RELG - 324. Introduction to the Old Testament

3 credit(s)
A comprehensive study of the literatures of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible and the religious, historical, sociological, and economic factors which affected both their writing and their eventual acceptance as canonical literature by Judaism and Christianity. The course will expose the students to samples of all the main literary genres of the Old Testament and will study them using most of the contemporary biblical methodologies. The course will emphasize that the Hebrew Bible emerged on the broader stage of the ancient Near East between the high cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt. It will also approach many crucial topics in the Old Testament such as the evolution of biblical monotheism, Israelite religion(s), the emergence of Israel in Canaan, Creation and Covenant.

Prerequisite(s): RELG 121 or permission of instructor.
Attribute: (ATTR: ARTS, CAR, RSSC)