AP/JWST 1850 6.00

The Bible and Modern Contexts

Note: Successful completion of this course fulfills General Education requirements in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.

This course offers a survey of much of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and the Christian Bible (New Testament). We begin with a discussion of pre-Israelite religion (i.e., a reconstruction of religion in Palestine before the composition of the Hebrew Bible) and its parallels in Mesopotamian and Egyptian religious practices and texts.

Then, we move through the texts of the Hebrew Bible from Genesis to Daniel, discussing each text's origins, themes, aims and parallels in ancient literature. In the second term we begin an examination of the New Testament noting, again, each text's origins, themes, aims and parallels in other literature of the time.
Throughout the course, we will note the historical context of each of the writings, and how ideas and imagery develop over time, from one text/location to another. Students taking the course will finish having a firm grasp of how the Bible is approached in the Humanities and a sound knowledge of fundamental writings that continue to influence Western culture.

RESERVED SPACES: All spaces are reserved for Year 1 students.
PRIOR TO FALL 2009: Course credit exclusion: AK/HUMA 1850 6.00.