RELG 203: Bible and Western Culture (Fall 2009)Syllabus

Mr. Drew W. Billings, Ph.D. 3 drew.billings@mail.mcgill.caOffice: 021 Birks Bldg. Office Phone: ex 41293520 University Street Office Hours: F 11:30-12:30

Teaching AssistantsShayna Sheinfeld (shayna.sheinfeld@mail.mcgill.ca) Check WebCt for the TAs office location and hours***Students whose last name begins with G-P are to consult the TA Shayna Sheinfeld with any questions or concerns through email or during her office hours.

Jordan Zarembo (jordan.zarembo@mail.mcgill.ca) Check WebCt for the TAs office location and hours***Students whose last name begins with Q-Z are to consult the TA Jordan Zarembo with any questions or concerns through email or during his office hours.

Students whose last name begins with A-F are to consult the course instructor, Drew Billings, with any questions or concerns through email or during his office hours.

Class Time: MWF 12:35-1:25

Course Description: One does not have to look hard in order to see that the Bible has played a prominent role in the development of Western Culture, influencing everything from the evolution of the English language to music, art, and literature. The Bible has become a part of the cultural repertoire, a common meeting ground around which issues of identity, meaning, and social policies have been creatively and, at times, contentiously negotiated. The objective of this course is to introduce students to those parts of the Bible that are most frequently employed while critically assessing their contributions to Western Culture and contemplating the reasons for their continued use.

Required Texts:1.) A Bible of your choice (suggested translation: New Revised Standard Version with

Apocrypha; however, a free New International Version is available online at www.Biblegateway.com)

2.) Additional readings include journal articles and ancient texts that can be obtained online as described on the schedule of assignments page.

Grading: Each students final grade will be calculated as follows:Observation Paper 10%Midterm: 25%Research Paper: 30%Final Examination: 35%

Readings: Students are expected to have the required reading finished prior to the respective lecture. All lectures will assume that the student has read the assigned reading and will frequently involve student discussions/reflections on those readings.

Observation Paper: The observation paper is designed to provoke students perceptivity to the presence of the Bible in their day-to-day lives. A short paper (2 pages double spaced) must be handed in by Nov 2nd which describes an instance this semester when you encountered the use of biblical material (in the form of an entire story, motif, character, saying, etc.) in Montreal (whether through a t-shirt, painting, music, advertisement, etc.; although, not in a religious setting). The paper should discuss what Biblical material was invoked, how it was used, and why you think it was used. If possible, though its not necessary nor always applicable, please include a picture. Try to choose something that other classmates wont; originality will be rewarded.

Midterm Examination: The Midterm Examination will be administered during the scheduled lecture on Wednesday, October 21. It will be comprised of a combination of short identification questions and short essays based on material from course lectures and readings. More information and a study guide for the Midterm Exam will be provided closer to the date on WebCT.

Research Paper: Each student will write one research paper, approximately 8-10 pages (double-spaced around 2000-2500 words) in length, on a topic dealing with the Bibles use in a particular instance of Western culture. Please consult WebCT for optional research paper topics and/or for the guideline for choosing your own topic. This assignment cannot be done on the same topic as the observation paper. Must be turned in in class by November 30th

Final Examination: The Final Examination will be administered according to theFaculty of Religious Studies Final Examination schedule. The exam will be cumulative, and it will be comprised of a combination of long essays, short essays, and identification questions. More information and a study guide for the Final Exam will be provided on WebCT.

Bring the assigned primary sources to class, since the instructor may refer to them during lecture; students MUST always bring their Bibles.

Please feel free to raise your hand and ask questions during lecture if a point is not clear.

Late work will be penalized severely.

The Final Exams must be taken at the scheduled time, unless the student qualifies for a deferred or supplemental exam (according to McGill guidelines).

In accord with McGill Universitys Charter of Students Rights, students in this course have the right to submit in English or in French any written work that is to

be graded.

McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest/ ) for more information).

Schedule of Assignments

September 2 Wednesday: Introductory Matters

September 4 Friday: What is the Bible and what is Western culture?

