Stories From The Bible and Qur'an RELS (Class Number, 23566) Fall, 2011

Transcription

1 Stories From The Bible and Qur'an RELS (Class Number, 23566) Fall, 2011 Room : M 117 Class Times : TuTh 1:00 p.m - 2:30 pm Instructors : Lynn Mitchell, Ph.D. Ibrahim Sumer, Ph.D. Office : 113B, A.D. Bruce Religion 102, A.D. Bruce Religion Center Office hours : By Appointment TuTh 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Phone : or lemitchell@uh.edu isumer@uh.edu Course Description Judaism, Christianity and Islam are Abrahamic religions based on similar sacred writings considered to be divinely revealed. These writings contain stories about great faith leaders variously called messengers, or prophets, or patriarchs. The stories and writings of these holy men are the basis of the faith of these traditions and are the part of the same sacred history. The goals for this course are as follows: To provide you with a firm understanding of how the Abrahamic traditions are interconnected. To provide you with an understanding of how these faith traditions holy scriptures have commonalities and differences. To show how these stories function in providing spiritual and moral lessons about life for their reader. Class Format The course will involve text analysis, lecture, students presentation of the assigned text, and class discussion. Before the classes, students will be ed Articles and Handouts summarizing the lectures, which will include analytical summaries, important concepts, questions addressing the topic, and additional references. Descriptions of the Course Requirements (1) Readings There are two textbooks for this class: The Bible and the Qur'an. Students are required to read the assigned text(s), and come prepared for discussion. (2) Presentations - The assigned readings of the texts of each class meeting will be assigned to a student who will make a presentation on it. The presentation should 1

2 include the summary and significant points of the text. The length of the presentation should be approximately ten to twenty minutes. Students who are assigned a presentation should be prepared for class and come on time. (3) Exams There will be an in class Midterm examination and take home Final. The exams will be based on the texts, lectures and handouts that are ed to you. The Midterm will be based on multiple choice and short answer questions. For the final, you will write a paper of at least three pages. There will be no makeup. Due date for the Final papers is the last day of the final examination period. (4) Attendance and Participation - Academic success is closely related to class attendance. For this reason, regular attendance and active class participation are required. Students are allowed three absences during the semester. If a student missed a class, regardless of the cause, it is the responsibility of the student to communicate with the instructor to discuss the missed lecture. Points will be deducted for absences beyond three. If you come to a class extremely late or if you leave early, you will be marked as absent. Course Grading Your grade in this course will be calculated out of 100 points as follows: Presentation 20% Attendance 20% Midterm Exam 30% Final Exam 30% Final letter grades will be calculated using the following percentages: % = A = A = B = B = C+ 70=74 = C = D = D- 59 or less = F Disabilities : If you have a disability you need to provide me with the appropriate forms. For further information, contact the Center for Students with Disabilities. Academic Honesty : Students are expected to abide by the academic honesty requirements set forth in the student handbook. Any academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. This policy can also be found at: Required Texts The New Oxford Annotated Bible With Apocrypha, 4 th Edition (xxiii pages + Maps), The Oxford Unv. Press,

3 (Or): Life Application Study Bible: New International Version (xxiii pages + Maps), / ISBN The Qur'an, M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, Oxford Unv. Press, Recommended Texts Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, Hurlbut s Story of the Bible (xxviii+731 p.), [free online copy] William C. Martin, These Were God s People A Bible History (506 p.), USA Lynn Mitchell-Kirk Blackard, Reconciling the Bible and Science (266 p.), Zondervan: Mateen Elass, Understanding the Qur'an (192 p.), Zondervan: Mazhar Kazi, 155 Miracles and Mysteries in the Qur'an (162 p.), Alminar Books: Ali Unal, The Qur'an With Annotated Interpretation (LV+1604 p.), The Light, New Jersey: COURSE OUTLINE Week 1: Introduction August 23, Tuesday: Introduction and Syllabus August 25, Thursday: The Bible The New Oxford Annotated Bible, p. xxi, Week 2: Holy Books August 30: Introducing The Qur'an (Handout) Recommended Reading: Understanding the Koran September 01: The Holy Books and Science Recommended Reading: Reconciling the Bible and Science.. Week 3: Creation of the Universe and Adam September 06: God s Creation and Evolution The Bible, Genesis (Chapter 1 to 2:1-17); The Qur'an (Handout) Guest: Dr...? 3

