Bible Wars: Scripture in American Culture

Catalog description

The Bible is often at the center of contentious issues within American culture. A Constitutional ideal separating church from state does not prevent people from grounding deeply-held values in their interpretations of these sacred texts. This course then provides a critical examination of what the Bible says, or does not say, on a range of polarizing topics, including gender hierarchy, abortion, birth control, same sex relations, gun violence, the death penalty, asylum seekers, immigrants, and economic exploitation. In this course we seek to better understand how the Bible has impacted the so-called Culture Wars and continues to be enmeshed in our public discourse. This does not mean we should be detached or dispassionate about the topics we survey, only that our method does not work backwards from the results we desire to the sources we marshall. Instead, an academic investigation proceeds by evaluating what evidence exists for which arguments, with an awareness that canons give voice to more than one position. Rather than assume there is a simple, singular answer to any thorny question, we commit to admitting their complexity and to addressing them with nuance and honesty. This course is the same as JDS 211 and course repeat rules will apply. Students should consult with their major department regarding any restictions on their degree requirements.