Department Of Biblical Studies. Modules In Religion, Theology and The Bible A guide for prospective students
If you are interested in studying Religion, Theology and The Bible at The University of Sheffield and you want to get a clearer idea of the kind of classes or modules you ll be taking, then this is the booklet for you. On the next few pages, we have listed all of our modules. They are arranged by semester and by year and we ve shown you which modules are compulsory or core (the rest are optional). We ve also indicated what form the assessment usually takes. We have two semesters each year. The first is from September to January this is the Autumn semester. The second is from February to June - this is the Spring semester. You will have to take 180 credits worth of modules each year. This usually works out at around three (sometimes 4) modules each semester. Who will be teaching me? All of our academic staff teach on the Religion, Theology and The Bible degree course. Professor David Chalcraft is the Head of The Department of Biblical Studies. He is a graduate of this department and went onto study sociology at Oxford University. David s research interests lay at the intersection between sociology and biblical studies. His teaching commitments include the Sociology and Anthropology of Religion module. Professor James Crossley is particularly interested in the social, economic and ideological role of religion and how this relates to the use, study of and origins of New Testament texts. Among other modules, James teaches Understanding Religion, The Bible and The Historical Imagination and Religion in an Age of Terror. Dr. Mark Finney s research interests include the relationship between religion and violence, particularly in relation to the conflict in the contemporary Middle East and Early Christian Identity. He is also interested in Paul, representations of Christ in art and the Greco-Roman context of the New Testament. Mark s teaching includes New Testament Greek and introduction to Islam. Mark s also runs a trip for his students to Italy every two years. Professor Hugh Pyper has a particular interest in postmodern and postcolonial interpretations of the Bible and has published on everything from The Bible and professional wrestling to Kierkegaard. Among Hugh s teaching commitments are Old Testament Hebrew and Postcolonialism and the Bible. Dr. Katie Edwards specialises in the Bible in contemporary and popular culture, including representations of religion in the media and advertising. As well as teaching on modules including Religion in Britain Today, Katie has been heavily involved in the work the Department does with the general public, schools, colleges and community groups. One of these academics will also be on hand as your personal tutor, there to help whenever problems arise. We also have a range of seminar tutors and temporary lecturers who will input into your teaching along the way. The Departmental administrator, Alison Bygrave, and our Student Liaison Assistant, Janine Bradbury, are also here to help. Should you have any questions you are 2
very welcome to contact Alison and Janine by email at bibs@sheffield.ac.uk or by telephone on 0114 222 0507 or 0114 222 0508. CORE MODULES In your first year (Level 1) Semester 1 BIB101 Decoding the Bible: The Old Testament This module introduces the Old Testament as an ancient text. We look at the geographical, social and historical background of its production and consider the ways that modern readers understand this. Every Old Testament book is briefly introduced, and we examine the critical scholarship on its form and content. BIB116 Introduction to the Study of Religion Religion is fundamental to our understanding of humanity and it has shaped the ways we live and think. This module will provide you with an introduction to key concepts and topics in the critical study of religion through social scientific methods (e.g. sociology, anthropology). Topics will include: what is religion?; history and myth; identity and ethnicity; gender; purity; class; picturing God; conversion; sacred places; and sacred writings. A range of examples will be provided, but the focus will be on western traditions generally and biblical studies specifically. Assessment: Essay Examination OTHER MODULES BIB117 The Bible: Fact or Fiction? 10 credits This is an introductory module for students in any subject. Is the Bible fact or fiction? The Bible is often subject to sensationalist and controversial TV programmes or newspaper articles claiming that it is secret code, myth, history, creation science or fiction. In this module, we will explore these issues through an examination of the presentation of the Bible in the media, including TV, film and newspapers. Assessment: Essay BIB123 The World of Early Judaism 10 credits This module will introduce you to some of the beliefs and practices of formative Judaism, from around the fourth century BCE to around the third century CE. You will be introduced to: the historical and cultural contexts of different Jewish groups and individuals; Jewish sects (e.g. 3
Pharisees); writings (e.g. Dead Sea Scrolls); and ideas (e.g. end times and apocalypse) and look at how different Jewish groups interacted with the wider Mediterranean world through the following topics: cosmology and heavenly journeys; monotheism and the supernatural world; Torah and Law; magic, exorcism and healing; death and afterlife; Temple and sacrifice; prophecy and banditry; and ethnicity and social interaction. Assessment: Essay BIB110 Biblical Hebrew A You will be introduced to the basic vocabulary, grammar and syntax of the Hebrew language and you will build on this so that you can begin reading biblical texts in the original language. By the end of the module, you will be able to approach the Hebrew Bible in its original language with some confidence and will be familiar with the language resources you will need for the rest of your degree. You will gain experience of how to use Hebrew on word processing programmes. Assessment: Examination Weekly quizzes BIB120 New Testament Greek A This module will introduce you to Greek grammar, syntax, and vocabulary so that you will be able to read the New Testament in the original language. You will also be introduced to essential tools and resources for reading the Greek New Testament. Assessment: Examination Exercise 4