4 September 08: Adam and Satan (Arrogance) The Bible, Genesis 2:6-7, 15-20; The Qur'an, 2:30-34; 7:11-18; 15:26-50; 17:61-65; 38:71-85 Week 4: The Multiplication September 13: Woman (Wife) and Test (The Fall) The Bible, Genesis 2:18-25 and Chapter 3. The Qur'an, 2:35-39; 7:19-27; 17:61-65; 20: September 15: Two sons of Adam (Sacrifice) and Korah The Bible, Genesis 4 and Numbers 16. The Qur'an, 5:27-32 and 28:76-84 Week 5: Prophethood in Abrahamic Tradition, Noah and The Flood September 20: Prophethood in Abrahamic Traditions (Handout) September 22: Noah and The Flood The Bible, (Genesis, Chapters, 6-9) The Qur'an, 7:59-64; 11:25-49; 26: ; Chapter 71;.. Week 6: Non-Biblical Prophets and Lot September 27: Hud, Saleeh and Lot The Bible, Genesis (18-19) The Qur'an, 7:65-84; 11:50-83,89;... September 29: Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac in Judeo-Christian Tradition The Bible, Genesis 11:25-25:11. Week 7: The Beginning of Abrahamic Faith Tradition October 04: Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac in Islamic Tradition The Qur'an, 3:33-34; 6:74-89; 11:69-76;... 15:51-60;... October 06: lslam As an Abrahamic Religion (Handout) 4

5 Week 8: Jacob and The Children of Israel // Midterm Exam October 11: Jacob (Israel) and His 12 Sons The Bible, Genesis (Chapters, 27-35, 46, 48-49) October 13: MIDTERM EXAM Week 9: The Prophets in Egypt, Joseph and Moses October 18: Joseph and Children of Israel The Bible, Genesis (Chapters: 37, 39-50) The Qur'an (Surah/Chapter, 12) October 20: Moses in Egypt and Shuayb The Bible, Exodus (Chapters 1-16) The Qur'an (7: ; 10:75-93; 20:9-82; 26:10-68; 28:2-43) Week 10: The Twelve Tribes (Sinai and Promised Land) October 25: Moses in Sinai and Aaron The Bible, Exodus (Chapters, 17-40) The Qur'an (2:51-74; 5:20-26; 7: , ; 20:83-98) October 27: Joshua Moses Young Aid, Samuel and Saul The Bible: Deuteronomy (14-15; The Book of Joshua; 1Samuel (1-9) The Qur'an (18:60-66/82; 5:20-26; 2: ) Week 11: King Prophets: David and Solomon November 01: David and Psalms (Zabour) The Bible (1Samuel, 16-31; 2Samuel; 1Kings (1-2) The Qur'an (2:251; 21:78-82; 34:1-13; 38:17-30) November 03: Solomon and The First Temple The Bible: 1Kings (1-11); 2Chronicles (1-9) The Qur'an (27:15-44; 34:12-14; 38:30-40) 5

6 Week 12: The Second Temple Period Prophets and Hopes for Messiah November 08: Ezra, Jonah, Job The Bible, The Book of (Ezra, Jonah, Job,) The Qur'an (9:30; 37: ; 38:41-44; 21:83-88) November 10: Zechariah, John the Baptist and Mother Mary The Bible, Gospels (first chapters) The Qur'an (21:89-93; 3:33-48; 4: ; 5: ; 19:2-40) Week 13: Jesus Christ: His Messiahship and Good Tidings November 15: Jesus in the Bible (4 BC AD 30) The Gospel of Luke (Read the whole book) (Film) November 17: Jesus in the Qur'an (Handout) Weeks 14-15: Muhammad ( AD) November 22: Muhammad in the Bible and the Quran November 24: Thanksgiving Holiday November 29: Muhammad s Message (Film) December 01: Wrap-Up, Conclusions 6