Autumn 2001 Course Descriptions
DVSC 622 30100
Introduction to Religion and the Human Sciences
Doniger/Rosengarten
Open only to Divinity School students. Discussion groups will be arranged the first day of class.
BIBL 603 30600
Introduction to Biblical Civilization
Frymer-Kensky
How to read a biblical story.
In this course we will investigate the various techniques and methodologies
that open up the biblical story. We will read biblical stories using
the lenses of historical criticism, narrative symbolism, cultural
context, intertextuality, reader-oriented techniques, feminist criticism
and interpretive history. There will be a short final examination.
In addition, students will be asked to write a short paper that is
either a critical report of a scholar's work or a multi-layered study
of a story not covered in class.
Ident. JWSG 31000 / JWSC 20000 / HUMA 20000 (This course fulfills
Ministry requirement).
BIBL 603 33900
Intro. to Biblical Hebrew
Staff
BIBL 603 35100
Introduction to Koine Greek
Staff
PQ: Open to college students with consent of Instructor. Ident. NTEC 35100.
BIBL 603 38700
Genesis 12-38
Frymer-Kensky
A study of the ancestoral stories
in Genesis. This is an intensive course which will concentrate on
the complexities of the biblical stories. Emphasis will be placed
on text preparation and recitation, use of scholarly commentaries
and an awareness of cultural background information from the ancient
world. Students will prepare an oral presentation on a topic to be
assigned and a research paper on a topic of the student's own choosing.
PQ: Hebrew
Ident. Div HIJD 34800 / JWSG 38400
BIBL 603 40800
Biblical Law
Frymer-Kensky
First class will meet on Thursday,
October 4th.
Ident. Law 56702
BIBL 603 43900
I Corinthians
Mitchell
An exegesis course focusing on
the historical context, literary composition, and rhetorical structure
and purpose of this major Pauline letter, with consideration also
of such issues as the sociology of early Pauline congregations, forms
of early Christian ritual, the relationship between rhetoric and theology
in Pauline thought, and the historical legacy of this argument for
church unity for women, slaves, dissenters, and others within the
church.
Ident. NTEC 43900
BIBL 603 44500
Philo of Alexandria
Martinez
In this course we will read
the Greek text of Philo's De Opificio Mundi with other brief
excerpts here and there in the Philonic corpus. Our aim will be to
use this treatise to elucidate the character of one of the most prolific
theological writers of the first century. We will seek to understand
Philo as a Greek author and the nature and origins of his style, Philo
as a proponent of middle Platonism, and Philo as a Jew in the context
of Alexandrian Judaism. We will also examine his use of the allegorical
method as an exegetical tool, and its implications for early Christian
approaches to the biblical text.
PQ: Two years of Greek or consent of instructor.
Ident. NTEC 44500
BIBL 603 53100
Theology of the Hebrew Scriptures
Sommer
A critical examination of the notions of biblical theology, Old Testament
theology, and Tanakh theology. We will read selections from the major
theologies produced during the twentieth century, as well of critiques
of the field (Eichrodt, von Rad, Childs, Barr, Rendtorff, Brueggemann,
Levenson, Goshen-Gottstein, Stendahl, etc.). Key concerns of the course
will include: What is the difference between doctrinal theology and
biblical theology? What is the difference between biblical theology
and the history of Israelite religion? Can biblical theology exist?
Has anyone written a biblical theology as yet?
Ident JWSG 30700
THEO 604 30100
History of Christian Thought I
McGinn
Development of the major themes
in the history of Christian thought down to the mid-fifth century.
Ident. HCHR 30100
THEO 604 46600
Self, World, Other: The Thought of Paul Tillich
Schweiker
This course is a careful study
of the thought of Paul Tillich, one of the most important 20th century
theologians. The course will center on Tillich's major work, the Systematic
Theology, but attention will also be given to his writings on ethics
and culture. The course will end with an examination of Tillich's
legacy in terms of contemporary theologies of culture. Previous work
in theology or ethics required. Seminar participation and paper.
