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Religion 121: Bible in Culture and Community
Section Descriptions
SEMESTER II, 2011-2012

INTRODUCTION

            The Level I religion course introduces students to the dialogue between the biblical tradition and the cultures and communities related to it.  Study of the biblical storyline, major biblical texts and their interaction with (e.g.) theology, religious practice, ethics, and social values.  Consideration of methods and fields in the study of religion in a liberal arts setting.
            The course is taught in multiple sections.  Every section will cover a core list of biblical texts, but in each case distinctive approaches and themes will be emphasized.  For details see below.

121 A: BECKMAN, 800-855, MWF

WOMEN AND/IN THE BIBLE. Biblical women are mothers, judges, ministers, harlots, manipulators, victims, proclaimers and much more.  By the end of this semester you will know the classic “proof texts” regarding all these women AND know your way around the Bible as a whole.  You will analyze how these selections shape attitudes toward treatment of and roles for women in religions that use these books.  In short, you will have your own take on women and/in the Bible.

121 B: ODELL, 905-1000, MWF

LOVE AND JUSTICE IN THE BIBLE.  There you are, sitting in your first college class, and it’s a course on—the Bible in community and culture. That’s odd, because the Bible is not a part of any community or culture that you’re a part of. Where, then, to start? Fortunately, the Bible itself is a rich testimony to the communities and cultures that produced it. It’s even possible to suggest that all biblical writings address the question of how human beings create and sustain healthy communities. Their answers to these questions will lead us to reflect on the related themes of love and justice, as well as on the question of how we define the well-being of communities today. In order to help you appreciate the diversity of biblical approaches to this question, the course will introduce you to critical methods of Bible interpretation. Class activities include a mixture of lecture, discussion, and group projects. Evaluation is based on writing assignments, quizzes, a midterm, and a final examination.

121 C: ALEXANDER, 1045-1140, MWF

AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE BIBLE. From the Africans first encounter with the absurdity that was chattel slavery in the New World, they and their descendants had to struggle with issues of identity and their sense of self. One of the most important sources for African Americans in their efforts to understand themselves as a people as well as their place in the world has been the Bible. This section will examine 1) the manner in which African Americans first encountered the Bible 2) how African Americans came to use the Bible 3) the dominant Biblical themes that developed - and in many respects persist - in African American culture; e.g. Exodus, the Babylonian captivity of the Hebrew people, and justice for the downtrodden and the dispossessed.

121 D: SCHILLINGER, 1150-1245, MWF

ABRAHAM’S CHILDREN.  Daily news reports regarding violence between Jews, Christians, and Muslims, make remembering these religions share common roots difficult. Yet, all three trace their lineage back to Abraham. This section explores the common roots of these religions by introducing students to the Bible and the Qur’an, and examining the parallel characters and narratives found in each. At the same time, the individual beliefs and practices of each religion will be investigated in order to better understand what makes these religions distinct despite their similarities. In our multicultural world, a basic understanding of the relationship between these three monotheistic religions is perhaps more valuable now than ever before.

121 E: STANSELL, 1150-1245, MWF

THE BIBLE AND ANTHROPOLOGY.  This introduction to the Bible, with the help of cultural anthropology, reads Scripture in terms of its pivotal values, social relations, and theological motifs, with special reference to its Middle Eastern and Mediterranean setting.  Topics include how the biblical world conceives of time, honor, material goods, family, sickness and health, suffering, and salvation, etc.

121 F: STANSELL, 1255-150, MWF

THE BIBLE AND ANTHROPOLOGY.  This introduction to the Bible, with the help of cultural anthropology, reads Scripture in terms of its pivotal values, social relations, and theological motifs, with special reference to its Middle Eastern and Mediterranean setting.  Topics include how the biblical world conceives of time, honor, material goods, family, sickness and health, suffering, and salvation, etc.

121 G: REED, 1255-150, MWF

THE BIBLE AND OTHER SACRED TEXTS OF THE WORLD.  What is the place of the Bible in our religiously diverse world?  In this section of Religion 121 we will study the Bibles of Judaism and Christianity together with scriptures of other religious traditions. We will consider the following questions: What is scripture? What kinds of literature are found in scriptures? What kinds of questions do scriptures address? How are scriptures used by religious people around the world? What is the relevance of scripture in the 21st century? What, if anything, do scriptures have in common?  We will carefully read and discuss selections from the Hebrew Bible of Judaism, the Old and New Testaments of Christianity, the Qur'an of Islam, the Vedas and other sacred texts of Hinduism, various sutras of Buddhism, and other scriptures.

121 H: SCHILLINGER, 1255-150, MWF

ABRAHAM’S CHILDREN.  Daily news reports regarding violence between Jews, Christians, and Muslims, make remembering these religions share common roots difficult. Yet, all three trace their lineage back to Abraham. This section explores the common roots of these religions by introducing students to the Bible and the Qur’an, and examining the parallel characters and narratives found in each. At the same time, the individual beliefs and practices of each religion will be investigated in order to better understand what makes these religions distinct despite their similarities. In our multicultural world, a basic understanding of the relationship between these three monotheistic religions is perhaps more valuable now than ever before.

121 I: BOOTH, 200-255, MWF

GARDENS AND WILDERNESS: THE BIBLE AND THE IDEA OF NATURE.  In this section we are studying whether the Bible has anything to say about the modern politics of “environmentalism.” Some argue the Bible offers timeless spiritual lessons unrelated to specific political concerns like environmentalism.  But others argue the Bible testifies to God’s loving care for creation, and consequently lays down a religious obligation for modern people to protect the environment.  What does the Bible say about the natural world?  Using the imagery of gardens and wilderness as a way of thinking about the natural world, we are trying to determine what Biblical authors thought about nature.  And we are trying to understand how modern people employ the Bible in arguments about the environment.

