102. Science and Religion. Stenmark (4:00-5:15 TR) Although religion and science have historically been considered compatible and complementary, since the Enlightenment they were increasingly seen as separate and even hostile. The emerging postmodern consciousness provides fertile opportunity to rethink this relationship. The course summarizes the progressive transformation during the last two centuries of the views of science and religion, addressing notions of truth, the nature of reality and how we know. The course also explores current topics such as: Are science and faith compatible? What do the Big Bang and evolution tell us about Creation? What does our understanding of reality tell us about God? What is uniquely human in an age of cloning and artificial intelligence?
109. Themes in New Testament . Patte (12:10-1:00 MW; F Sections) The goal of this course is to help students to understand how believers interpret New Testament texts as Scripture by bringing to critical understanding their own formulations of the teaching for believers today of selected New Testament texts through a comparison with scholarly interpretations. For this purpose we will consider the religious teachings: about a plurality of themes in John 4; about ethics and discipleship in Matthew 5-7 (as compared with the Rule of the Community ofQumran, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls); about Christology, the cross and resurrection in Mark14-16 (as compared with Luke and Matthew); about sin, evil, and salvation according to Romans (as compared with the Gospel of Thomas and the Mekilta, an early Rabbinic commentary on Exodus). In each case we will compare religious readings with scholarly interpretations asking: How do believers interpret each text for their lives? How do they make sense of each text in terms of central themes or categories? How do they ground their interpretations in the text? What is the role of convictions and values in their choice of interpretations? Similarly, what are the
scholars' conclusions about the religious teachings of each text? Why do they reach different conclusions when using various methodologies? How are interpretations of a text affected when it is compared with another text (like the Rule of the Community and other Jewish and Hellenistic texts of that period)? or with a movie (like A Family Thing, the Godfather, Star Wars, Amadeus) which happens to deal with one of the themes of a text? Short reports on each text. Two plenary sessions and one small group discussion a week.
131. Themes in Western Religions Geller (Sec. 01, 9:10-10:-00, and Sec. 02, 10:10-11:00 MWF) A basic introduction to the world's three major monotheistic religions--Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It traces the roots of the religions, examines their historical development, and focuses on the themes common to all three religions--e.g. Relationship to deity, role of scripture, religious practices, communities and leadership, sacred time and sacred space, responses to modernity.
133. Religions of India. Sarma (9:35-10:50 TR)
Designed as an introduction to Hinduism and other traditions found in India/South Asia. Selections from traditional texts; philosophical texts such as the Rg Veda, the Upanisads, and the Bhagavad Gita; from the epic texts; Mahabharata and the Ramayana; Other readings from Kannada and Bengali language authors and from contemporary ethnographies of India will provide a necessary contrast to these traditional (and arguably elitist) approaches. Link with controversial issues in contemporary India.
140. Introduction to Western Religious Ethics. Haas (1:10-2:00 MWF)
How major religions in the West have dealt with questions of personal morality and social justice. The main theological and philosophical traditions out of which Western religious moral thinking has taken shape. Varying approaches to specific problems such as abortion, war, euthanasia, and economic justice.
180. History of Christian Traditions. Baldwin (1:10-2:25 TR) Christian traditions from the origins to the present. Such themes as christology, church and state, and the social and cultural contexts of changing Christian beliefs, and views of the Church.
205. Black Church in America. Baldwin (9:35-10:50 TR)
An exploration of the historical development of the black church in America, taking into account its African antecedents, institutional expressions, leadership, theology, and cultural milieu. Special attention will be devoted to the origins of separate and independent black churches in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, to their spiritual and artistic significance, to their prophetic challenge to American Christianity, and to their range of contributions to the struggle for liberation and survival. Although some consideration will be given to theoretical concerns within certain church traditions, the focus will not be on a chronology of black denominationalism (although each student should learn the basic history of his or her own church). The course will conclude with careful attention to the black churches' practical engagement with contemporary concerns such as civil rights, economic empowerment, the family, womanism, and the relationship of African Americans to other oppressed peoples worldwide.
This is an intermediate level course, which means that students are expected to have some background in the black church or in African American studies.
Each student will complete four take-home examinations. Each exam will consist of four essay questions, two of which must be answered. An 8-10 page paper will also be required.
The teaching methodology will be based on a lecture-seminar format. Lectures will be given on Tuesdays and group discussions will take place on Thursdays.
209. The New Testament. Segovia (1:10-2:00 MW, DSC 2:10-3:00 W)
This course, a foundation course, serves as a basic introduction to the field of New Testament Studies. The course will have three different though highly interrelated and interdependent concerns. First, a focus on interpretation: an overview of both the various reading traditions regarding the Christian Scriptures and the various models of interpretation within the academic tradition of Biblical criticism. Second, a focus on context: an overview of the historical and social environment of the Christian Scriptures, with particular emphasis on the sociopolitical reality of the Roman Empire. Third, a focus 209 continued . . . on texts: literary, rhetorical, and ideological analysis of selective writings from the Christian Scriptures, with particular emphasis on their stance regarding the Empire.
The course will involve lectures as well as discussion groups. The requirements will vary as follows (1) for students enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Science, there will be a midterm examination, a final examination, and a research papers; (2) for students enrolled in the Divinity School, there will be three papers--no examinations. There are no prerequisites for this course.
