Religion
Queer Theory and the Hebrew Bible
One of the main projects of queer theory is to explore the contesting of the categorization of gender and sexuality and to trouble the supposedly natural categories within our culture. In recent years, queer theory has intersected in the study of the Bible and to contest the various assumptions that the biblical text makes about gender and sexuality. Queer readings of the Bible were intended to distinguish the scholarship of earlier LGBT scholars intent on arguing for the inclusion of LGBT people in the religious setting, to arguing that many of the core components of the Bible make assumptions about categories such as gender or sexuality. Queer readings instead problematize many biblical laws, narratives, or conceptions.
The purpose of this course is to build a toolbox of theoretical analysis in order to explore contesting various categories and assumptions about biblical texts. Specifically, we will focus on texts specific to the Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Bible- in Jewish tradition, known as the Torah. While we will read from various scholars who employ queer theoretical frameworks in various ways, our focus will be on employing the theory of Michel Foucault and Judith Butler. However, students are encouraged to read the texts through their own interests, contexts, and theoretical frameworks in order to more fully explore the texts.
A Note on Readings and Discussion
Location
Introduction to the Bible: Historical Context of Ancient Israelite Scripture
Should the Bible be read as a history book?
Why are there TWO creation stories in Genesis?
Did the ancient Israelites always worship one God?
Did David really kill Goliath?
What impact do the Dead Sea Scrolls have on our understanding of the Bible?
Location
Introduction to the New Testament: Historical Context of Early Christianity
Did Jesus of Nazareth really exist?
Who actually wrote the Gospels?
Why do Christians use symbols like the Chi Rho and a fish?
Was Paul really an anti-feminist?
Are there contradictions in the stories of Jesus' life?
COME FIND OUT AT EXCO THIS SUMMER!
Welcome to the exciting world of the Biblical Studies! New contexts and meanings have been ascribed to the New Testament as the text has traveled throughout different regions, cultures and eras. Our goal in this brief introductory course will be to read the Bible within the context of the original setting and culture of its authors (i.e. the ancient Mediterranean and Near East). This will be accomplished by employing the historical-critical method to the text. By examining several books of New Testament, particularly the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles of Paul, and the Revelation of John, students will be shown how to read the text closely and think critically about the meaning of a particular text. This course is intended for anyone interested in the learning more about the Bible, in the hope that the academic knowledge that is granted only to “religious studies majors” can be shared with the larger community.
IMPORTANT!
*This course is not a “Bible study group” in the manner that many people are familiar with, concerning contemporary theological approaches to the Bible. This course will approach the Bible in an academic manner of study. Students will be presented with material that may or may not conflict with personal belief systems, and therefore must be willing to attempt to understand the information presented. Students in the class will be expected to respect various manners of biblical interpretation.
Locations
Clases de Gnosis
Clases gratis! Guarderia disponible con previa registracion
Clases de Gnosis
Lugar: Corcoran Neighborhood 3451 Cedar Ave, Minneapolis
Fechas: Todos los Viernes a las 6:00 PM desde el Viernes 5 de Febrero
Para inscripcion, mayor informcion oguarderia contactar a Leonel al 646-303-0881
EXCO Academia Comunitaria es una organizacion inspirada por el derecho de libre acceso a la Educacion, el saber a todos nos ayuda por igual, no te lo guardes, compartelo! Tienes ideas o quisieras participar contacta a maria al 612-669-1422.
Location
Introduction to the Bible: Historical Context of Ancient Israelite Scripture
Welcome to the exciting world of the Biblical Studies! New contexts and meanings have been ascribed to the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) as the text has traveled throughout different regions, cultures and eras. Our goal in this brief introductory course will be to read the Bible within the context of the original setting and culture of its authors (i.e. the ancient Near East). This will be accomplished by employing the historical-critical method to the text. By examining several books of the Bible, particularly the Torah (Pentateuch), students will be shown how to read the text closely and think critically about the meaning of a particular text. This course is intended for anyone interested in the learning more about the Bible, in the hope that the academic knowledge that is granted only to “religious studies majors” can be shared with the larger community.
