New Testament
Prerequisites: THEO 100 or equivalent; please check requirements for declared majors/minors for exceptions.
This course is an introduction to the historical and theological reading of the various documents of early Christianity known as the New Testament.
Outcomes: Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the literary genres found in the New Testament and explain why the recognition of genre is essential to the interpretation of the New Testament, as well as the importance of how the New Testament documents have reached their present state.
Marginalized Perspectives
Prerequisites: THEO 100 or equivalent; please check requirements for declared majors/minors for exceptions.
This course is an introduction to the historical and theological reading of the various documents of early Christianity known as the New Testament.
Outcomes: Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the literary genres found in the New Testament and explain why the recognition of genre is essential to the interpretation of the New Testament, as well as the importance of how the New Testament documents have reached their present state.
Prerequisite : THEO 100 or equivalent.
Tier 2 Theological Knowledge
Catholic Studies
In this course, students will be introduced to the early Christian texts that came to be known as the New Testament. During the semester, students will study these texts from an academic perspective, paying special attention to the socio-historical contexts out of which they emerged and to their interpretation and use in the modern day. Students will be expected to engage in questions of meaning-making as it pertains to the New Testament. In the first part of each week, we will focus on historical-critical and literary methods for interpreting the text, along with major themes of the texts being discussed. The second part of each week will engage a reading from a historically marginalized perspective. Examples include post-colonial, feminist, womanist, African American, disability, and queer readings. In some instances, we will also discuss the application of New Testament texts to contemporary events. The main goal of this course is for students to attain a fuller understanding of the content of the New Testament by examining literary genre, historical contexts, and theological backgrounds and to better appreciate the diverse landscape of contemporary Biblical interpretation and its application.
Methods of active learning will be employed (small group work, in-class engagement with text, worksheets, etc.) Assessments will include one exam, a multi-step research project that will culminate in a research proposal, and (potentially) a final (see below). In-class engagement will make a up a significant portion of the final grade.
Class Details
Marginalized Perspectives
Class Availability