medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
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PHILADELPHIA SEMINAR ON CHRISTIAN ORIGINS
in its 42nd year
an Interdisciplinary Humanities Seminar
under the auspices of the
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Religious Studies
201 Logan Hall
with support from
the Penn Humanities Forum
TOPIC FOR 2004-2005: The Impact of Astrological (and Related)
Traditions on Early Jewish and Christian Perspective
While astrology today is relegated to dubious status in the back pages of
newspapers, in the ancient world there was no question as to the impact of the
stars on human beings. The power gained through knowledge of astrology was at
times troubling and terrifying, but rarely, if ever, discounted. Astrological
ideas are reflected in all manner of Greco-Roman, Jewish, and Christian
traditions, from the vivid Jewish synagogue floor mosaics to the Star of
Bethlehem and the attendant arrival of the Magi to Paul's use of Technical
terminology drawn from astrology and beyond. Given the widespread impact of
astrology, then, it is surprising that these traditions have received relatively
little scholarly attention. It is our hope to use this year of PSCO to generate
an ongoing conversation involving scholars of early Christianity, scholars of
early Judaism, and other students of late antiquity in an examination of the
role of astrological traditions in the Greco-Roman world, and especially in
early Judaism and Christianity.
Co-Chairs:
Todd C. Krulak (University of Pennsylvania) [log in to unmask]
Sarah L. Schwarz (Haverford College/University of Pennsylvania)
[log in to unmask]
Secretary: Harry Tolley (Univ of Pennsylvania)
[log in to unmask]
Webmaster: Jay C. Treat (University of Pennsylvania) [log in to unmask]
THE FIFTH MEETING OF THE 2004-05 YEAR will be held on Thursday, 14 April 2005,
from 7:00-9:00 pm in the Second Floor Lounge, Logan Hall at the University of
Pennsylvania.
Persons wishing to dine with other participants prior to the seminar should meet
at 6:00 pm at Logan Hall, Second Floor Lounge (southeast of Locust Walk and
36th Street Walk) or go directly to the Food Court in the basement of Houston
Hall (just east of Logan, along Spruce Street), where an international variety
of food choices is available at reasonable prices and plenty of table space for
us to appropriate.
PROGRAM:
Peter Struck, University of Pennsylvania Classical Studies
Topic: "Microcosm and Macrocosm in Greek Astrology"
Bob Kraft, coordinator
PSCO website = http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/psco/
--
Robert A. Kraft, Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania
227 Logan Hall (Philadelphia PA 19104-6304); tel. 215 898-5827
[log in to unmask]
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rs/rak/kraft.html
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