W44 The Other Gospels. The apocryphal gospels afford insight into the diversity of early Christianity in the second and third centuries. They also provide a vantage point from which to appreciate the historical sobriety of the canonical gospels and to understand the development of the gospel tradition. Students examine the literary features, theological contents, and historical settings of these documents, and they explore why they were eventually excluded from the mainstream orthodox canon. The course also assesses recent claims that some of the apocryphal gospels contain reliable information about the historical Jesus.
Student evaluation is based on class participation, a short research paper, and an exam.
One core course in biblical studies is recommended. Mr. D. Harlow. The Old and New Testaments explore the meaning of our being created male and female in the image of God. This course studies those biblical texts that focus on the meaning of our sexuality, the roles of men and women, and the relationship between the genders. Inescapably, discussion takes place in the context of present-day struggles concerning gender.