UMS : Unit: BA9006W

Content

A study of key texts on war and peace selected from Exodus, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Isaiah. Attention will be given to the theological influences and implications of these texts.

Unit code: BA9006W

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Old Testament

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Whitley College

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Learning outcomes

1.	Describe selected scholarly theories about human and divine participation in biblical representations of war.
2.	Rigorously exegete a biblical text related to the themes of war or peace.
3.	Reflect critically on the concept of genocide and its applicability in understanding Deuteronomy 20 and Joshua’s conquest narratives.
4.	Analyse the biblical background to notions of ‘just war’ and pacifism.
5.	Demonstrate an ability to research and write using appropriate methods and form at postgraduate level.

Unit sequence

72 points in Foundational Studies, including 24 points Introduction to the Hebrew Bible or equivalent

Pedagogy

Lectures, tutorials and online interaction

Indicative Bibliography

Conrad, Edgar W. Fear not warrior. Chico: Scholars Press, 1985
Conrad, Edgar W. Reading Isaiah. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991
Crouch, Carly L. War and ethics in the Ancient Near East: Military violence in the light of cosmology and history. Berlin: de Gruyter, 2009
Decosse, David E. But was it just? Reflections on the morality of the Persian Gulf War. New York: Doubleday, 1992
Dever, William G. Who were the Israelites and where did they come from? Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003
Hobbs, T R. A time for war. Wilmington: Glazier, 1989
Kang, Sa Moon. Divine war in the Old Testament and in the ancient near east. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1989
Lind, Millard. Yahweh is a warrior. Scottdale: Herald, 1980
Lind, Millard. Monotheism, power, justice. Elkhart: Institute of Mennonite Studies, 1990
Niditch, Susan. War in the Hebrew Bible. Oxford: OUP, 1993
Ollenberger, Ben C. Zion, the city of the great king. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 1987
Rad, Gerhard von. Holy war in ancient Israel. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991
Swartly, Willard M. Violence renounced: Rene Girard, biblical studies and peacemaking. Telford: Pandora, 2000
Tatz, Colin M. With intent to destroy: Reflecting on genocide. London: Verso, 2003
Williams, James G. The Bible, violence and the sacred. San Francisco: Harper, 1991
Wood, John A. Perspectives on war in the Bible. Macon: Mercer University Press, 1998
Yoder, Perry B. and Willard Swartley (eds). The meaning of peace. Louisville: Westminster, 1992
Younger, K Lawson. Ancient conquest accounts. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1990

Assessment

Type	Description	Word count	Weight (%)
Essay	Essay of 3000 words	3000	40.0
Exegetical Essay	Exegetical paper of 3000 words	3000	40.0
Tutorial Paper/Seminar Paper	Tutorial paper of 2000 words	2000	20.0

Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 16 Oct, 2019

Unit record last updated: 2019-11-15 09:23:27 +1100