September 7 Monday: (Labor Day- Classes Canceled)

September 9 Wednesday: In the Beginning Required Reading: Genesis 1-2; Enuma Elish (in toto, text can be found online http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/enuma.html)

September 11 Friday: Paradise Lost Required Reading: Genesis 2-3; Epic of Gilgamesh (in toto, text can be found online http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/gilgamesh/)

September 14 Monday: Culture, Heroes, and Curses Required Reading: Genesis 4-5

September 16 Wednesday: Noahs Ark and Babels Tower Required Reading: Genesis 6-11

September 18 Friday: AbrahamRequired Reading: Genesis 11:27-25:11

September 21 Monday: Isaac and the AkedahRequired Reading: Genesis 22

September 23 Wednesday: The Line of Jacob Required Reading: Genesis 25-50

September 25 Friday: Exodus, part 1: Moses and Captivity in EgyptRequired Reading: Exodus 1-6

September 28 Monday: Exodus, part 2: Liberation and the Escape from EgyptRequired Reading: Exodus 7-18

September 30 Wednesday: The Ten CommandmentsRequired Reading: Exodus 19-24; Code of Hammurabi (text can be found onlinehttp://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/hammurabi.html)

October 2 Friday: The Tabernacle and the Ark of the CovenantRequired Reading: Exodus 25-40

October 5 Monday: Crossing the JordanRequired Reading: Joshua (in toto); Robert Allen Warrior, Canaanites, Cowboys, and Indians in

Christianity and Crisis 49/12 (1989) (online journal).

October 7 Wednesday: Joshua to 2 Kings: History, Myth, and Ideology

October 9 Friday: The Era of JudgesRequired Reading: Judges (in toto)

October 12 Monday (Thanksgiving- Classes Canceled)

October 14 Wednesday: The Era of Kings, part 1- DavidRequired Reading: 1 Samuel 16-31; 2 Samuel 1-24; Psalm 132

October 16 Friday: The Era of Kings, part 2- SolomonRequired Reading: 1 Kings 1-11; Psalm 89

October 19 Monday- The Era of Kings, part 3- The Good, the Bad, and the SluttyRequired Reading: 1 Kings 16-22; 2 Kings 22-23

October 21 WednesdayMidterm

October 23 Friday- Job and the Problem of EvilRequired Reading: Job (in toto)

October 26 Monday- Solomons TrilogyRequired Reading: Proverbs 1-4; Ecclesiastes 1-5; Song of Songs 1-5

October 28 Wednesday- The Three IsaiahsRequired Reading: Isaiah (in toto)

October 30 Friday- Exile and Ecstasy: EzekielRequired Reading: Ezekiel (in toto)

November 2 Monday- Exile and Apocalypse: DanielRequired Reading: Daniel (in toto)Observation paper due!!!!!!

November 4 Wednesday- New Beginnings: Introduction to the NT

November 6 Friday- Birth of JesusRequired Reading: Matt. 1-2; Gospel of Luke (in toto)

November 9 Monday- The Life of JesusRequired Reading: Gospel of Mark (in toto);

November 11 Wednesday- Reel Jesuses, part 1Required Reading: Gospel of Matthew (in toto)

November 13 Friday- Reel Jesuses, part 2Required Reading: The Gospel of John (in toto)

November 16 Monday- The last Supper from da Vince to da SopranosRequired Reading: John 13-17; 1 Corinthians 10-11

November 18 Wednesday- Passion of the ChristRequired Reading: Matthew 26-28; John 18-21

November 20 Friday- Martyrdom and the Politics of Meaning Required Reading: Acts of the Apostles (in toto)

November 23 Monday- The Letters and Legacy of Paul the ApostleRequired Reading: Romans (in toto); 1 Corinthians (in toto); Galatians (in toto)

November 25 Wednesday- Satan, Hell, and DemonsRequired Reading: Luke 16:19-31; Job 1-2; Revelation 12, 20; Matthew 4:1-11

November 27 Friday- Christ and Anti-ChristRequired Reading: 1 and 2 Thessalonians (in toto); 1 and 2 John (in toto); Mary Ann Beavis, Angels Carrying Savage Weapons: Uses of the Bible in Contemporary Horror Films, in the Journal of Religion and Film, 7/2 (Oct 2003) (online journal)

November 30 Monday- Apocalypse ThenRequired Reading: Revelation (in toto)Research paper due!!!!!!!!

December 2 Wednesday- Apocalypse NowRequired Reading: John Lyden, The Apocalyptic Cosmology of Star Wars in the Journal of Religion and Film, 4/1 (April 2000)

December 3 Thursday (Make-up day for lost day on Thanksgiving)- Recap and Conclusion