RELS 204, an equivalent course at another Canadian university or permission of the course instructor. Also strongly recommended are a senior level English course and a course in Biblical Studies or Old Testament Studies from a secular post-secondary education institution.
This an advanced level course designed to introduce students to the historical critical methods used in the secular, academic study of the Hebrew Bible. Students will be introduced to the use of form, textual, source, and rhetorical criticism. They will also be introduced to alternative theories to the Documentary Hypothesis, and a detailed evaluation of works by major Biblical scholars such as Wellhausen, Von Rad, Noth, Gunkel, Mowinckel, and Van Seters.
Outline
Unit 1: Approaches to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
Unit 2: The Ancient Worlds of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
Unit 3: The Torah
Unit 4: Nevi’im I: The Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings)
Unit 5: Nevi’im II: The Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and “The Twelve”)
Unit 6: The Writings I: Wisdom (Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes)
Unit 7: The Writings II: Songs of Israel (Psalms, Lamentations)
Unit 8: The Writings III: (Ruth, Esther, Song of Songs)
Unit 9: The Chronicler and the Deuteronomist
Unit 10: Apocalypticism and Heroism: Daniel and the Apocalyptic Visions of Early Judaism
Evaluation
To receive credit for RELS 380, you must complete both assignments as well as the final examination, and achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Tutor Marked Exercise 1
20%
Tutor Marked Exercise 2
40%
Final Examination
40%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
McKenzie, Stephen L., and Graham, M. Patrick. The Hebrew Bible today: An Introduction to Critical Issues. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1998. (Print)
The HarperCollins Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version, with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books. Ed. Wayne A. Meeks. New York: HarperCollins, 2006. (Print)
Other Materials
The course materials also include a study guide, reading file and a student manual.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.