TRS 097 - The Bible and Its Interpretation

Lower Division

This course focuses on the Bible, the sacred scriptures of the Jewish and Christian peoples. This diverse collection of writings has served as inspiration and catalyst for a great number of central events in human history-from the movements of liberation led by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., to the great human tragedies of slavery in the Old South and the medieval Crusades. These texts have also had a profound influence on art, literature, philosophy, and politics for over two thousand years of history, particularly in the West. As such, an understanding of the Bible is essential for a well-informed perspective on the world. This course will introduce students to the most important biblical events and themes, raising questions of the influence and relevance of this text for the modern world. This course will also teach students to employ critical, scholarly tools for reading and interpretation, such as historical and literary criticism, as well as various lenses for the modern academic study of religion. Co-curricular lectures are an integral part of this class.

Core Curriculum Designation(s)
CF - Christian Foundations

Course credits: 1