Department Of Biblical Studies. Semester 2 CORE MODULES BIB102 Decoding the Bible: The New Testament This module is both an introduction to the New Testament and serves as a foundation for your future courses. We examine the content of the main New Testament writings and explore the Jewish and Graeco-Roman worlds in which these writings originated. You will be given the opportunity to practise a variety of current methods of studying and reading the New Testament. Assessment: Examination Coursework Essay OTHER MODULES BIB118 Introduction to Islam 10 credits This module offers an introduction and overview of the religion of Islam. We will look at the formative life of the prophet Mohammed in his social, religious and cultural context as well as the early history of the Islamic faith and its central pillars of faith. We will find out more about some of the major historical events and periods of Islam up to the present day and we will explore the Koran and Hadith. We will also pay attention to the history of Christian-Muslim relations and to the form and influence of Islamic art and architecture. Assessment: Essay BIB122 Myth, Ritual and Afterlife in the Ancient Near East Myth, ritual, and belief about afterlife are vital aspects of religious thought and practice, both ancient and modern. In this module we will compare myths of creation and seasonal fertility from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Syria, and Israel/Judah. We will also compare religious festivals, the understanding and practices of sacrifice and magic, and views of what happens after death. Classes take the form of interactive lectures, and assessment will include a 1,000-word essay and a 2-hour formal examination.
Assessment: Examination Essay MODULES IN RELIGION, THEOLOGY AND THE BIBLE BIB111 Biblical Hebrew B In this module, we will build on the basic grammar and syntax learned in BIB110 so that you can begin reading biblical texts in the original Hebrew. You will hone your parsing skills and develop your knowledge of the vocabulary and grammar of Biblical Hebrew. Assessment: Examination Weekly quizzes BIB121 New Testament Greek B Building on the foundation of BIB120, this module equips you with the understanding of Greek grammar, syntax, and vocabulary necessary for reading the New Testament in the original language. Assessment: Examination Exercise BIB1013 Religion in Britain Today From faith schools to family values, from religious dress to religious wars, in contemporary Britain religion is rarely out of the news. In this module, we will look at various aspects of religion in contemporary Britain, including politics and war, sexuality and marriage, ritual and symbolism as well as providing an introduction to the contemporary religious map of Britain and the diverse religions that contribute to it. Assessment: Examination Coursework 6
In your second year (level 2) CORE MODULES Semester 1 BIB272 Prophecy Prophecy is a widely recognized phenomenon in a range of religious groups as well as being prominent in both the Old and New Testaments. In this module we explore how contemporary anthropological and sociological understandings of prophecy have been shaped by biblical models, and also how they can contribute to the understanding of prophecy in the ancient Near East and the production of that peculiar genre, the so-called Prophetic books of the Bible. OTHER MODULES BIB225 Hebrew Texts I If you have reached an appropriate level of competence in Hebrew in your first year, you can take this module in which you will be introduced to readings from the Hebrew bible. You will be able to enhance your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and you will be given the opportunity to tackle the problems of producing a coherent translation of a biblical text. Examination BIB226 Greek Texts I If you have reached an appropriate level of competence in Greek, you can take this module in which you will be introduced to readings from the Greek bible. You will be able to enhance your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and you will tackle the problems of producing a coherent translation of a biblical text. Examination BIB110 Biblical Hebrew A If you did not get a chance to take this module the first time round, you will be given a second opportunity to this semester. For full description, see the First Year listings. Assessment: Examination, Weekly quizzes 7
BIB120 New Testament Greek A If you did not get a chance to take this module the first time round, you will be given a second opportunity to this semester. For full description, see the First Year listings. Assessment: Examination, Exercises BIB266 The Bible and the Literary Imagination The Bible has had a profound influence on the subsequent development of literature in the cultures where it has held sway. In this module we will examine how literary study of the Bible has increased our understanding of the subtlety of its composition and also how later writers have learned from and reacted against its influence. This module will be of interest to students of literature as well as those specializing in biblical studies. n Assessment: Examination, Essay BIB270 Knowing and Experiencing God in Jewish and Christian Tradition How is God known in human experience? In this module we will learn about the mystical traditions of Judaism and Christianity, where God is experienced directly by an individual. We will then look at how such experience has been mediated to others afterwards. The widespread use of analogy in God-language to describe the divine in the written religious and theological traditions of both faiths as forms of secondary apprehension will be reviewed and considered at length. Finally, we will examine the findings of neuro-theology and consider to what extent biology, especially our neurological systems and brains, may prompt the creation of a God-concept by humanity more generally. BIB271 Sociology and Anthropology of Religion In this module we will study the classical traditions in the sociology and anthropology of religion, together with an examination of more contemporary theoretical ideas. You will be introduced to sociological and anthropological ways of conceptualising religion in its social and cultural context and to methodological issues including the use of ethnographic and other research tools to investigate the phenomena. Case studies will include analysis of contemporary religious movements in Europe, USA and Polynesia, together with some classic historical examples, especially those with direct relevance to Biblical Studies. 8
