MEC501 – Dangerous Religious Ideas
The recent emphasis on Christian nationalism underlines a fact that the faithful often don’t want to acknowledge: Religions include qualities that can make belief a dangerous and destructive force. Based on the book by Rabbi Dr. Rachel Mikva, “Dangerous Religious Ideas” will examine four issues in the Abrahamic faith traditions (Judaism, Islam, and Christianity). It will challenge assumptions about which religious ideas are dangerous, analyze the way in which religion causes harm and destruction, argue that all three Abrahamic religions developed methods for self-critique, and encourage examination of inter-religious ideas and engagement.