The Book of Exodus: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Blessedness

Catalog description

This course will explore the theme of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Blessedness through a critical reading of the book of Exodus. By the conclusion of this course, students will be able to articulate: (1) the structure, purposes, and theological outlook of Exodus; (2) the theology of liberty, happiness, and self-transcendence as reflected in Exodus; and (3) three examples where the book of Exodus is a source for understanding the human condition in our own day. The subjects we will discuss include: “election and covenant,” “liberty and ownership,” “politics and holiness,” “slavery and political violence,” “gender and resistance,” “care for others and the risk of humiliation,” “individuality and collectivity,” “God’s transcendence and exclusivity,” “religious leader as a vessel or partner of God,” “law and the image of God,” “ritual and creation,” “identity and narrative,” “self-deification as idolatry,” “holiness of space and holiness of time,” and “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.” .