Scribner Seminar Program
Course Description
Revelations: An Abbreviated history of apocalypses
Instructor(s): Gregory Spinner, Religion
The powerful symbolism and pervasive rhetoric of a cosmic struggle, through which
good ultimately triumphs over evil, has a very long and still unfinished history.
Our study moves from the ancient origins of this genre down into modern media, sampling
popular songs, films, and comic books. Examining Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sources,
we see how their developing stories of messiahs and antichrists play off one another,
as well as how they impact current events in the U.S., Palestine, and Israel. Our
historical approach allows us to critically engage with apocalyptic materials and
thereby carefully analyze some complex intersections of religion and politics.
Course Offered: 2026