Semester 2 CORE MODULES EITHER BIB219 Jesus, Gospels and Christianity The fourfold gospel contains the foundational narrative of world Christianity, but how does it function as a religious text? Why are there four versions of the Jesus story, and what about the ones that did not make it into the biblical canon? This module will focus on one gospel as a casestudy and we will use it as a base for exploring wider issues in Gospel criticism, including the social and rhetorical location of the texts; the characterisation of Jesus; the function of conflict; and the reception and appropriation of the gospels over the centuries. OR BIB239 Paul and the Origins of the Western Tradition Would Jesus Christ recognise Christianity? Does Christianity, as we know it, owe its shape to Jesus himself, or to others acting in his name? In modern times, the latter has often been thought to be the case, and it is usually the apostle Paul who is held to be the culprit. Did Paul get Jesus all wrong? Is Paul the real founder of Christianity? This module, for students of any subject, sets about finding answers: you will be introduced to the debate (the central issues), you will look at the representative positions (can they be resolved?), and you will assess the underlying assumptions that animate the discussion. Assessment: Essay OTHER MODULES BIB249 Hebrew Texts II If you have reached an appropriate level of competence in Hebrew in your first year, you can take this module in which you will be introduced to readings from the Hebrew bible. You will be able to enhance your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and you will be given the opportunity to tackle the problems of producing a coherent translation of a biblical text., Examination BIB229 Greek Texts II If you have reached an appropriate level of competence in Greek, you can take this module in which you will be introduced to readings from the Greek bible. You will be able to enhance your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and you will tackle the problems of producing a coherent translation of a biblical text., Examination 9
BIB111 Biblical Hebrew B If you did not get a chance to take this module the first time round, you will be given a second opportunity to this semester. For full description, see the First Year listings. Assessment: Examination, Weekly quizzes BIB121 New Testament Greek B If you did not get a chance to take this module the first time round, you will be given a second opportunity to this semester. For full description, see the First Year listings. Assessment: Examination, Exercise BIB237 The Bible and the Historical Imagination How does the Bible relate to history? Are the Gospels and/or Acts history books? Do they provide evidence of a real past? Are these objective accounts about the past or texts designed to persuade? Are we reading fact or fiction? Do these accounts of Christian origins provide a plausible explanation? Do New Testament texts omit alternative histories? In this module, we will explore the nature and style of history writing and the ways in which it is related to social and political settings. In this module, we will assess the construction of history, the political and social agendas of history-writing, and the influence of identity history. Assessment: Examination, Essay BIB274 Religion, Theology and the Bible at Work This module will help you actively prepare to transition to the job market. You will learn first-hand how transferable skills you are gaining in your degree are vital in a number of jobs in the public and private sectors by completing a group work project on behalf of an employer. You will also prepare a CV and cover letter, find out which types of jobs best complement your personalities and motivational profiles, and you will learn the principles of confident interviewing with a prospective employer. 10
BIB275 Bible, Religion and Education In this module, we will explore the ways that the Bible has been used in educational settings past and present and with a particular focus on contemporary policy and practice and contemporary debates about the role of religion in civil society and culture. We will discuss aspects of the history of the Bible in education and study current controversies and issues. We will explore the meanings and varieties of biblical literacy and provide case studies. You will also conduct some empirical work choosing from a variety of contexts where biblical knowledge is employed to train laity, congregations, community and health workers and in schools. BIB276 Gender, Religion and the Bible Is anatomy destiny? Are gender roles and sexual orientation biologically grounded or culturally constructed? People look to the Bible, as a charter document of Western culture, for answers to such questions. This module aims to broaden our understanding of gender and sexuality by engaging with biblical gender studies. You will examine ancient and modern cultural constructions of femininity and masculinity, as well as cultural constructions of sexuality. You will have the opportunity to develop your analytical and evaluative skills by assessing competing readings and creating your own. This will enable you to develop a critical sensibility that you can use beyond the classroom. 11
