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REL/JSP 302 Paper Topics
General Instructions: Each 6-10 page research paper must use at least
two other secondary printed sources
(not including any web resources) in addition to the required textbooks to
research your topic. Both papers must be properly documented using either
in-text references in parentheses or footnotes, and must include a
bibliography citing all works consulted. ALL quotations must appear inside
quotation marks and be followed by citation of the source. ALL ideas gathered
from other sources and presented in your own words (i.e.
"paraphrased") must also cite their sources. The papers must be
typed and carefully proof-read for spelling and grammatical errors.
The first paper (due Oct 24th) should address the
general theme of the significance of the priests in Second Temple Judaism.
The student should choose a specific topic related to this theme. Appropriate
topics for this assignment include, but are not limited to: What role did
priests play in the restoration and rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple in 515 BCE,
and what were their interests (religious, political, economic, etc.) in doing
so? Why did Jewish priests build and run other temples in Samaria
and Egypt in the Second Temple
period and what does that say about the status of the Jerusalem priesthood? What were the
political and religious effects of the Hasmoneans’
take-over of the high-priesthood? What effect did the development of the synagogue
have on the priests’ roles in Judaism? What was the significance of the Jewish
priesthood for early Christians and what roles do they play in New Testament
texts? What happened to the priests’ influence and prestige after the destruction
of the Second Temple?
The second paper (due Nov 21st)
should address the general theme of the significance of the written texts in
Second Temple Judaism. The student should choose a specific topic related to
this theme. Appropriate topics for this assignment include, but are not
limited to: How were written texts used by Ezra and Nehemiah? What evidence for
the changing uses and influences of texts is provided by a particular Second Temple book (e.g. 1 Maccabees, Judith, Tobit,
Jubilees, the Damascus Document, 4QMMT—choose one)? How did textual interpretation
shape the formation and distinctions between sectarian groups in Second
Temple Judaism? What were the attitudes and interests of the Qumran sectarians to the use and reproduction of texts,
as attested by the Dead Sea Scrolls?
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Bibliography
On reserve in Bird library:
- Williams, Margaret. The
Jews among the Greeks and Romans: A Diasporan
Sourcebook. Johns Hopkins,
1998.
- Berquist,
Jon L. Judaism in Persia's
Shadow: A Social and Historical Approach. Minnaepolis:
Fortress, 1995.
- Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Sage,
priest, prophet: religious and intellectual leadership in ancient Israel. Louisville:: Westminster
John Knox, 1995.
- Fine, Steven (ed.) Jews,
Christians and Polytheists in the Ancient Synagogue. Routledge, 1999.
- Grabbe,
Lester L. Judaic religion in the Second Temple period: belief and
practice from the Exile to Yavneh. London; New
York: Routledge,
2000.
- Grabbe,
Lester L. Priests, prophets,
diviners, sages : a socio-historical study of
religious specialists in ancient Israel. Valley Forge, PA:
Trinity, 1995.
- Rooke,
Deborah W. Zadok's heirs : the
role and development of the High Priesthood in ancient Israel.
Oxford & New
York: Oxford
University Press,
2000.
- Halbertal,
Moshe. People of the Book: Canon, Meaning, and Authority. Cambridge: Harvard,
1997.
- Sawyer, John F.A. Sacred
Languages and Sacred Texts. London:
Routledge, 1999.
- Schiffman,
Lawrence H. From text to
tradition: a history of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism. Hoboken, N.J.:
Ktav, 1991.
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