Fall Semester
Professor Stephen Boyd
Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-10:45 a.m.
boyd@wfu.edu
Wingate 209
Office Hours: Wednesday 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Wingate 207 ext. 5458
The purpose of this course is to introduce central categories in the study of religion and the Christian tradition by applying those categories to images of Jesus that have historically animated individuals and communities of Christians. A further goal is to familiarize the student with central biblical texts and methods of interpretation.
Course Requirements: The grade will be determined by: two in-class exams (20% and 20%), a take-home exam (25%), a 7-9 page final paper (30%), and participation (5%). The participation grade will be based on your contributions (quantity and quality) to class discussions.
Attendance Policy: After your third absence, your final grade average will be reduced by one point for every additional absence for which you do not have an excuse from a physician or the Dean.
Grading Scale: A: 100-96; A-: 95-92; B+: 91-89; B: 88-85; B-: 84-83; C+: 82-79; C: 78-75: C-: 74-73; D+: 73-70; D: 69-66; D-: 65-64; F: 63-
Required Textbooks:
Wayne A. Meeks, et al., eds., The Harper-Collins Study Bible. New York: Harper-Collins, 1993 (Bible)
Lawrence S. Cunningham, et al., The Sacred Quest: An Invitation to the Study of Religion. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1995. (Quest)
Jaroslav Pelikan, Jesus Through the Centuries: His Place in the History of Culture. New York: Harper-Collins, 1985. (Pelikan)
Class schedule: Quest Bible
August
27 Introduction
I. The Study of Religion
September 1 Religion:
Definition
Intro. & ch.1
3 Reading the Bible
xvii-xxiv
8 Nature of the Sacred
2
Genesis 1:1-2:4a; 2:4b-3:24
10 The Appearance of the Sacred
3
Gen. 32: 1-32
15 Language of the Sacred
4
Numbers 27:1-11; Isaiah 55
17 Ritual
5
II. Perennial Issues
22 Sacred Communities
6
Gen. 9:9-17;12:1-9;17:1-27
24 Divine-Human relations
7
Job 1:1-3:26;22:1-23:17
29 Human-human relations
8 Exodus 1:1-3:22;
12:1-13:16;20:1-26
October
1 Salvation
9 Micah 1:1;3:1-4:52; Is.40:1-11; 60:1-12
6 Exam
III. Historical Images of Jesus Pelikan
A. Pre-Constantinian Christianity
8 The Rabbi
1
Matthew 5:1-48
13 The Turning Point of History
2
Mark 1:14-15;Acts 1:1-11
15 The Cosmic Christ
5 John 1:1-14;Col. 1:15-20; I Cor.15:20-28
20 The King of Kings
4 Daniel 7:9-28;Luke 1:32-33; Rev. 11:1-19
B. Medieval Christianity
22 Christ Crucified
8
I Cor. 1:23-24; Acts 8:26-39;
I Peter 2:21-23
27 The Bridegroom of the Soul
10 Song 1:9-17;2:8-17; Jn. 17:1-3;20-26
29 The Divine/Human Model
9(109-114) & 11
Mt. 10:5-19;19:16-30
November 3 Exam
C. Modern Christianity
5 The Prince of Peace
14
Mt. 5:38-42; Rm. 13:1-4
10 The Teacher of Common Sense
15
Jn. 1:3-4; Rm. 1:18-20
12 The Poet of the Spirit
16
17 The Liberator
17
Luke 4:14-29; Mt. 4:1-11
19 Contemporary Expressions of Christianity
December 1 Conferences on
Paper Topics; Take-Home Exams Due
3 Conferences on Paper Topics
10 Papers Due