The Bible as Literature
I have been teaching the course the Bible as Literature at Fitchburg State College since the summer of 1995. I offer the course through the college’s Division of Graduate and Continuing Education. This page is a resource for the course. It includes downloads such as the course outline and other materials and a list of links to important reading and research materials available online.
COURSE MATERIALS
The course outline contains the traditional syllabus, explanation of course objectives, list of assignments and required materials. It also explains the methods of instruction and evaluation.
Student Information and Evaluation Packet
The information and evaluation packet contains a student info sheet to be turned into the instructor and copies of self-evaluation and peer-evaluation forms for all course writing assignments.
Info and Eval Packet for Summer 2008
The Reading List for the Rest of Your Life
A reading list of works related to the study of the Bible as Literature spanning genres such as world scripture, fiction, and poetry as well as Biblical studies.
REQUIRED READING FOR THE COURSE:
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1.Meeks, Wayne A., Editor Harper Collins Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version (with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books) New York: Harper Collins: 1993 ISBN: 0060655801
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2.Borg, Marcus Reading the Bible Again for the First Time, New York: Harper Collins, 2002 ISBN 0-06-060919-2
3. Diamant, Anita. The Red Tent. New York: Picador, 1997; ISBN: 0312195516
4. Moore, Christopher Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff Christ's Childhood Pal, New York: Harper Collins, 2003 ISBN 0-380-81381-5
5. "Handouts and Notes" supplied by the instructor “HN” in the outline of assignments
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8.Black Elk Speaks - Chapter 3 “The Great Vision”
9. Letter from Birmingham City Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr. - under “Popular Requests” documents click on Letter from Birmingham City Jail (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader – free download if necessary).
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Modern Language Association Style Manual.
"The Little Book" is still considered the "Bible" of writers everywhere.
An on-line version of the Bible. Look it up by book or chapter and verse.
Another on-line Bible search engine. Also allows searches by keywords or phrases.
Bill Moyers Genesis: A Living Conversation
Famed tele-journalist Bill Moyers has a conversation on the book of Genesis with people of diverse religious, social, and cultural backgrounds.
Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research
Online version of the journal or Bulletin of The American Schools of Oriental Research at B.U., which supports and encourages the study of the peoples and cultures of the Near East, from the earliest times to the present.
Home Page of Red Tent author Anita Diamant. Go to "book by" link and click on the Red Tent cover for info on the novel, reading guide, FAQ;s and more.
Online version of the print journal of the same name. BAR connects the academic study of archaeology to a broad general audience eager to understand the world of the Bible. Covering both the Old and New Testaments, BAR presents the latest discoveries and controversies in archaeology with breathtaking photography and informative maps and diagrams.
This web site is home to a complete online library of both canonical and non-canonical early Christian literature. An excellent resource.
From the site: “This HTML presentation of the Five Gospels is designed to be a teaching tool for introductory level classes in New Testament and Christian Origins. For this reason, and because of the particular constraints of HTML, it does not offer the same level of detail as a printed synopsis (i.e. Throckmorton 1979, 1992; Aland 1985). Its advantage is that it allows more "play" than a printed synopsis and that it presents the materials in the same order as the canonical Gospels. Moreover, it offers texts that are not commonly included in the synopses designed for classroom use: Thomas and Paul. Others may follow.”
From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians
PBS FRONTLINE website related to the documentary of same name that we will watch in class. You are asked to read sections related to each corresponding class on the New Testatment.
Slide Show on Paul and his Letters
A nice slide show presentation on Paul and the writing of the ancient Greek Letter.
Letter from Birmingham City Jail
MLK's famous letter to southern clergymen who asked that he and other Negroes not agitate or use civil disobedience in Alabama. Required reading for class 11.
The Official Christopher Moore Website
Home page of "Lamb" author Christopher Moore. It's as zany as the writer himself and his novels. It's also got some great stuff on Lamb. click on "Books" then click on "Lamb."
On-line version of the book by John G. Neihardt and Black Elk. Required Reading for class 15 is Chapter 3 - "The Great Vision"
PBS FRONTLINE website on the documentary of the same name that we will watch in class. Required reading for the class meeting on the book of Revelation as well.