IMPORTANT!
*This course is not a “Bible study group” in the manner that many people are familiar with, concerning contemporary theological approaches to the Bible. This course will approach the Bible in an academic manner of study. Students will be presented with material that may or may not conflict with personal belief systems, and therefore must be willing to attempt to understand the information presented. Students in the class will be expected to respect various manners of biblical interpretation.
*This course is open to ALL students, regardless of religious affiliation. Though we will be reading the “Hebrew” Bible, this text is central in most denominations of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and is a great vehicle for the academic study of religion for anyone, including atheists and agnostics.
*Prior knowledge of Hebrew or Greek is certainly NOT NECESSARY, as we will be reading the text in English.
Location
Are You a Person of Spirit? Six Capacities of Our Human Spirits
ARE YOU A PERSON OF SPIRIT?
SIX CAPACITIES OF OUR HUMAN SPIRITS
Name of facilitator:
James Park
E-mail:
PARKx032@UMN.EDU
(612) 871-7275
course description:
Shorter and longer course descriptions will be found here:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/D-SPIRIT.html
Being together with other persons of spirit can help us to tune-in to our higher capacities.
In the first meeting we will attempt to define and distinguish these four dimensions of our selves:
(1) our physical dimension
(given by our genes);
(2) our emotional-psychological dimension
(learned since birth);
(3) our intellectual dimension
(characterized by words, verbal learning);
(4) our spiritual dimension
(beyond body, heart, and mind; manifest in the following 6 capacities).
Our human spirits show themselves in these six phenomena:
(1) self-transcendence, self-criticism, and altruism;
(2) freedom—our ability to shape our own lives;
(3) creativity—our ability to bring something new into being;
(4) love—which opens us to encountering others as Thou;
(5) anxiety—which puts us in touch with our underlying Malaise;
(6) joy and fulfillment—opening to living beyond angst and despair.
Because the life of our spirits is so fragile, it is very easy to ignore the budding of our spirits,
so that our spiritual life dries up and disappears.
If we want our spirits to grow, we must prize and nurture whatever inkling of spirit we have
rather than dismissing and forgetting these capacities because they lack immediate practical value.
Location
Introduction to the Bible: Historical Context of Ancient Israelite Scripture
The Bible: Context and Interpretation
Facilitator: Nate Ramsayer
Email: ramsa026@umn.edu
Class times: 7-9pm
Class dates: 4 Wednesdays, July 22nd-August 12th
Place: University of MN Ford Hall 155 (East Bank campus)
Min: 8 Max: 25
Welcome to the exciting world of the Biblical Studies! New contexts and meanings have been ascribed to the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) as the text has traveled throughout different regions, cultures and eras. Our goal in this brief introductory course will be to read the Bible within the context of the original setting and culture of its authors (i.e. the ancient Near East). This will be accomplished by employing the historical-critical method to the text. By examining several books of the Bible, particularly the Torah (Pentateuch), students will be shown how to read the text closely and think critically about the meaning of a particular text. This course is intended for anyone interested in the learning more about the Bible, in the hope that the academic knowledge that is granted only to “religious studies majors” can be shared with the larger community.
IMPORTANT!
*This course is not a “Bible study group” in the manner that many people are familiar with, concerning contemporary theological approaches to the Bible. This course will approach the Bible in an academic manner of study. Students will be presented with material that may or may not conflict with personal belief systems, and therefore must be willing to attempt to understand the information presented. Students in the class will be expected to respect various manners of biblical interpretation.
*This course is open to ALL students, regardless of religious affiliation. Though we will be reading the “Hebrew” Bible, this text is central in most denominations of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and is a great vehicle for the academic study of religion for anyone, including atheists and agnostics.
