Peggy Cowan
Maryville College

Religion 344

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Religion 344: Explorations
in Biblical Studies

Fall 2005: The Bible, Moral Values, and Politics

Description:

During the November 2004 presidential elections, a national exit poll asked voters what issue was most important in determining how they voted. From a list that included the war in Iraq, health care, taxes, education, the economy/jobs, and terrorism, more voters selected ‘moral values’ than any other single item. Of that plurality of voters, approximately 80% voted for the Bush-Cheney ticket (Jim Wallis, God’s Politics, pp. xix-xx). The apparent assumption of the poll writers was that war, health care, taxes, etc. are not issues that reflect fundamental moral values. An apparent assumption of voters was that ‘moral values’ have more to do with marriage, family, and reproduction than with the economy or international relations. This course will seek to engage students in thinking about what constitutes moral values and about the particular values that shape citizens’ responses to social and political issues. It will explore the Bible as both a source of information about the moral values and politics of ancient peoples and as a potential tool for reflection about contemporary moral values and politics. This course will explore several methods used to relate the Bible to moral values and political concerns. After considering general issues regarding such approaches, it will examine specific contemporary issues and consider the relevance of the Bible for addressing them.

This course is an upper level seminar for students who have already had at least one course in Biblical Studies (Biblical Studies 130 or 140). Thus, students should already be familiar with some of the basic issues and methods related to the study of these ancient texts. In addition, students should be at least sophomores and prepared to write research papers and do in-class presentations.

The course will be conducted as a seminar. While there will be some presentation of material by the instructor, students will be expected to discuss readings, raise questions, and present their own ideas and findings. Because students come with a variety of religious perspectives, such a course provides a rich opportunity for exploring different viewpoints and expanding their understanding of issues. However, it also means that for a genuine spirit of inquiry and learning to exist, members of the class must respect one another even as they disagree.

While the course assumes the validity of the academic study of the Bible and the legitimacy of the historical enterprise for the pursuit of knowledge, it does not seek to direct students toward specific conclusions regarding the outcome of their investigation of particular issues. Students will be asked to reflect on the implications of such research for questions of theology and faith and will be encouraged wrestle with challenges to assumptions that they bring to the course. However, they will not be expected to conform to a particular viewpoint on these matters.

Goals:

To examine assumptions about the nature and meaning of ‘moral values’
To explore central moral and ethical concerns addressed by the Bible
To consider the meaning of selected biblical texts within the literary, social, and political contexts that produced them.
To understand a variety of approaches interpreters have used to relate biblical texts to moral values and social and political issues
To think carefully and critically about the relevance of biblical texts to contemporary social and political issues
To reflect on the role of religion in the public arena