Ident. RETH 46600
THEO 604 47300
Conceptions of Tradition in Judaism I
Fishbane and Mendes-Flohr
An exploration of the epistemological
and phenomenological structures of tradition, and their formulations
in classical and medieval Jewish literature. Sources will be studied
in translation, alongside the original language.
Ident. HCHR 47300 / HIJD 47300 / JWSG 48800
THEO 604 48300
Theology of Karl Rahner
Carr
An analysis of the content of Rahner's theology and its characteristic methods. Some attention will be given to critical assessment of his thought.
DVPR 605 30200
Moral Perfectionism
Cavell
This is a three-quarter class
and will meet four times per quarter.
Ident. RLST 24000 / PHIL 31200
DVPR 605 51100
Twentieth Century Philosophy: Vladimir Jankélévitch
Davidson
A study of some central texts
by Vladimir Jankélévitch, one of the most significant twentieth-century
French philosophers, whose major works have unfortunately not been
translated into English. Texts will be drawn from Jankélévitch
writings on moral philosophy, the aesthetics of music, and metaphysics.
Some attention will also be given to Jankélévitch's relation
to Henri Bergson and to Emmanuel Levinas.
Ident PHIL 51100
CHRM 606 30200
The Public Church in America
Gamwell
Opening course in the sequence for first-year M.Div. students.
CHRM 606 30500
Colloquium
Boden/Thompson
(Do not register for this course.)
CHRM 606 35500
Arts of Ministry: Worship
Staff
CHRM 606 40200
Practicum: Field Education
Thompson
HIJD 625 38700
Genesis 12-38
Frymer-Kensky
Ident. HIJD 38400 / JWSG 38400
HIJD 625 41800
The Attitude of the Jewish Sages (Rabbis) toward Christianity and Christians during the First Four centuries
Herr
This course will analyze the
attitude of Jewish Rabbis toward Christianity during its early history.
This will be done against a double background: (1) the attitude of
the early church towards Jews and Judaism, and (2) the different attitudes
of pagans towards Judaism, on the one hand, and Christianity on the
other. Rabbinic texts will be discussed and translations will be provided.
Ident JWSC 41800
HIJD 625 42500
Jewish Studies 424. Women and Family amongst Jews in the Period of Misnah and Talmud
Herr
This course will evaluate the
status of women in Jewish society between the first centry CE and
the fourth century CE. The status and role of women will be analyzed
according to various aspects and criteria: halakhic (legal), socioeconomic,
idealogical, etc. Emphasis will be placed on evaluation of Rabbini
sources, as well as on comparison between Jewish life in different
lands and between the Jewish and the Greco-Roman worlds.
Ident JWSG 42500
HIJD 625 47000
Studies in Aggadic Midrash
Fishbane
An examination of selections
from Midrash Ecclesiates Rabba. Attention will be given to
exegesis and theology, and their interrelation.
PQ: Advanced Rabbinic Hebrew
Ident. JWSG 47900
HIJD 625 47300
Conceptions of Tradition in Judaism: Part I
Fishbane and Mendes-Flohr
An exploration of the epistemological
and phenomenological structures of tradition, and their formulations
in classical and medieval Jewish literature. Sources will be studied
in translation, alongside the original language.
Ident. HCHR 47300 / THEO 47300 / JWSC 48800
HIJD 626 30100
History of Christian Thought I
McGinn
Development of the major themes
in the history of Christian thought down to the mid-fifth century.
Ident. THEO 30100
HIJD 626 41600
American Sermons
Gilpin
A seminar on the cultural history of preaching in America from the first New England settlements to mass media evangelism and the civil rights movement in the 1960s. The course will examine the sermon both in its theological and religious context and in its relation to other forms of public rhetoric in American history.
HIJD 626 43200
Colloquium: Ancient Period
Mitchell
A critical reading of influential
narratives-both ancient and modern-of "the
rise of Christianity" in the first four centuries, in interaction
with selected ancient primary texts illuminating crucial issues (e.g.
demographics, conversion, persecution, martyrdom, asceticism, women's
participation, ecclesiological and ritual structures, intellectual
lineages), personalities (e.g., Ignatius, Perpetua and Felicitas,
Irenaeus, Antony, Eusebius, Constantine, Augustine) and events. On-going
reflection on the nature of historiography itself.
