The course attempts to ?get behind? the overlay imposed by modern culture upon the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible and to read it on its own terms. In order to do so, students will explore the fascinating literature and religion of the ancient Near East. We will read texts from ancient Mesopotamia, Canaan, and Israel, and discuss both the ideas found in them and their literary artistry. After investigating the literature of Israel?s neighbors, we will read biblical literature in dialogue with these stories, intellectually analyzing the narratives of the creation of the world, the origin of life, the great flood story, the idea of divine revelation, and the significance of law. Specific topics to be dealt with include: God, creation, fate, the point of human life, and the meaning of history. We'll also journey outside the classroom to museums to view 2,000-year-old tablets. About the instructor: Imagine climbing up to an unmarked cave in the desert where some of the most famous of the 2000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Bernard M. Levinson, just back from Israel where he led an international team of scholars at a famous research institute, did just that. He has taught at the University of Minnesota for the past twenty years. One of his students won the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the country, the Rhodes Scholarship. Come study with an award-winning professor who will challenge you intellectually and help you learn how to become a better student.
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