Martyrdom: Dying for God

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

A readiness to die for God is a phenomenon known across centuries and cultures. It continues to be accepted today across a variety of religious and secular traditions. This course, focusing on martyrdom in the three so-called monotheistic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), examines a number of case studies of martyrdom with a focus on firsthand accounts. Among the themes to be considered: the various kinds of martyrdom (e.g. active/passive, lethal, suicidal, etc.); the motives of the martyr (spiritual, political, etc.); the way martyrdom is remembered and celebrated by religious communities (martyrology); and the way in which religious leaders debate and define the parameters of acceptable martyrdom. Finally, we will consider the factors driving the phenomenon of martyrdom in Islam on today’s global stage from a theological perspective.