|---|
| Subject | Religious Studies |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2026 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,103.10 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 36 points
- Restriction
- RELX 230
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Theology
- Notes
- May not be credited together with RELS330 when taken with the same content.
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Religion website: www.otago.ac.nz/religion
- Teaching staff
Course coordinator: Professor Will Sweetman
Lecturer: Dr Deane Galbraith- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Scholarship, Critical thinking, Ethics.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will be able to:
- describe and distinguish various modern forms of Judaism, their origins, practices, beliefs, and constructions of identity; (scholarship, global perspective, interdisciplinary perspective)
- understand various critical methods as applied to Judaic studies, their applicability to its subfields, and their relative strengths and weaknesses; (interdisciplinary perspective; critical thinking)
- understand and evaluate opposing viewpoints on select issues and debates within modern Judaism; and (scholarship, critical thinking, ethics)
- write clear, persuasive, critical, and knowledgeable essays on contemporary topics and debates within Judaic studies. (communication)
- Assessment details
Assessment:
10%-Online short-answer tests (2 x 5%)
10%-Critical response to news article
20%-Essay
60%-Final examination
Overview
An introduction to Judaism in the modern world, with emphasis on contemporary issues and debates.
Although there are only 14 million Jews worldwide, Judaism is the precursor of both Christianity and Islam and has played a significant role in the cultures of Europe, the Middle East and the US. This paper focuses on modern Judaism, as it developed over the last two centuries, so as to understand the beliefs and practices of contemporary Jews.
We will consider questions such as: why are there disagreements between different Jewish sects or movements, including Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Judaisms? What is the Ultra-Orthodox movement, and are they "fundamentalists"? What do Jews mean when they claim to be the Chosen People? What are Jewish beliefs about a coming Messiah in the end times? How does Judaism treat women? What is Jewish mysticism - Hasidism and Kabbalah? Why has antisemitism arisen in Europe and in Christianity, and how did it result in persecutions and the Holocaust? How did Zionism - the movement to establish a modern state of Israel - arise, and what are the religious dimensions of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine? Can we say that Israel is a secular state, as it sometimes claims? This paper provides an introduction to the academic study of a social group that challenges the boundaries of religion, politics and culture. No background in religion is required.
About this paper
| Paper title | Special Topic: Zionists, Fundamentalists and Liberals: Jews in the Modern World |
|---|---|
| Subject | Religious Studies |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2027 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 36 points
- Restriction
- RELX 230
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Theology
- Notes
- May not be credited together with RELS330 when taken with the same content.
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Religion website: www.otago.ac.nz/religion.
- Teaching staff
Course Co-ordinator: Professor Will Sweetman
Lecturer: Dr Deane Galbraith- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Scholarship, Critical thinking, Ethics.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will be able to:
- Describe and distinguish various modern forms of Judaism, their origins, practices, beliefs and constructions of identity; (scholarship, global perspective, interdisciplinary perspective)
- Understand various critical methods as applied to Judaic studies, their applicability to its subfields, their relative strengths and weaknesses; (interdisciplinary perspective, critical thinking)
- Understand and evaluate opposing viewpoints on select issues and debates within modern Judaism; and (scholarship, critical thinking, ethics)
- Write clear, persuasive, critical and knowledgeable essays on contemporary topics and debates within Judaic studies. (communication)
- Assessment details
Ten percent - Online short-answer tests (2 x 5%)
Ten percent - Critical response to news article
Twenty percent - Essay
Sixty percent - Final examination