RLGN 3159 Prophets, Psalms, and Social Justice
Early in human civilization scribes, prophets, psalmists and philosophers determined that the world was not just. Cross culturally and across religious perspective a common language and a series of ethical images and motifs develop to express the human longing for order and justice in daily life. We will explore the common roots of Western religion and ethics around the human urge to improve the lot of the 'other.' We will study the classical references and texts in the Hebrew Bible including the Torah literature and the multiple voices of the prophets with emphasis upon Amos, Hosea, Micah and Isaiah. We will discuss the implications and applications of these texts to our leaders, our society and to ourselves.