121 J: REED, 200-255, MWF

THE BIBLE AND OTHER SACRED TEXTS OF THE WORLD.  What is the place of the Bible in our religiously diverse world?  In this section of Religion 121 we will study the Bibles of Judaism and Christianity together with scriptures of other religious traditions. We will consider the following questions: What is scripture? What kinds of literature are found in scriptures? What kinds of questions do scriptures address? How are scriptures used by religious people around the world? What is the relevance of scripture in the 21st century? What, if anything, do scriptures have in common?  We will carefully read and discuss selections from the Hebrew Bible of Judaism, the Old and New Testaments of Christianity, the Qur'an of Islam, the Vedas and other sacred texts of Hinduism, various sutras of Buddhism, and other scriptures.

121 K: JOTHEN, 800-925 T, 800-920 TH

GENDER IMAGININGS.  Debates about the Bible’s role in defining “male” and “female” as well as the marital, sexual and social roles that flow out of gender are a lively part of contemporary culture. This section will think about the Bible in relationship to such debates. In particular, two questions will inform our conversations: 1) How is gender presented within the biblical world? 2) How does the Bible shape how we “imagine” gender? In order to ask these questions, we will examine a variety of ways contemporary thinkers understand gender within the biblical canon, ideas about the moral and social authority of the Bible and how the Bible is employed within contemporary debates about gender.

121 L: RIPLEY, 800-925 T, 800-920 TH

THE BIBLE AND SALVATION.  Like the Philippian jailer, who cries out for salvation while his life crumbles around him, people for millennia have turned to the God of scripture for hope in the midst of brokenness. From images of personal healing to cosmic renewal, the Bible employs a surprising variety of metaphors to speak of God’s care and faithfulness toward God’s creation and covenant people. Employing both literary and historical approaches to reading, we will explore the rich diversity of biblical images of salvation. We will also delve into ways select theologians, artists, and filmmakers have utilized these biblical motifs to address specific cultures and contexts, with an eye toward exploring metaphors of salvation appropriate to our contemporary situations.

121 M: HANSON, 935-1100 T, 930-1050 TH

THE BIBLE AS SCREEN PLAY.  Movies have become our common language, one of the principal means by which we communicate and interpret our experiences and ideas (not to mention our primary form of entertainment).  Biblical stories and themes have been a central source for filmmakers from the very beginning of the medium.  What happens to those stories and themes in the process?  What does the process of filmmaking teach us about how the Biblical authors may have brought their stories to life in their time?  How do films illuminate the Biblical text, and how are contemporary perspectives, values, and prejudices reflected in the filmmakers' work?  The balcony is open.

121 N: RIPLEY, 935-1100 T, 930-105 TH

THE BIBLE AND SALVATION.  Like the Philippian jailer, who cries out for salvation while his life crumbles around him, people for millennia have turned to the God of scripture for hope in the midst of brokenness. From images of personal healing to cosmic renewal, the Bible employs a surprising variety of metaphors to speak of God’s care and faithfulness toward God’s creation and covenant people. Employing both literary and historical approaches to reading, we will explore the rich diversity of biblical images of salvation. We will also delve into ways select theologians, artists, and filmmakers have utilized these biblical motifs to address specific cultures and contexts, with an eye toward exploring metaphors of salvation appropriate to our contemporary situations.

121 O: ANDERSON, 1145-110 T, 1245-205 TH

CALLING AND COVENANT. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible provides countless stories of God calling individuals and peoples. In the Hebrew Scriptures, God creates covenants with a chosen people, calling them to be set apart for the sake of the whole world. In the New Testament God continues to call, incorporating others into the covenants through Jesus Christ. This class will explore what it means for Jews and Christians to be called by God through conversations with these communal faith traditions and modern resources on calling.

121 P: RIPLEY, 120-245 T, 215-335 TH

THE BIBLE AND SALVATION.  Like the Philippian jailer, who cries out for salvation while his life crumbles around him, people for millennia have turned to the God of scripture for hope in the midst of brokenness. From images of personal healing to cosmic renewal, the Bible employs a surprising variety of metaphors to speak of God’s care and faithfulness toward God’s creation and covenant people. Employing both literary and historical approaches to reading, we will explore the rich diversity of biblical images of salvation. We will also delve into ways select theologians, artists, and filmmakers have utilized these biblical motifs to address specific cultures and contexts, with an eye toward exploring metaphors of salvation appropriate to our contemporary situations.

121 Q: HANSON, 120-245 T, 215-335 TH

THE BIBLE AS SCREEN PLAY.  Movies have become our common language, one of the principal means by which we communicate and interpret our experiences and ideas (not to mention our primary form of entertainment).  Biblical stories and themes have been a central source for filmmakers from the very beginning of the medium.  What happens to those stories and themes in the process?  What does the process of filmmaking teach us about how the Biblical authors may have brought their stories to life in their time?  How do films illuminate the Biblical text, and how are contemporary perspectives, values, and prejudices reflected in the filmmakers' work?  The balcony is open.

121 R: ANDERSON 120-245 T, 215-335 TH

CALLING AND COVENANT. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible provides countless stories of God calling individuals and peoples. In the Hebrew Scriptures, God creates covenants with a chosen people, calling them to be set apart for the sake of the whole world. In the New Testament God continues to call, incorporating others into the covenants through Jesus Christ. This class will explore what it means for Jews and Christians to be called by God through conversations with these communal faith traditions and modern resources on calling.