Course Description
Origins of the religion of ancient Israel, its emergence from and continuities with ancient West Semitic religion and culture. Historical and comparative methods, emphasizing current knowledge of Near Eastern history and religions contemporary with ancient Israel.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Additional readings will be assigned along with a research paper, and more extensive examinations to reflect the additional responsibilities.
Athena Title
ANC ISRAELITE REL
Prerequisite
Junior or senior standing or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered every odd-numbered year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
(1) To expose the student to the history of scholarship on ancient Israelite religion, including various critical methodologies (textual criticism, literary criticism, source criticism, traditio-historical criticism, sociological criticism, etc.). (2) To introduce the student to the study of the origins of ancient Israelite religion (e.g., the emergence of monotheism), its emergence from and continuities with ancient West Semitic religion and culture. Students will be exposed to comparative and historical approaches for reconstructing this time period including the utilization of new sources knowledge (e.g., Syro-Palestinian archaeology; neighboring ancient Near Eastern religion). (3) To instruct the student in proper methods of interpreting an ancient religious text (in this case the Hebrew Bible) within its proper Sitz-im-Leben (life setting). (4) To require the student to demonstrate his/her mastery of the material through a term paper and/or examinations which include essay questions. Communicate Effectively through Writing To strengthen skills in written composition, analysis, and presentation by means of projects such as essays, papers, reports, and examinations. Communicate Effectively through Speech To strengthen skills in oral expression, analysis, style, and interaction by means such as class reports, class discussion, and oral examinations. Critical Thinking To foster critical thinking by engaging in activities such as classroom discussion and debate, essay examinations, and oral presentations. Moral Reasoning (Ethics) To assist in the continued development of moral and ethical reasoning and reflection by encouraging creative thinking regarding individual and community concerns and needs, the challenging of prejudices and stereotypes, and examining rational and ethical bases of constructive social interactions.
Topical Outline
I. History of Scholarship & Critical Methodologies II. Ancient Israel and Its Ancient Near Eastern Setting III. The Debate over the Formative Period IV. The Nature and Scope of Such a Study V. Sources for Reconstruction and Their Limitations A. The Hebrew Bible B. Syro-Palestinian Archaeology C. Onomastic Analysis D. Ancient Near Eastern Materials VI. Key Religious Concepts A. The Emergence of Monotheism B. The Goddess Asherah C. The Biblical Break with Ancient Near Eastern Myth D. The Aniconic Tradition E. God Versus the Dragon and the Sea F. Divination and Prophecy G. The Cult and Abode of the Dead
Syllabus