In your Third Year (Level 3) CORE MODULES Semester 1 BIB359 New Testament Texts In this module, we will study a designated biblical gospel, book or letter in depth and you will write a sustained exegetical paper that will demonstrate your mastery of textual criticism and a range of other critical methods relevant to the analysis of the selected text, interacting with secondary literature and critically evaluating scholarly proposals., Oral presentation BIB323 Dual Dissertation All Staff In this final-year module for dual degree students, you will develop a research topic of your choosing in greater depth, in conjunction with a member of staff who will act as supervisor. Assessment: Dissertation 4000-5000 BIB329 Dissertation 40 credits All Staff In this final-year module, you will develop a research topic of your choosing in greater depth, in conjunction with a member of staff who will act as supervisor. (Taken over two semesters) Assessment: Dissertation 8000-10,000 words OTHER MODULES BIB3004 Postcolonialism, Religion and the Bible The Bible not only provided political models for European colonialism but profoundly influenced the model of religion which became the basis for the academic study of the encounter with other cultures. At the same time, it provided models for the resistance to colonialism. In this module, we will explore this complex interaction, which shapes the postcolonial world and our understanding of religion through a number of case-studies. n 12
BIB304 Christian Theology In this module, we will explore central Christian ideas about the nature of God, creation, salvation, Jesus the Christ, humanity, and hope. We will consider a series of methodological questions as well, such as the nature of our knowledge of God, the role of human experience, the use of scripture, the place of tradition, and the importance of contemporary contexts for Christian theology. BIB305 Bible, History and Archaeology In the context of the principles and practice of current archaeology and of biblical criticism, you will be introduced to the issue of how texts and artifacts are to be used responsibly and critically to recreate the past. We will use case studies in the history of ancient Israel and Judah to illustrate how textual and artifactual testimony is to be converted to historical evidence and to explore the range of different interpretations that can be supported by the same evidence. Assessment: Examination, Oral Presentation BIB381 Bible and the Social Scientific Imagination The books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are viewed in Judaism as a discrete core of sacred texts containing essential teaching (Torah). This Pentateuch includes the stories of creation, the establishment of culture and civilization, the patriarchs, and what could be called an extended biography of Moses. There are also three recognized collections of laws, two origin stories, and two versions of events at Mt Sinai. We will explore scholarly debates and theories associated with this collection of texts. CORE MODULES Semester 2 BIB380 Wisdom and Psalms In this module you will study a designated book in depth and write a sustained exegetical paper that will demonstrate your mastery of textual criticism and a range of other critical methods relevant to the analysis of the selected narrative or poetical text, interacting with secondary literature and critically evaluating scholarly proposals. The specific text will vary and be decided annually by the instructor. 13
BIB329 Dissertation 40 credits All Staff In this final-year module, you will develop a research topic of your choosing in greater depth, in conjunction with a member of staff who will act as supervisor. (Taken over two semesters) Assessment: Dissertation 8000 10,000 words OTHER MODULES BIB301 The Bible and the Arts The module has a dual focus on the way the Bible has influenced Western culture and the way cultural appropriations of biblical materials can influence biblical interpretation. We will assess the impact of the Bible on culture by analyzing retellings of familiar biblical stories in selected examples from literature, art, music and film. We will also examine the impact of popular culture on the Bible and the way popular culture appropriates the Bible for its own purposes. You will have the opportunity to develop your collaborative and presentational skills by working together on projects in small groups, the results of which will be presented in class. BIB302 Bible and Ethics In this module we explore how the Bible has been and is being used in ethical debates by a variety of social groups and individuals in a diverse range of contexts. We consider pressing ethical issues that might include: fertility and IVF, abortion; crime, punishment and the death sentence; sexuality, holy war and pacifism, ecological concerns, ethnicity, asylum and sanctuary; work and leisure; poverty and wealth; disability; social justice, spiritual abuse and the relation of biblical forms of authority to universal human rights. Relevant biblical texts and their diverse interpretations and applications will be critical examined in relation to these ethical concerns and in the light of contemporary literature and debate. 14
BIB348 Imaging God The development of monotheism and early forms of Judaisms from the earlier national Yahwistic cults of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah required many changes. We explore a number of these changes that can be seen in the biblical texts and in the material cultural remains, including, among others, the development of Torah, changes in the practice of the cult, and means of representing God, the development of Name and Glory theologies, distinctive religio-ethnic practices, and the suppression of the worship of other deities, of ancestral cults, and of magic. Exam BIB382 Religion in an Age of Terror In this module we analyse the ways in which modern cultural, political and social contexts have influenced biblical scholarship in particular and the ways in which biblical scholarship has made an impact on the modern world. We cover the past 150 years of New Testament scholarship and contexts will include the following: 19th Century European nationalism; the rise of Marxism; Nazi Germany; Cold War; the Holocaust; the state of Israel; the so-called `clash of civilisations and `the war on terror. 15