Most people take the existence of the modern English Bible for granted—they assume it sprang fully-formed from the hands of the ancient writers or even directly from God. But the Bible has been three millennia in the making. This course traces the development of the Bible beginning with discussions in the first to third centuries […]
The New Testament Apocrypha—or better: non-canonical early Christian literature—has had a great impact on western culture despite attempts by mainstream Christianity to suppress it. Stories and ideas from these texts appear in literature, art, church doctrine, and even modern fiction such as Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code. This course is designed to introduce students to a […]
This course takes a historical approach to writings produced in the second generation of the Jesus movements, including the gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John. The course begins with a discussion of the first-century Palestinian context for traditions about Jesus before turning to the ways Jesus was portrayed in the earliest narratives about him. […]
A historical and literary study of the traditions of the apostle Paul as they developed from the time of his missionary career through later generations of those who followed his teachings. The course begins with a study of Paul’s own writings (seven letters written ca. 50-60 CE to Christian communities throughout the Mediterranean world), through […]
This course explores the social and political history of Muslims in post-war Europe. It emphasizes key debates and controversies, including how Muslim immigrants have focused attention on questions of citizenship and belonging, the division between secular and religious life, freedom of expression, and womens rights. RELIGIOUS TRADITION(S) COVERED: Islam Cross-listed as AP/HIST 3325 6.00.
This course examines Greek myths of gods and heroes in their social, religious and historical contexts through close reading of primary texts and visual representations and through analysis of modern comparative, psychoanalytical and structuralist theories. RELIGIOUS TRADITION(S) COVERED: Greek and Roman Religions
A survey of the history of ancient Israel within its ancient Near Eastern context from its putative origins in the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1550-1200 BCE) through its flowering in the Iron Age (or First Temple Period, ca. 1200-539 BCE). As time permits, we will expand our focus and follow the course of Israelite history […]
Crosslisted CLST 3106/HUMA 3106 6.0/RLST 3106 6.0 Why do ancient people write about the lives of others? What were ancient people doing when they wrote about themselves? This course explores biographical and autobiographical writing in the ancient Mediterranean among Greeks, Romans, and minoritized populations (including Jews and Christians) not as straightfoward and narrow descriptions of […]
This course examines Greek and Roman religious beliefs and practices from an interdisciplinary perspective. Special attention is given to four major approaches to the divine (ritual, myth, art and philosophy) and their integration with other aspects of society and culture. RELIGIOUS TRADITION(S) COVERED: Greek and Roman Religions
How do theistic philosophies deal with the fact of evil? Are religious language and forms of knowing distinct from other forms? What are the moral and ethical issues inherent in religious propagation? RELIGIOUS TRADITION(S) COVERED: Multiple Cross-listed as AP/PHIL 3095 3.00.