Gender, Justice, Empire: Contextual Readings of the OT (BA3049P)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This course explores the relationship between issues of gender, justice and empire in Old Testament interpretation. Through a study of a number of Old Testament texts, particularly those which narrate the experience of women within the wider social and imperial contexts, we will consider how these themes are configured and related within biblical traditions. We will engage in a close reading of a range of primary Old Testament texts and contemporary feminist/womanist and other (culturally diverse) scholarship about these texts and will also examine how these hermeneutical perspectives engage and critique traditional exegetical approaches. The approach will be interdisciplinary and will provide students opportunity to study these texts alongside contemporary women’s experiences and portrayals of women in other media such as art, film, poetry, and law.

Unit code: BA3049P

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: Old Testament

Delivery Mode: Online

Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Demonstrate in-depth familiarity with the Old Testament narratives of Biblical women and knowledge of relevant issues of gender, justice and empire in relation to these texts and the Old Testament overall
2.

Articulate the liberational and the oppressive potential of biblical stories arising out of and in relation to hermeneutical approaches and polyvalence of meaning
3.

Understand, appreciate and critically engage these new and emerging approaches, namely feminist/womanist; postcolonial; liberation; and Dalit perspectives in their treatment of biblical texts.

4.

Develop a comparative and global framework in the study of the Old Testament and to foster appreciation and respect for other/diverse perspectives

Unit sequence

15 points in Old Testament studies

Pedagogy

Engagement with online learning materials, Tasks and Tutorial Discussion

Indicative Bibliography

  • Davies, Eryl W. The Dissenting Reader: Feminist Approaches to the Hebrew Bible, Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2003. (Recommended for purchase)
  • Dube, Musa W. Postcolonial Feminist Interpretation of the Bible, St. Louis, MO: Chalice, 2000.
  • Fewell, Danna N., and Gunn, David M. Gender, Power and Promise: The Subject of the Bible’s First Story. Nashville: Abingdon, 1993.
  • Day, Linda and Pressler, Carolyn (eds.), Engaging the Bible in a Gendered World: An Introduction to Feminist Biblical Interpretation in honor of K. B. Sakenfeld. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Know, 2006. (Recommended for purchase)
  • Havea, Jione, David J. Neville, & Elaine M. Cartwright, eds. Bible, Borders, Belonging(s): Engaging Readings from Oceania. Atlanta: SBL, 2014.
  • Newsome, Carol A. and Sharon H. Ringe, (eds.), The Women’s Bible Commentary (Expanded), London/Louisville: SPCK/Westminster John Knox, 1998.
  • Patte, Daniel. The Global Bible Commentary, Nashville: Abingdon, 2004.
  • Roncace, Mark and Joseph Weaver (eds.), Global Perspectives on the Bible. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2012. (Recommended for purchase)
  • Adam, A. K. M. (ed.), Handbook of Postmodern Biblical Interpretation. St. Louis: Chalice, 2000.
  • West, Gerald, ed. Reading Otherwise: Socially Engaged Biblical Scholars Reading with their Local Communities. Atlanta: SBL. 2007

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Forum

Online engagement with reading material and participation in Tutorial Forum (1000 Words)

 0 20.0
Exegesis

Exegetical Essay (2000 words)

 0 40.0
Essay

Essay exploring a particular hermeneutical approach to an OT text (2000 words)

 0 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 1 Nov, 2015

Unit record last updated: 2019-10-21 17:08:48 +1100