FYS 100P
Love in the Bible and in the Ancient World

Fred L. Horton, Jr., Instructor
310 Wingate Hours: 9 MWF and by appointment
horton@wfu.edu
5460

1. To enhance your ability to state your point of view and marshal convincing evidence to support it both in writing and in oral presentation.
   
   
2. To investigate and propose solutions for the problem of the course.

Now one of the scribes, who had heard them disputing, seeing that he had answered the well, asked Jesus, "Which commandment is first of all?"

Jesus answered: "First of all is 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your reason, and with all your strength.' (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) Here's the second: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' (Leviticus 19:18) No commandment is greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31, my translation. See also Matthew 22:35-40 and Luke 10:25-28)

What does "love" mean in this passage and in the scriptures Jesus quotes? How can you command love?

I propose that we investigate this question by trying to understand this quotation against the larger context of the ancient world, from Mesopotamia to Egypt, from Syria to Rome. What are the varieties of love we encounter from the writings and material cultural remains of these ancient societies? Do we find the expectation that people will love their gods or that the gods will love them? How important is such love? What models do we find of how people love each other? Are any of these models relevant to our problem?

We need to have measures for three kinds of work from you: (1) your class participation based on your reading and serious thought about the reading; (2) your knowledgeable and helpful reaction to the ideas of your colleagues in class; (3) your oral presentation of your ideas, and (4) your written presentation of your ideas. Additionally, we need to see, especially for (3), and (4) your growth in stating and supporting an intellectual proposition.

Requirements as Agreed in Class

• A "Solution" to the Problem of the Course from each Study Group (10% of your grade)
• Four individual written submissions (500-word minimum, 10% each submission = 40%)
• Three individual oral presentations (10% each presentation = 30%)
• Participation Grade (20%)

Mechanics and Deadlines

• The "Solution" needs to be in early enough for everyone to read the solutions of the other groups. This should be the discussion for the last three or four class meetings, so the deadline for submission of your Group's solution should be November 19 at class time.
  
  
• The four individual written submissions should come in on a regular basis over the term. Due dates are September 19, October 15, October 31, and November 12. They may deal with any of the following:
  • A topic you choose related to the course material
  • A topic you work out in conversation with me
  • A critical reaction to a presentation at Wake Forest, e. g. a lecturer, a film, a play, etc.
  • A critical reaction to an oral presentation in our class.
    
    
• The topics for oral presentation may deal with the same range of topics as the written submissions. They may include any audio-visual material you care to bring, including but not limited to PowerPoint presentations, HTML presentations, film, music. In general, such presentations should last for a minimum of 10 minutes. Be prepared to field questions from the class. You should have made your first presentation by October 1, your second presentation by October 22, and your third presentation by November 14.
  
  
• Four times during the semester I'll send you a report on your participation, those dates will be the same as the due dates for the written submissions.