REL 3200 - Biblical Narrative: Old Testament/Hebrew Bible

Goals: To study in depth some portion of the narrative literature of the Jewish Scriptures/Christian Old Testament, with special attention to the issue of relevance posed by the antiquity of the texts, and to the issues posed by a sacred “literature-in-translation.” Emphasis will be given to developing close reading skills, a working acquaintance with critical methods of biblical studies, and intercultural competence.

Content: Course content may shift from year to year. It may focus on a large block of narrative, the Deuteronomic History (Joshua-2 Kings), for example, or on an individual book (e.g., Genesis), or on a piece of a book (e.g., the Jacob cycle). Alternatively, the course may adopt a thematic approach: e.g., “family, friend, and stranger,” “holy war and peace,” or yet other topics.

Prerequisites: REL 1200 or REL 1220, or permission of the instructor

Credits: 4