APOCALYPSE OF JOHN: REQUIREMENTS
1) Complete the reading assignments according to the schedule, and come
to class ready to discuss the material in a careful and critical
manner.
2) For each reading assignment in From Every People and Nation,
each student will submit a short (1/2-1 page, single-spaced) written
analysis of and response to the assigned reading. This is to be sent to me
by email attachment (Word or WordPerfect) before noon on
Tuesday. I will then post them for the entire class to read. Everyone is
expected to have read all the posted responses before class on
Wednesday. The issues raised there will, I hope, become the focus of some
discussion together on Wednesday. This written analysis
and response should focus on the following questions:
A) What, if anything, did this
reading suggest about Revelation that you find helpful but had not thought of
before?
B) What, if anything, did
this reading suggest about Revelation that you find problematic or disturbing?
Why do you find it to
be a problem?
For both questions, think about how the social contexts of yourself and of the
author make a difference for how Revelation is heard
and interpreted.
3) Each student will spend at least three hours on the internet exploring
sites that use and interpret the book of Revelation. The student
should begin exploring by simply using "Google" or a similar search engine
(since that is likely to be how members of your congregation
will go looking for information about Revelation). The student will then write a
short report and analysis (4-5 pages double-spaced)
concerning the use (& abuse) of Revelation that you found. Internet addresses
that will allow the instructor to find the same pages
discussed must be included. This must be completed by November 11 and submitted
as an email attachment to me. We will discuss
together in class the highlights of what you found.
4) A final project, either option "A" or "B":
A: 10-12 page research paper
(double-spaced), chosen from the following options:
- An exegetical paper dealing with any of the texts from Revelation appearing in
the Revised Common Lectionary.
The paper will also include a homily (single- spaced) based on the text.
- The use of female figures in Revelation
- Holy War imagery in Revelation
- Revelation and ecology
-Revelation and early Christian prophecy
- Anti-Judaism / Anti-Semitism and Revelation
- Artistic interpretations of Revelation
- Revelation in American politics
- The Joys and Pitfalls of Preaching Revelation
- History of and critique of "Left Behind" books and other material
- another topic approved by the instructor
These papers will include a bibliography of at least 6 titles (3 of the "reserve" commentaries plus 3 essays, chapters, or journal articles). It is expected that all of these options, at some point, will discuss specific texts from Revelation. All except the first option will conclude with a 2-3 page (single-spaced) description and outline for an adult study of this topic. The 10-12 page length does not include bibliography, endnotes, homily or adult study description.
B. An original artistic
interpretation of Revelation as a whole or of a specific passage from it
(painting, sketching, sculpture,
music, etc.). This must be presented
to the class during our final meeting. It must also be accompanied by a 5-6 page
(double-spaced,
not counting pages for endnotes or
bibliography) demonstrating how this expression relates to and grows out of your
interpretation
of the text. Here again, the
bibliography must include at least 6 titles (3 of the "reserve" commentaries
plus 3 essays, chapters, or
journal articles).
A short (1 page) description of your final paper / project, with a beginning bibliography (3 commentaries plus 3 essays, chapters, or journal articles), is due November 4. This, and the final paper itself, must be submitted as a paper copy unless there is an overriding reason why electronic submission is necessary.