The Book of Deuteronomy: Life in the Promised Land as a Mixed Blessing

Catalog description

This course is a close critical reading of the book of Deuteronomy, revolving around the themes of individuality, collectivity, and humanity. By the conclusion of this course, each student will be able to articulate: (1) the structure, purposes, and theological outlook of Deuteronomy; and (2) three examples where the book of Deuteronomy is a source for understanding the human condition in our own day. The subjects we will discuss include: “monotheism and violence,” “duties of the heart,” “election and history,” “fear and awe,” “free will and responsibility,” “gender and sexuality,” “holiness and language,” “identity and the Other,” “law and history,” “legislation and interpretation,” “memory and empathy,” “nationalism and universalism,” “privilege and entitlement,” “the grip of power,” “The Oral Torah and the Written Torah,” “leadership and failures,” and “divine transcendence and divine personhood.”