Tony Burke

York University, Fall 2009

EXCEL file of Grades

Instructor: Dr. Tony Burke
E-mail: tburke@yorku.ca
Phone: (416) 736-2100 ext. 22329
Time and Location: Wednesday 7-10 pm, TEL0004
Office Hours: Wednesday 5-6 pm (or by appointment), Rm. 617 Atkinson Building

1. Course Description
An introduction to Gnosticism, a second century religious movement that intersected and overlapped with Christianity and Judaism. Emphasis will be on readings of primary sources. The course objective are to acquaint students with the theories behind the origins and nature of Gnosticism, examine gnostic literature from ancient Christian, Jewish, and “pagan” sources, note the continuation of gnostic thought in later gnostic movements of the Medieval period and the Middle Ages, and consider elements of gnostic thought that exist today. Gnosticism has been characterized as “utterly incomprehensible”; it is my hope that, together, students and instructor can find some order in the chaos of gnostic literature and feel some empathy for the gnostic view of the world and humanity’s place within it. Students will learn advanced text-critical skills and become acquainted with scholarship in the field.

2. Required Texts
Birger Pearson, Ancient Gnosticism: Traditions and Literature. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007.

Marvin Meyer (ed.), The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The International Edition. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 2007.

Elaine Pagels, The Gnostic Gospels. New York: Random House, 1979.

Karen L. King, What is Gnosticism? Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2003.

April D. DeConick, The Thirteenth Apostle: What the Gospel of Judas Really Says. Rev. ed. New York/London: Continuum Press, 2009.

3. Methods of Assessment
All written work in this course is expected to be of high quality—i.e., it must conform to the style and format guidelines typical of Humanities courses—and it must be your own. To help ensure that these requirements are met, you are urged to visit the on-line guides listed below. In addition, a style sheet of my own design is to be attached to your assignments (see the assignment descriptions below). No paper will be accepted without the style sheet attached. For additional writing assistance, visit the following web sites: http://www.atkinson.yorku.ca/Writing/tutoring.htm; http://www.atkinson.yorku.ca/Writing/tutoring.htm; http://www.arts.yorku.ca/caw/resources.html

NOTE: All graded work in this course is to be submitted to Turnitin.com (and brought to class in a hard copy). For an overview of this service and the University’s policies regarding Turnitin.com, please see HERE: It is very simple to use. Go to www.turnitin.com for instructions on how to create a user profile. You can use whatever email address you wish but it must be a working one since you will receive emails over the course of the year. It is recommended that you NOT use internet email accounts (e.g., Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.). You create your own password so make it easy to remember. You will also require the following information to sign in initially: Class ID: 2868722. Password: gnosis.

A. Academic Integrity: York University is very concerned about the increase in student plagiarism. As heinous a crime as plagiarism is, sometimes it is perpetrated in ignorance. The university has set up an on-line tutorial to help students recognize acts of plagiarism. You are required to complete this tutorial (no papers will be accepted until you do so). Go to the web site and work your way through the tutorial. Print off the results of the quiz and hand them in on September 23. There is no grade value for this assignment, but no papers will be accepted until the test results are handed in to the instructor. Site address: http://www.yorku.ca/tutorial/academic_integrity/

B. Translation comparison: there has been much discussion recently about the appropriate translation and interpretation of the newly-discovered Gospel of Judas. Compare the translation of the text from Meyer with the one from DeConick. The objective is to show how different editorial approaches to these often fragmentary and confusing texts can lead to vastly different readings. Consider such things as vocabulary, punctuation, editorial conjectures, section headings, footnotes, etc. Length: 5 pages. Be sure to attach the essay style sheet available HERE. Grade value: 25%. Due: October 7.

C. The Gnostic Gospels Book Review: hand in a review of Elaine Pagels’ The Gnostic Gospels with the primary aim of assessing the author’s style (how is the book structured? what are the arguments she makes? what kind of audience is she writing for? does she make her arguments well? is the book a “good read”?, etc.). For more guidance on scholarly book reviews read the samples available HERE. The reviews will be discussed in class. Be sure to attach the essay style sheet available HERE. Length: 5 pages. Grade value: 30%. Due: October 28.

D. What is Gnosticism? Analysis: toward the end of the course students will hand in an analysis of King’s What is Gnosticism? with the aim of assessing the cogency of her argument. The reviews will be discussed in the final class of the course. Be sure to attach the essay style sheet available HERE. Length: 7 pages. Value: 35%. Due: December 2.

E. Class Participation: to encourage an optimum of instructor/student interaction, a portion of your final grade is allocated to class participation. The grade is based on class attendance and on asking/answering questions.  Grade value: 10%.

Missing papers: In the event that papers go missing, it is your responsibility to keep a hard copy of all written work submitted for the course.

Late papers: the instructor, like you, is a very busy person. He likes to receive papers on time so that he can give them back to you within a reasonable time and then get on with other things he has to do (the instructor has other courses to teach and other papers to grade). Late papers complicate his life. So, he cannot accept late papers unless they are accompanied with documentation from Special Needs or Health Services. Contact the professor if you foresee problems handing in papers on time.

