i'm sorry you misunderstood the focus here. we are not seeking normative
statements about any of these religions, we are seeking case studies of
groups who believe the end, however they imagine it, is at hand, and how
they view non-believers (ie those who do not share their apocalyptic view of
things) whether they are co-religionists or adherents to another religion.
we are not interested in broad theological "views" so much as in the way in
which apocalyptic beliefs are lived and the impact they have on social
relations with those outside the apocalyptic community. i don't think we've
glossed over anything. on the contrary, i think we are all in for some
surprises when we take the approach suggested. thank you for your comments,
anyway.
At 09:13 AM 4/30/97 -0400, you wrote:
>This call for papers is based on a facile assumption that the three western
>religions are essentially similar, and that all divide the world into
>believers and non-believers, i.e., that the defining element of the
>communicants is their set of beliefs. This is certainly NOT true of
>Judaism. Jews are typically referred to, in the Scripture and otherwise,
>and "b'nai Yisra'el" (children/descendants of Israel/Jacob). The Scripture
>recognizes that there are other members of the community who are not
>hereditary members, and accords them full rights [frequent references to
>the "ger" (stranger/convert) who lives in your midst].
>
>It is difficult to fix a "Jewish" view on the "end of days" because the
>sacred literature was compiled over such a long period of time that
>significant shifts have taken place, though the literature is generally all
>regarded as applicable. Within the Hebrew Canon death is generally regarded
>as an end, with nothing following [v. Ecclesiastes 9:4-6]. The prophetic
>views of the "end of days" was the temporal establishment of a just and
>peaceful kingdom. Micah [4:5] makes specific reference to everyone
>following his own god. The sects that believed in a final battle between
>good and evil and other apocalyptic visions did not become part of the main
>stream.
>
>After the destruction of the Second Temple the idea of a messiah (anointed
>one) arose. The messiah's function was to gather the scattered remnants of
>Israel from among the nations and lead them back to their ancestral
>homeland. While this was usually viewed as linked with a spiritual revival,
>it was fundamentally a temporal phenomenon.
>
>If one views Judaism in terms of whether it is works or faith on which a
>person is judged, it is definitely on the basis of works. While books like
>Ecclesiastes and Job question whether the reward-punishment system works as
>advertised by the prophets, it is works and not beliefs that are at issue.
>Consequently, Jews do not distinguish between believers and non-believers.
>If anything, the distinction would be between the circumcised and
>un-circumcised, or the "evil-doers" and "us." As for places in the "world
>to come" any non-Jew who observes the seven commandments to the sons of
>Noah has a place there.
>
>In their zeal to be ecumenical, the organizers of this conference have
>glossed over significant differences between Judaism and Christianity.
>
>Laurence F. Friedman, Ph.D., CHP
>Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies
>New York University
>
>At 21:56 04/28/97 -0400, you wrote:
>>I'm hoping Billy Tollemache is back on e-mail for this one. Any word?
>>Otherwise, someone forward it to him?
>>
>>Fred
>>
>>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>Date: Mon, 28 Apr 1997 17:45:01 -0400 (EDT)
>>From: Kristin Solias <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: CFP: Apocalyptic Others
>>
>>
>>
>>CALL FOR PAPERS/SESSION PROPOSALS (CROSS-POSTED)
>>___________________________________________
>>
>>
>>Apocalyptic Others: Millennialist Views of Unbelievers among Jews,
>>Christians, and Muslims
>>
>>Boston, November 2 - 4, 1997
>>
>>Sponsored by the Center for Millennial Studies, Boston, MA
>>
>>This international conference will seek to explore the ways in which the
>>three most apocalyptic and intertwined religious traditions --
>>Christianity, Judaism, and Islam -- conceive of the religious "other"
>>eschatologically as well as the ways in which doctrinal concepts translate
>>into actions among faithful who have entered "apocalyptic time." Papers
>>are sought which deal with historical, contemporary, and/or pastoral
>>issues.
>>
>>The following is a list of possible topics:
>>
>>Eschatological teachings on non-believers at the endtime
>>The "other" as an apocalyptic category, both within a given religion and
>> without
>>Apocalyptic missionary activity
>>Non-believers as apocalyptic enemies
>>Role of specific prophecies/chronologies in triggering apocalyptic attitudes
>> towards non- believers
>>Behavior of various apocalyptic movements/sects towards outsiders
>>Effects of apocalyptic disappointment on views of outsiders
>>Reorientation towards outsiders during post-apocalyptic mutation
>>
>>Abstracts for 20-minute papers should be one page (200 - 300 words),
>>double-spaced, and should include a working title for the paper. Please
>>attach a cover sheet with your name, academic affiliation, snail mail and
>>e-mail addresses, and phone number (do not include this information on the
>>abstract).
>>
>>Session Proposals (3-4 20-minute papers, moderator, commentator) should
>>include a one-page proposal for the session indicating the moderator and
>>commentator as well as abstracts for each paper conforming to the guidelines
>>above.
>>
>>Deadline for receipt of abstracts and proposals is June 2.
>>Please note that completed papers will be expected by September 15.
>>
>>You may send abstracts via snail mail or e-mail, though snail mail is
>>preferred.
>>
>>Snail mail:
>>
>>Richard Landes
>>attn: abstracts
>>Department of History
>>226 Bay State Road
>>Boston University
>>Boston, MA 02215
>>
>>E-mail:
>>
>>[log in to unmask]
>>
>>If you have any questions, please contact Kristin Solias at [log in to unmask]
>>
>>Check out the Center for Millennial Studies website at http://www.mille.org/
>>for updated information.
>>
>>
>>
>
>
Richard Landes
Boston University
History Department
Center for Millennial Studies
http://www.mille.org/
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