Scriptures and Cultural Traditions: Text & Traditions

This course introduces the sacred Scriptures of the three Abrahamic religions-Judaism's Bible, Christianity's New Testament, and Islam's Qur'an-with various questions in mind: In what cultural and historical contexts did these Scriptures first emerge? How, why, and by whom were they granted special status as Scripture? What other books were rejected? We will also consider the fundamental role that interpretation plays in religious communities: Once books become regarded as Scripture, how do they take on new meanings for their various readers as they are transmitted into different places, eras, and cultures? Students unfamiliar with these sacred canons will gain a familiarity with their contents and cultural contexts, while those who already know one or more of them will inevitably discover new insights into their inter-relationship and subtle, often startling contents.
Course Attributes: EN H; BU Eth; AS HUM; AS LCD; FA HUM; AR HUM

Scriptures and Cultural Traditions: Text & Traditions

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE 209

Section 01