10:10A-11:00A MWF (30) 3 cr.
In addition to its status as a holy book and as a source for three major world religions, the Bible is a literary work in its own right. This course approaches the Bible along literary lines, asking the questions: how do biblical texts work? What claims do they make upon their readers? In what way do biblical texts use techniques with which we are familiar from other works of literature? Students will become familiar with biblical genres, including history, prophecy, wisdom literature, gospel and apocalypse. The course will also serve as an introduction to the relatively new discipline of "The Bible as Literature," through its inclusion of a wide variety of critical readings on biblical texts and problems. Evaluation will depend upon three papers and two exams, along with a few smaller assignments. Texts: HarperCollins Study Bible and an anthology of critical readings.