The Bible and Modern Moral Issues

Catalog description

This course examines how the Bible is being used in contemporary moral, political, and cultural debates: homosexuality, creationism, environmentalism, race, Middle-Eastern politics, end-of-the-world predictions, among others. The range of topics is flexible, and can adapt to current conditions, e.g., the elections of 2016. Students will be encouraged to investigate issues of particular interest through individual research. For purposes of comparison, REL 266 The Bible in America emphasizes the role the Bible “has” played in American life; REL 236 emphasizes the role the Bible “is playing” in American life. The former course is more historical; the latter, more ethical and theological. Satisfies the Philosophical and Religious Perspectives requirement.