4. Important Dates
September 24: Last date to enroll without permission of instructor
October 9: Last date to enroll with permission of instructor
November 6: Last date to drop course without receiving a grade

5. Class Schedule
Please come to class having read the assigned primary and secondary readings and having consulted the on-line resources. A lecture outline for each week’s class will be posted on-line by Monday afternoon. It is your responsibility to print your own copy of the outline and bring it to class.

Sept. 9: Introduction to the Course
Film: The Gnostics
On-line Resources: for a quick overview of the essentials of Gnosticism visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/story/heretics.html.

Sept. 16: Background: Creation Myths, Christian Origins
LECTURE OUTLINE
Read for Today: Pearson ch. 1; Genesis 1-9; Martin, Myths of the Ancient Greeks (PDF); Plato, excerpts from The Republic (PDF) and Timaeus (PDF); Plotinus, Enneads (WORD); Mark 1; Acts 9:1-31; John 1; 1 Corinthians 1-3, 8-9, 12; 2 Corinthians 10-12; Colossians 2; 1 Timothy; 1 John.On-line Resources: English scholar Mark Goodacre has assembled an awardwinning “meta-site” on New Testament scholarship at http://www.ntgateway.com/. Of particular interest is the page on non-canonical literature (http://www.ntgateway.com/noncanon.htm).

Sept. 23: Heresy Hunting
LECTURE OUTLINE
Read for Today: Pearson ch. 2; Irenaeus, Against Heresies (PDF 1, PDF 2); Epiphanius of Salamis, Against Heresies 33.3.1-33.7.10 (=Ptolemy’s Epistle to Flora) (PDF); Acts 8:9-25.
On-line Resources: today we sample a few of the early church thinkers who wrote polemical treatises against other Christian groups and teachers. If you want to read more, visit http://www.webcom.com/gnosis/library/polem.htm.
** Academic Integrity Test due today **

Sept. 30: Sethianism
LECTURE OUTLINE
Read for Today: Pearson ch. 3; Meyer, pp. 784-789; Secret Book According to John; Revelation of Adam.
On-line Resources: one of the more bizarre sites out there dedicated to Gnosticism is the Gnostic Friends Network (http://www.enemies.com). Of particular interest on this site is the Gnostic Gear (warning: some images may offend) and the Network’s own theme song.

October 7: The Gospel of Judas
NO LECTURE OUTLINE TODAY
Read for Today: Pearson chs. 4-5; Gospel of Judas.
** Gospel of Judas paper due today **
On-line Resources: read about the discovery of the Gospel of Judas at http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/manuscripts/gospel_of_judas/.

October 14: Reading Week ~ No class

October 21: Valentinus
LECTURE OUTLINE
Read for Today: Pearson chs. 6-7; Meyer, pp. 790-794; the “Fragments” of Valentinus (PDF1 PDF2); Gospel of Truth; Gospel of Philip.
On-line Resources: the Gnosis Society hosts a home page dedicated to Valentinus. You can visit it at http://www.gnosis.org/library/valentinus/.

October 28: Miscellaneous Writings
LECTURE OUTLINE
Read for Today: Pearson ch. 8; Gospel of Mary; Revelation of Peter; Thunder.
On-line Resources: read (and even watch) a discussion between several prominent scholars (including Karen L. King and Elaine Pagels) on Mary Magdalene at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week712/feature.html.
** Pagels book review due today **

Nov. 4: Thomas Christianity
LECTURE OUTLINE
Read for Today: Pearson ch. 9; Meyer, pp. 779-783; Gospel of Thomas; Book of Thomas; selections from The DaVinci Code (PDF).
On-line Resources: scholars Elaine Pagels and Helmut Koester discuss the significance of the Gospel of Thomas at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/story/thomas.html. Also, listen to NT scholar Mark Goodacre discuss the Gospel of Thomas in one of his podcasts. And read his recent discussion of the disagreements over the discovery of the Nag Hammadi Library.

Nov. 11: Corpus Hermeticum; Mandaeans and Manichaeans
LECTURE OUTLINE
Read for Today: Pearson chs. 10-12; Meyer pp. 795-798; Discourse on the Eight and Ninth; The Prayer of Thanksgiving; Excerpt from the Perfect Discourse; The Cologne Mani Codex (PDF) (photographs of the Codex are available HERE)
On-line Resources: learn more about the Corpus Hermeticum at http://www.webcom.com/gnosis/library/hermet.htm. Learn more about Mandaeans and Manicheans at http://www.webcom.com/gnosis/library/manis.htm and http://www.mandaeanworld.com/mandaeanworld1.html.

Nov. 18: Gnosticism and Modern Film
Film to be announced.
On-line Resources: for additional movies that touch upon Gnostic themes, check out the reviews at http://www.enemies.com/gnostic-movies/.

Nov. 25: Conference ~ no class

Dec. 2: Modern Gnosticism
LECTURE OUTLINE
Read for Today: Pearson pp. 333-341; Richard Smith, “The Modern Relevance of Gnosticism” (PDF).
On-line Resources: though classical Gnosticism was eradicated in Late Antiquity, Gnostic thought has experienced a Renaissance since the discoveries at Nag Hammadi. There are even Gnostic churches around the globe. You can read how they operate by visiting the web site of the Gnostic Society (http://www.gnosis.org/gnostsoc/gnostsoc.htm). Also, be sure to check out a copy of Gnosis magazine (in book stores or on-line at http://www.lumen.org/).
** What is Gnosticism? analysis due today **