Comments on: Biblical Studies in Liberal Arts http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/ A biblioblog Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:32:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Teaching the BIble as Literature, as the Faithful at Targuman http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-2020 Teaching the BIble as Literature, as the Faithful at Targuman Mon, 06 Nov 2006 16:45:54 +0000 http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-2020 [...] This article in many ways addresses specifically the questions to be addressed in our SBL sessions, but from the perspective of a different discipline. It also addresses many of the questions brought up in the discussions on the various blogs, see especially Blue Cord. Christian identifies herself as, “a practicing evangelical Christian” and she reports that she discloses this to her students saying “I believe the BIble is God’s word, and I read it every day to hear what He’s saying to me. But that’s not what we’ll be talking about in this class” (p. 87). [...] […] This article in many ways addresses specifically the questions to be addressed in our SBL sessions, but from the perspective of a different discipline. It also addresses many of the questions brought up in the discussions on the various blogs, see especially Blue Cord. Christian identifies herself as, “a practicing evangelical Christian” and she reports that she discloses this to her students saying “I believe the BIble is God’s word, and I read it every day to hear what He’s saying to me. But that’s not what we’ll be talking about in this class” (p. 87). […]

]]> By: Teaching the Bible, Reading Theology at Targuman http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-1946 Teaching the Bible, Reading Theology at Targuman Wed, 01 Nov 2006 18:23:46 +0000 http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-1946 [...] There have been ongoing discussions about teaching the Bible in a secular context, partly due to the new session at SBL in which I am contributing a paper, but in the biblioblogsphere more due to Kevin Wilson’s discussions on bluecord. (Kevin has a whole series of posts, so be sure to follow them all.) [...] […] There have been ongoing discussions about teaching the Bible in a secular context, partly due to the new session at SBL in which I am contributing a paper, but in the biblioblogsphere more due to Kevin Wilson’s discussions on bluecord. (Kevin has a whole series of posts, so be sure to follow them all.) […]

]]> By: “Teaching the Bible in the Context of General Education,” J Z Smith at Targuman http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-1933 “Teaching the Bible in the Context of General Education,” J Z Smith at Targuman Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:46:03 +0000 http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-1933 [...] It is a very interesting read, although most of the article is taken with a discussion of how we understand “general education” (he parses out three derivations: “general,” “generalist,” and “generalizing”), Smith addresses many of the questions that I and Kevin have been considering, albeit in a cursory manner. Of particular interest to Kevin’s question, I think, and less so to mine, is Smith’s assertion regarding teaching the Bible as part of general education is that [First,] …the prime object of attention is not the Bible, rather a corporate agreement as to an educational project to which the Bible may be brought as an appropriate example. Second, that the ways in which the Bible might be taught will vary, appropriately, according to the ways in which that educational enterprise is understood…. A corollary to this might be bluntly formulated: teachers of the Bible need to be as informed about research in teaching as they are in biblical research. [...] […] It is a very interesting read, although most of the article is taken with a discussion of how we understand “general education” (he parses out three derivations: “general,” “generalist,” and “generalizing”), Smith addresses many of the questions that I and Kevin have been considering, albeit in a cursory manner. Of particular interest to Kevin’s question, I think, and less so to mine, is Smith’s assertion regarding teaching the Bible as part of general education is that [First,] …the prime object of attention is not the Bible, rather a corporate agreement as to an educational project to which the Bible may be brought as an appropriate example. Second, that the ways in which the Bible might be taught will vary, appropriately, according to the ways in which that educational enterprise is understood…. A corollary to this might be bluntly formulated: teachers of the Bible need to be as informed about research in teaching as they are in biblical research. […]

]]> By: Grazina http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-1843 Grazina Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:17:21 +0000 http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-1843 Kevin, I agree with your list of the "benefits" of teaching the Bible at liberal arts colleges. I would also add that European culture, especially art, is deeply rooted in the stories and teachings of the Bible. So biblical studies open the window to appreciation and deeper understanding of European context and culture. Kevin,
I agree with your list of the “benefits” of teaching the Bible at liberal arts colleges. I would also add that European culture, especially art, is deeply rooted in the stories and teachings of the Bible. So biblical studies open the window to appreciation and deeper understanding of European context and culture.

]]> By: Biblical Studies in Liberal Arts at Targuman http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-1819 Biblical Studies in Liberal Arts at Targuman Mon, 23 Oct 2006 12:59:52 +0000 http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-1819 [...] Kevin has a great post at Blue Cord [...] […] Kevin has a great post at Blue Cord […]

]]> By: Awilum.com » Liberal Arts College–What Good is It? http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-1814 Awilum.com » Liberal Arts College–What Good is It? Mon, 23 Oct 2006 01:27:10 +0000 http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-1814 [...] Lately there has been a lot of talk on the blogosphere and in traditional media about the value of liberal arts colleges.  Many are of the opinion that the only path to a lucrative life path is through an ivy league school or a professional school.  Kevin Wilson outlines some benefits to a liberal arts education and where biblical studies fits into this framework. [...] […] Lately there has been a lot of talk on the blogosphere and in traditional media about the value of liberal arts colleges.  Many are of the opinion that the only path to a lucrative life path is through an ivy league school or a professional school.  Kevin Wilson outlines some benefits to a liberal arts education and where biblical studies fits into this framework. […]

]]> By: Chris Brady http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-1804 Chris Brady Sun, 22 Oct 2006 04:47:50 +0000 http://bluecord.org/biblioblog/2006/10/biblical-studies-in-liberal-arts/#comment-1804 I have been working along parallel lines for a paper I will deliver at SBL <a href="http://targuman.org/blog/?p=242" rel="nofollow">http://targuman.org/blog/?p=242</a>. I think you have hit on most of the high points; the question of my paper and the session is <i>how</i> do we teach biblical studies in a secular context. I would simply counter to any critic why do we teach any particular literature? Why do we teach any particular period of history and region? I suppose that sounds a bit snarky, but the reality is (whether one likes it or not) that the Bible, its stories, morals/mores/ethic, and theology (not to mention politics) has formed the basis for most of Europe and countries we call "western" (although last time I checked a lot of countries that a "eastern" were pretty well impacted as well). I will be thinking on this more and I hope to get back to you! I have been working along parallel lines for a paper I will deliver at SBL http://targuman.org/blog/?p=242. I think you have hit on most of the high points; the question of my paper and the session is how do we teach biblical studies in a secular context. I would simply counter to any critic why do we teach any particular literature? Why do we teach any particular period of history and region?

I suppose that sounds a bit snarky, but the reality is (whether one likes it or not) that the Bible, its stories, morals/mores/ethic, and theology (not to mention politics) has formed the basis for most of Europe and countries we call “western” (although last time I checked a lot of countries that a “eastern” were pretty well impacted as well).

I will be thinking on this more and I hope to get back to you!

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