211. Jesus and Early Christian Communities. Levine (9:35-10:50 TR) This course investigates the portraits of Jesus in the canonical gospels, Pauline epistles, Hebrews, and Revelation, reconstructions based on the (hypothetical) Q or Sayings source, noncanonical images (e.g., Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Peter), and external references (e.g., Rabbinic sources, non-Christian gentile writings). From the primary materials, focus will be on the infancy narratives, parables and other logia, controversy stories, "incident" in the Temple, trial, and resurrection accounts. Models for Jesus will include the Hellenistic Cynic-sage, the
rabbi, the Jewish reformist prophet, the social and/or political revolutionary, the eschatological visionary, and the pre-existent Logos and/or Wisdom. Specific areas of investigation will include the question of Jesus and feminism, constructions of messianism in formative Judaism, the role of the Hebrew Scriptures/LXX in contributing to the gospels' representations, the problematics involved in historical investigation (the "Quest"; the "Criteria of authenticity"), and the use of the "Historical Jesus" in contemporary liberationist thought. Prerequisite: RLST 209/DIV 2511, or equivalent.
212. Pauline Christianity. Patte (10:10-11:00 MWF)
An exploration of the central themes of Paul's teaching as expressed through his magistral letter to the Romans. How was his teaching to the church of Rome related to his teaching to the other churches? How was this teaching received by the churches of his time? In the following generations? By the gnostics? By the church through the centuries? By believers today in different
religious, political, socio-economic and cultural contexts? After a study of a primary theological theme--"evil, sin, and salvation according to Romans"--and the way it was received, we shall explore other themes chosen by the members of the class. Possible themes include most aspects of spiritual life (such as justification through faith, reconciliation, predestination, life in the spirit, love, sanctification, hope) and of community life (including diversity in the church, baptism, etc.); significance of the cross; significance of the resurrection; moral life; condemnation of sinners and/or good news of the gospel; sexuality; gender relationship; homosexuality; authority in the church (including Paul's authority); the authority of Scripture; law and gospel; gospel and Judaism; gospel and other religions; the vocation of believers; gospel and politics; and so on and so forth. How each theme has been variously interpreted through the centuries and in scholarship.
Short reports helping students to bring to critical understanding specific faith-interpretations. A research paper prepared by short reports and oral presentation. Active participation in discussion expected.
222. Jewish Ethics. Haas (11:10-12:00 MWF) A study of the logic and basic values which, in the Jewish Tradition, guide thinking about moral problems. Examination of family and social ethical issues found in Talmud and other classical Jewish texts. Basic religious views of modern Jewish thinkers an their relation to contemporary Jewish life.
223. Ethics and Feminism. Welch (11:00-12:15 TR) Implications of gender theory for understanding the Judeo-Christian moral traditions. Topics include: the nature of the moral subject, the social construction of gender, patriarchal consciousness, the abuse of women, woman-nature connection, female friendship, heterosexism, and race & class issues.
256. Comparative Studies of Religion. Sarma (2:35-3:50 TR)
Religious reading and pedagogy from the perspective of the comparative philosophy of religions. Topics include: the formal properties that can be used to describe a virtuoso religious reader; the pedagogical rules and regulations found in doctrinal systems that exclude some from becoming virtuoso religious readers; the production and dissemination of knowledge by virtuoso religious readers; the relationship of these formal characterizations to contemporary practices. Sources from western and non-western traditions.
294.01 Islamic and Jewish Classics. Goodman (2:10-3:00 MWF) This course engages in detailed critical study of five classics from the Islamic and Judaic traditions of philosophical inquiry. All of these texts address central issues of religious thought and the religious dimensions of moral, political, social and historical experience. They are of critical importance to students of religious studies, especially those who need to broaden their acquaintance with the intellectual and philosophical traditions of religions other than Christianity. The interaction of students from the Departments of Religious Studies and Philosophy will be a valuable component in the education of both constituencies.
HEBR 111B. Elementary Hebrew. Halachmi (3:10-4:00 MWF) Elementary conversational Hebrew emphasizing the spoken colloquial usage of Israel today. Course prepares students for further study in modern Hebrew, while also providing a foundation for understanding Biblical Hebrew. Some knowledge of reading Hebrew needed. Fulfills language requirement.
RLST 227. Religion and Politics in the Middle East, Land Covenant and People. Haas & Baer (First Week at Vanderbilt; remainder in Israel) The course, taught partially in the United States and partially in Israel, examines the religious dynamics that are fueling the turmoil in the contemporary Middle East. The course will begin on campus with roughly a week and a half introduction to the area; its peoples, cultures and religions; and the historical events that have lead up to the present political configurations. This segment will also introduce the methodological framework the students will need to get the most out of the second half. The second segment of the course, to be taught in Israel, will look at the contemporary situation as it is understood by the diverse peoples living in the region. In Israel, students will be exposed to the various holy sites that figure in the current conflicts, will see the geographical and demographic realities that shape the discussion and will be able to meet with and talk to members of the various groups that are partner to the conflict. A final paper or project will be required.
256. Comparative Studies of Religion. Sarma (9:10-12:00 MTWRF) See description above.