RELI 220A - Reading the Bible: The Old Testament

Who hasn't heard of the story of Adam and Eve, the Ten Commandments, the tale of David and Goliath, the wisdom of King Solomon, or the "Lord's Prayer" taken from the Book of Psalms? The "Old Testament" or Hebrew Bible is arguably the single most influential anthology of books in the history of the western world. In this course, we will consider who actually wrote these books, why and for whom. We will adopt the disciplinary perspectives of a Religious Studies Scholar, a Literary Critic, and a Historian to do a deep dive into ancient Israelite culture and society, including its struggles over ancient forms of inequality. We will look at the different literary genres that appear in the Bible, explore the religious views of their authors, and consider their origins and contexts in the history of ancient Israel."