Estudiar Cursos de Verano en el Extranjero - Israel 2023
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Summer Course: Religion in the Holy Land

Course Syllabus | Hebrew University of Jerusalem's website

Thought by some in the west to be a fading phase in human history, religion has proved to be a potent force in world conflict but also an inspiration for peace. With over half of humanity adhering to “Abrahamic Faiths,” the Middle East has been at the vortex of religion-related conflict for a millennia and still is in the 21st century. The continuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as phenomena including ISIS, the Syrian civil war and mass refugees demonstrate the presence of religion in the realms of war and peace.

Based in Jerusalem, a city cherished – and disputed – by Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, this course analyzes the role of religion vis-a-vis peace and conflict. Through discussions with religious leaders and interfaith activists, visits to holy sites, and the study of different interpretations and theological perspectives, participants will gain insight into the contradictory roles of religion as both an obstacle to peace and a resource for peacemaking.

Site Visits and Meetings

Through multiple field trips and encounters, this program offers the opportunity to gain first-hand access to key places and regional players. Subject to the availability of guest speakers, participants will have the opportunity to meet with:

  • Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious leaders
  • Pilgrims and believers at Holy sites
  • Interfaith and NGO activists
  • Academics and professional figures

Field trips and encounters will be finalized at a later date. As a reference only, participants may refer to last year's itinerary for the Coexistence in the Middle East program.

Course Outline

The following list of topics might be updated due to the dynamic character of the Middle East and our intention to focus on the current issues in the region:

1. Religion as a Force for Peace or Conflict?

  • Introduction to Judaism, Christianity and Islam
  • The concept of peace in the three religions
  • Religious peace in practice and context

2. Religious Aspects of the Israel-Palestine Conflict

  • Introduction: Religion, history, culture and nationalism
  • Religion as an exacerbating factor
  • Conflict over holy sites: The Temple Mount and the Holy Land

3. Religion and Conflict as a Regional and Global Issue

  • Religious terrorism: ISIS, radical Islam, and islamophobia
  • Challenges to multiculturalism: The wave of Syrian refugees
  • Religion in politics: The Syrian war - Shia and Sunni relations in the Middle East

4. Religious Peacebuilding

  • Theory and case-studies
  • Religious initiatives and conflict resolution
  • Grassroots interfaith and peacebuilding projects

Faculty

Ophir Yarden serves as Director of the Jerusalem Center for Interreligious Encounter for Jewish-Christian Relations. He has been a practitioner of conflict transformation in the Israeli-Palestinian reality and specializes in interreligious engagement and encounter. Ophir is a Senior Lecturer in Jewish and Israel Studies at Brigham Young University's Jerusalem Center and lectures regularly at Hebrew University's Rothberg International School as well as several Christian colleges. He earned his M.A. in Middle East Studies at the University of Chicago and has pursued advanced Jewish studies at the Shalom Hartman Institute and the Schechter Institute of Judaic Studies, both in Jerusalem.