RELIGIOUS STUDIES 3031

THE BOOK OF GENESIS

Instructor: Dr. K. I. Parker Fall Semester 2015

Office/Tel: Arts 5005/864-8594 Office Hours: M/T/R: 12:00 to 1:00

E-mail: kparker@mun.ca

Webpage: http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~kparker/

In recent years, biblical scholars are becoming increasingly aware of the role ideology plays in the formation and reading of biblical narratives. Biblical narratives tend to promote certain points of view and reject others (for instance, the text almost universally promotes the idea of a wise and beneficent Deity), and biblical interpreters are often motivated by their own preconceptions and tend to emphasize certain themes more than others. This is especially the case with Apolitical@ readings of biblical texts, be they Marxist, feminist, or liberationist. Such theoretical reflection on the part of the interpreter helps to articulate the relationship between the questions or presuppositions brought to the text and the types of readings that emerge from the text.

In this course, we will explore one such theoretical approach to Genesis 1-11, that is, the question of whether a theological-political reading of Genesis 1-11 can be sustained by a Aclose reading@ of the biblical text. The main purpose of the course is to develop the ability to read the text carefully and critically. The approach is primarily literary, which is to say that the received biblical text will be the primary focus of study. A study guide and a very literal translation of the first 11 chapters is available to help you in this process. Some attention will be given (when the need arises) to a discussion of cognate biblical texts, and texts from other ancient religions.

Readings for this course are from A. E. Combs and K. H. Post, The Foundations of Political Order in Genesis and the Chandogya Upanishad. A limited number of copies are available at the bookstore and one copy will be on reserve at the QE II Library. Students must come prepared to have read the relevant material in advance of every class. There will be two short papers (20% each), one mid-term test (20%), and a final exam (30%). Attendance, participation, and possible in-class assignments will compose the remaining 10% of the grade.

Below is the course outline. While all effort will be made to stay to the lecture schedule, we may vary slightly from the dates given.

Course Outline

Sept. 10: Introduction: The Theological-Political Question

Readings: Foundations, Introduction, 1-32 (reserve, 1-29).

Sept. 15, 17: Genesis 1: The Creation Story

Readings: Foundations, 33-68 (reserve, 38-77).

Sept. 22, 24: Genesis 2: The Garden of Eden

Readings: Foundations, 91-107 (reserve, 100-118).

Essay #1: Compare and contrast Genesis I and II. What are the stories trying to teach?

Approximately 1000 words, due October 01.

Sept. 29, 01: Genesis 3: The AFall@

Readings: Foundations, 123-142 (reserve, 134-155).

Oct. 06, 08: Genesis 4: Cain and Abel and the city

Readings: Foundations, 159-183 (reserve, 172-197).

Oct. 15: Mid-term test.

Oct 20, 22: Genesis 5: The Book of Generations

Readings: Foundations, 205-225 (reserve, 219-239).

Oct. 27, 29: Genesis 6: The Decision to Destroy the World

Readings: Foundations, 235-254 (reserve, 249-271).

Nov. 03, 05: Genesis 7: The Flood

Readings: Foundations, 271-286 (reserve, 285-304).

Nov. 10, 12: Genesis 8: The Receding Waters

Readings: Foundations, 309-325 (reserve, 328-344).

Nov. 17, 19: Genesis 9: Noah and the Covenant

Readings: Foundations, 333-350 (reserve, 352-370)

Essay #2: What, ultimately, are the point and the result of the flood?

Approximately 1000 words, due November 26.

Nov. 24, 26: Genesis 10: The Political Order of the Nations

Readings: Foundations, 359-373 (reserve, 380-394).

Dec. 01, 03: Genesis 11: Universal Tyranny

Readings: Foundations, 383-400 (reserve, 405-425).