RELS 101-01-02-03, Introduction to the Biblical Tradition, Fall 1998

Abstract

Religious Studies 101 is an introduction to the “Life” sequence of courses through the academic study of the Bible and biblical themes. The course focuses on an important biblical theme and traces its development through history, utilizing the principal methodologies of the study of religion. These particular sections of the course will focus upon the Exodus, a powerful foundational story for the biblical Hebrews and their Scripture. The ‘Exodus’ carries over into the New Testament as a ‘charter story’ of God’s willingness to liberate human beings from bondage and hence becomes a crucial paradigm for subsequent theological reflection and the theological interpretation of history. Through the themes of pilgrimage and myth and ritual, the Exodus is connected to other Western and non-Western religious traditions. The course will be organized around three modules, each representing an approach to the study of religion: textual analysis, theological reflection, and comparative investigation. Each module will consist of lectures and plenary sessions in which all sections meet together, and small group discussion sessions (colloquia).