Academic, not religious, bible study?

[nuttylawprofessor]

Does anyone know of an academic-like bible study program?

In college, I took a class called Anthropology and the Bible. We examined the first five books and discussed the social sources behind the various rules and passages. We also talked about what the passages said about the people living at the time.

I would like to do that sort of study again. Do any of you know of a bible study that is not religion focused?

 

[Took]

Does anyone know of an academic-like bible study program?

In college, I took a class called Anthropology and the Bible. We examined the first five books and discussed the social sources behind the various rules and passages. We also talked about what the passages said about the people living at the time.

I would like to do that sort of study again. Do any of you know of a bible study that is not religion focused?

My college (and many others, I think) has a "The Bible as Literature" course which approaches the Bible in a "non-religious" way. Is that what you want?

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Somewhat, but I would rather the social-science bent. What I would really love is a topic-based study that doesn't attempt to go book by book and incorporates social science discussion.

Growing up, I remember my parish priest saying that the surest way to fail in reading the Bible was to attempt to read it from beginning to end, like a novel. It's just not meant to be consumed that way.

I would like a study that helps me break it into components or topics, but eventually gets me through the whole thing.

 

[ctinct]

Yale open courses online (free) has one on just the Old Testament. I need to get back to it. I did the first 4-5 lessons then got involved in siomething else. Not sure it's quite what you're looking for, but doesn't hurt to check it out. For that matter, check out if there is anything else offered through Academic Earth.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Yale open courses online (free) has one on just the Old Testament. I need to get back to it. I did the first 4-5 lessons then got involved in siomething else. Not sure it's quite what you're looking for, but doesn't hurt to check it out. For that matter, check out if there is anything else offered through Academic Earth.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[akcire]

I don't know exactly what you are looking for......

The University of Iowa had some really good classes on the Bible and religion--my roommate took a lot of them, and I often helped her with her homework.

A really interesting class was Judeo-Christian Tradition, but pretty much anything taught by Dr. Jay Holstein was not only academic, but interesting.

I don't know what he has been publishing lately--but depending on what you need.

Also are you looking for Law & the Bible--I know for example that the Catholic church has a position called the Defender of the Roman Roda- someone who is both a trained lawyer and a trained priest. I suspect there has been scholarship done on persons in similar legal/religious positions.

 

[monkeybug]

It sounds like you are wanting something along the lines of an anthropology class that focuses on the bible, or perhaps a class that focuses on mythology?
Have you ever heard of Joseph Campbell? I don't think it's exactly what your looking for (not limited to just the bible, and not a class) but I think you would find his books very interesting. Joseph Campbell was a mythologist who specialized in comparative mythology and comparative religion, and his stuff is amazing!!!
He did a wonderful interview with Bill Moyers called the Power of Myth, and that's my favorite, though the Hero With A Thousand Faces was very good too. Power of myth is available on DVD through amazon, but I prefer the print version.

 

[Took]

It sounds like you are wanting something along the lines of an anthropology class that focuses on the bible, or perhaps a class that focuses on mythology?
Have you ever heard of Joseph Campbell? I don't think it's exactly what your looking for (not limited to just the bible, and not a class) but I think you would find his books very interesting. Joseph Campbell was a mythologist who specialized in comparative mythology and comparative religion, and his stuff is amazing!!!
He did a wonderful interview with Bill Moyers called the Power of Myth, and that's my favorite, though the Hero With A Thousand Faces was very good too. Power of myth is available on DVD through amazon, but I prefer the print version.

Joseph Campbell's Hero with a Thousand Faces was required reading for me in grad school (in English). Very good stuff.