Theocracy: God, Power, and Authority
- All levels
- 21 and older
- $315
- Online Classroom
- 12 hours over 4 sessions
Thankfully we have 8 other Lecture Classes for you to choose from. Check our top choices below or see all classes for more options.
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research @ Online Classroom
In this thought-provoking course from the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, you'll explore the core principles of biotechnology and the ethical, political, and economic implications of manipulating biological matter. Uncover the exciting possibilities and real constraints that shape the future of bioengineering today!
Apr 9th
6:30–9:30pm EDT
Meets 4 Times
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research @ Online Classroom
Explore a radical vision of the future where nature and technology align, challenging the pessimistic outlook on climate change. Immerse yourself in the art, theory, and speculative fiction of solarpunk to reimagine a world of decommodified energy and human liberation. Join us on this intellectual journey towards a harmonious coexistence of technology, nature, and human life.
Apr 14th
2–5pm EDT
Meets 4 Times
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research @ Online Classroom
Delve into the depths of human emotions and the complexities of the mind with a comprehensive exploration of psychoanalysis. Gain insights into the intricate workings of the psyche through this captivating course.
Apr 14th
2–5pm EDT
Meets 4 Times
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research @ Online Classroom
Explore Russian and Soviet avant-gardes during the first three decades of the 20th century. Discover how artists grappled with finding "communistic expression of material structures" and the shifting status of the arts in the early Soviet state. Dive into the works of Kazimir Malevich, El Lissitzky, Sergei Eisenstein, and more.
Apr 17th
6:30–9:30pm EDT
Meets 4 Times
Brooklyn Institute for Social Research @ Online Classroom
Delve into the transformative insights of Saidiya Hartman's groundbreaking works on Black life and history. Join us at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research as we explore Hartman's profound reimagining of freedom, agency, and the legacy of the Atlantic slave trade. Engage with critical questions on power, labor, and race in the postmodern era through an examination of Hartman's influential texts alongside other prominent scholars in the field.
Apr 29th
6:30–9:30pm EDT
Meets 4 Times
Anathema secular society, the term theocracy—meaning, “rule by God”—was coined circa 100 CE by Roman historian Flavius Josephus to defend Jewish governance from its Roman detractors. He extolled the virtues of Moses as lawgiver and grounded the superiority of theocratic law in the idea that religion makes it widely accessible and inscribes it in practice. Yet, God cannot rule directly, so what, exactly, does theocracy entail? Is theocracy, despite its persistence on the world stage, outmoded by modernity and destined for the dustbin of history? Or, are religion and politics never entirely separable? What can a study of theocracy teach us about the connection, perhaps indissoluble, between religious thinking and “secularized” ideas of power, legitimacy, right, and sovereignty?
In this course, we will plumb the complicated dynamics of theocracy by exploring the Mosaic constitution as elaborated in the Bible itself. Taking our cue from Josephus, we will look at texts that tell us about the lawgiver and the laws. Who, we’ll ask, governs? We will look at the king’s relationship to God and explore the dynamic power relationships between priests and political leaders. Where does the law come from? We will look at the role of priests and judges in interpreting and applying the law, as well as the political, religious, and economic implications when laws are couched in religious terms. We will see that law is not static and look at strategies that were used to overcome anxiety about what really comes from God. How is power negotiated and exercised? We will consider whether theocracy is necessarily repressive, how those on the margins or outside a religion’s universal claims are understood, and the role of rhetoric and interpretation in jockeying for power. Finally, our foray into the ancient world—a world before Enlightenment ideals, before “church” was imagined to be separate from “state”—will show us that, although political theory has changed, we still confront many of the same tensions and dynamics that marked Biblical theocracy. As we consider these questions and more, we will look to thinkers such as Baruch Spinoza, Niccolo Macchiavelli, Seyla Benhabib, John Rawls, Jürgen Habermas, Bethany Moreton, and Talal Asad to pose incisive questions and suggest provocative framings that will help us engage deeply in the complexities of politics and religion.
This course is available for "remote" learning and will be available to anyone with access to an internet device with a microphone (this includes most models of computers, tablets). Classes will take place with a "Live" instructor at the date/times listed below.
Upon registration, the instructor will send along additional information about how to log-on and participate in the class.
In any event where a customer wants to cancel their enrollment and is eligible for a full refund, a 5% processing fee will be deducted from the refund amount.
People who viewed this class also viewed the following classes
Get quick answers from CourseHorse and past students.
The Brooklyn Institute for Social Research was established in 2011 in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. Its mission is to extend liberal arts education and research far beyond the borders of the traditional university, supporting community education needs and opening up new possibilities for scholarship in the...
Read more about Brooklyn Institute for Social Research
This school has been carefully vetted by CourseHorse and is a verified Online educator.
Booking this class for a group? Find great private group events
More in Life Skills
Get special date and rate options for your group. Submit the form below and we'll get back to you within 2 business hours with pricing and availability.