RELS 101-03 and 04, The Bible: Texts and Contexts, Fall 2006

Abstract

material that has been collected in the book we call the Bible. During the semester we will examine the Bible as literature, as narrative, as philosophy, as history, as revelation, and as myth. As literature, the Bible has influenced the whole history and development of ‘Western’ literary tradition. As narrative, it has provided the basis of the ‘Western’ culture’s stock of stories, influencing and shaping both the arts and society. As history (or historiography), it has shaped the understanding of the meaning of the past for many generations. As scripture, it has provided the religious images and mythical structures which have been perceived as truly meaningful by Jews, Muslims, and Christians. As a combination of all of these, the Bible has been a source of significance throughout the ages and still can be, even for "non-religious" individuals. No knowledge of the Bible, especially as a subject of academic study, is presumed. The class will consist of several types of instruction: information-giving (lecture,