SYLLABUS
Introduction to Christianity Through its Scriptures
Module Two in the World Religions Through Their Scriptures Series
Professor Karen L. King / Ms. Sarah Griffis
Harvard Divinity School
April, 2016
Course Description:
Today Christianity is a global religion. From modest beginnings 2000 years ago, it has grown to encompass nearly a third of the human population. Diverse in languages and cultures, histories and creeds, Christians nonetheless share a common collection of sacred scriptures called the Bible. This course introduces you to these scriptures.
What are the contents, languages, and forms of Bibles in various times and places? How have Christians lived out their stories and teachings? How does Christian history reflect the contested and varied uses of scripture—in the ancient Roman world where Christianity began, in its spread through European and American colonialism, in the diverse forms it takes in varied locations around the globe? You will begin to explore these questions and others while learning about the content and interpretations of these sacred texts.
No previous knowledge of Christianity or the Bible required.
Goals:
- To gain a basic knowledge of the contents of the Bible and approaches to its interpretation.
- To learn ways to explore the diversity of Christian scriptural practices in relation to the times, places, and cultures in which they occur.
- To interact constructively with peers from diverse religions, worldviews, regions of the world, experiences, and perspectives.
Approach to Religion:
The approach throughout the course is one that attempts to place the diversity of Christian practices within their cultural and historical contexts. This approach appreciates the traditions, innovations, and complexities that are involved in interpreting the Bible. We also assume that some Biblical interpretations gained greater prominence than others, and that they have shaped—and continue to shape—legacies whose impacts can be engaged critically and constructively. Some approaches or perspectives were left behind or marginalized; these, too, potentially offer resources to understand Christianity through its scriptures. We will therefore not be promoting or privileging one interpretation or cultural, historical perspective over another, or asking which interpretations or practices are "right" or "true." Instead, we'll be exploring what gives rise to diverse interpretations, and the impact and legacy of Christian scriptures.
Pedagogy:
Given this approach to the study of Christian scriptures, the course will offer a variety of examples and perspectives on each topic or theme we ask you to consider. The particular topics have been chosen to exemplify how this kind of diversity can be fruitfully engaged. Questions for reflection and discussion aim to encourage and enrich your own thinking through writing and dialogue with others in the course. You’ll have many opportunities to engage with peers in the course through discussion boards and the live online conversations we’ll hold every Friday. We anticipate that all interactions via the discussion board and during our live conversations on Fridays will be respectful and motivated by curiosity and a sincere interest in learning with and from one another. Though no one is obligated to participate in these interactive experiences, we hope many of you will take advantage of this unique opportunity to converse with others from around the world in response to the rich material we’ll be exploring together.
Expectations and Assessment:
- Engaging in all components of each day, including videos, readings, and exercises: 35%
- Regularly and respectfully contributing to discussions and responding to your peers: 35%
- A mid-term assessment assignment: 15%
- A final assessment assignment: 15%
A final grade of 80% or higher qualifies you to receive a certificate.
The edX Platform:
For those who would like to become familiar with the platform of the course beforehand, please feel free to explore this tutorial class. You may also be interested in learning about MIT Unhangout, the platform we’ll be using for our Friday discussions. Participation in all aspects of the course is free of charge (unless you signed up to earn a certificate) but participation in Google Unhangout requires a gmail account. For those who don’t have one, you can sign up for one here, free of charge. The link to the Unhangout is here.
Course Schedule:
The course will “roll out” one day at a time at 12 noon EST throughout the first four weeks of April according to the following schedule:
Week One:
Tuesday, April 5: Day One – Christianity: An Initial Overview
Thursday, April 7: Day Two – Bibles galore! Canons, Translations, Illustrations, and More
Week Two:
Tuesday, April 12: Day Three – Interpreting Scripture: Early Christian Approaches
Thursday, April 14: Day Four - Interpreting Scripture: Modern Science and Historicism
Week Three:
Tuesday, April 19: Day Five – Two Case Studies: Women/Gender/Sexuality and Slavery
Thursday, April 21: Day Six – The Invention of Religious Others
Week Four:
Tuesday, April 26: Day Seven – Mission and its Legacies: Existential Questions of Violence, Suffering, Justice, and Peace
Thursday, April 28: Day Eight - Belonging and Community: Churches, Calendars, Pilgrimage; The Future of Christianity
Though you can engage with the course material at any pace you wish, staying to this general schedule will provide the richest learning experience possible because 1) you will be interacting with peers who are moving the through the course at the same pace; and 2) the teaching team will be following the discussions and shaping future content based, in part, on your contributions.