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Lecture (1 hour inclusive of lecture and Q&A)

In ancient literature, angels are important intermediaries between God and humanity. They can be portrayed as good or evil, and as having an important role in affecting the behaviour of people and events in the world. This lecture will examine the characteristics and roles of angelic intermediary figures in ancient texts and compare these presentations with the perception of leadership in modern society. Just as descriptions of ancient angels and demons reflect views on the political situation of the day, so can descriptions of modern day leaders reflect different perspectives on events and provide evidence of moral dualism.

Themes discussed include:

• The presentation of angels in ancient literature
• Angels in ancient literature as representatives of empires
• Modern presentations of angels and demons
• Perceptions of modern world leaders

For maximum benefit and skills development, students will be expected to take notes during the lecture. There will be a chance for questions and discussion of the issues raised at the end.

Seminar (1 hour)

The seminar will further explore perceptions of modern leadership based on issues raised in the lecture. In particular, students will be presented with source material representing a variety of different attitudes towards different world leaders, focusing on elected political officials. Ultimately, students will be encouraged to try and assess the different viewpoints in the sources and examine the reasoning behind the different positions from the perspectives of religious belief, national security, international law, political questions and presentation in the media.