PQ: None. Greek and Latin skills are not required, but will be put
to good use where available.
Requirements: Readings in primary and secondary literature, one oral
presentation, final paper.
HIJD 626 47300
Conceptions of Tradition in Judaism I
Fishbane and Mendes-Flohr
An exploration of the epistemological
and phenomenological structures of tradition, and their formulations
in classical and medieval Jewish literature. Sources will be studied
in translation, alongside the original language.
Ident. THEO 47300 / HIJD 47300 / JWSC 48800
HIJD 628 32900
Classical Theories of Religion
Lincoln/Riesebrodt
PQ: Graduate students only.
Ident. DVPR 32900 / SOCI 46700 / SALC 20400/48200 / FNDL 24400 / HCUL
32900
HIJD 628 35000
Mahabharata in English Translation
Doniger
A reading of the Mahabharata
in English translation (van Buitenen, Narasimhan, P.C. Roy, and Doniger
[ms.]), with special attention to issues of mythology, feminism, and
theodicy. (Consent of Instructor)
Ident. SALC 20400
RLIT 635 37100
Theory of Literature: The Classical Background
Yu
A close reading of texts by Plato,
Aristotle, Horace, Longinus, Origen, Augustine, Aquinas, Boccaccio,
Dante, selected theoriests of the Italian Renaissance, Sidney, and
Dryden, for the purpose of providing resources for current work in
literary theory and religious criticism.
PQ: Open to college students with consent of Instructor.
Ident. ENGL 31600 / CMLT 31600
RLIT 635 37700
Baudelaire et Mallarme
Meltzer
This course will address the
issue of modernity and the roots of modernist concerns. We will begin
with the writings of Baudelaire in conjunction with those of Benjamin.
Mallarmé will be put in the context of a radicalization of
Baudelaire's project and as an attempt to create an absolute which
negates the possibility of transcendence. Besides the primary texts,
readings will include works by Derrida, Janet Wolff, and others.
PQ: Good reading knowledge of French.
Ident. FREN 37700
RLIT 635 56200
Seminar: Story of the Stone I
Yu
A two-quarter sequence on the
monumental classic of eighteenth-century China (variously titled "Dream
of the Red Chamber" or "Hongloumeng"). Lecture and
discussion supplemented by readings in a common core of criticism
and student presentations each session. term paper required at the
end of the second quarter.
PQ: Open to undergraduates with consent of Instructor.
Ident. CHIN 57600 / CMLT 5100
RETH 638 33500
Introduction to Ethical Theories
Gamwell
An introduction to major alternatives in Western philosophical ethics and especially to the ethical theories of Aristotle, Aquinas, and Kant.
RETH 638 45800
Politics, Ethics, and Terror
Elshtain
An examination of three responses
to twentieth century totalitarianism-Arendt, Bonhoeffer, and Camus.
What ethical wellsprings were drawn upon to confront Nazism and Stalinism?
What sorts of arguments about the function of ideology, the loss of
limits, the transgression of "orders of being," metaphors
of plague or other ravages got deployed and to what ends? What is
the connection between explanation, understanding, and action in the
"dark times" through which our thinkers lived or in which
they died?
Ident. PLSC 45800
RETH 638 46600
Self, World, Other: The Thoght of Paul Tillich
Schweiker
This course is a careful study
of the thought of Paul Tillich, one of the most important 20th century
theologians. The course will center on Tillich's major work, the Systematic
Theology, but attention will also be given to his writings on
ethics and culture. The course will end with an examination of Tillich's
legacy in terms of contemporary theologies of culture. Previous work
in theology or ethics required. Seminar participation and paper.
Ident THEO 46600
DVSR 639 32900
Classical Theories of Religion
Riesebrodt/Lincoln
PQ: Graduate students only.
Ident. HREL 32900 / SOCI 46700 / HCUL 32900
