Professor Laffey: Ecology and the Bible

Ecology and the Bible

Purpose and Objectives of the Course:

To introduce students of the Old Testament to a post-modern context
of interpretation, that is, at the end of the twentieth century;

to introduce an historical/sociological understanding
of the production of the texts between the tenthcentury B.C.E. and the end of the second century C.E., a period in the history of the Ancient Near East whose relationship to God and nature was very differently constructed than our own in a first world United States;

to suggest how historical understandings can benefit our
contemporary relationship to nature in ways that are
critical to the survival of the cosmos.

Assignments

Readings for each class;

Seminar leadership and participation;

A one-page written summary of the readings done for each class
which lists the issues the particular reading(s) address(es);

A final paper/project

Selected Readings from the Following:

The Bible (Any of several translations are acceptable)
Defending Mother Earth, Jace Weaver, ed.
Worldviews and Ecology, Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, eds.
Women Healing Earth, Rosemary Radford Ruether, ed.
The Land, Walter Brueggemann
The Unsettling of America, Wendell Berry
An Unnatural Order, Jim Mason
Earth Community Earth Ethics, Larry Rasmussen
The Universe Story. Brian Swimm and Tom Berry
The Earth Charter Benchmark Draft

Teaching Method:

Since this is a seminar, the students will be responsible for teaching each other in an interdependent learning environment; engagement and participation on the part of each and everyone is essential to the success of the course.

Evaluation:

Students evaluation of each other’s contributions: 25%
Student evaluation of him or herself: 25%
Faculty evaluation of each student’s class contributions: 25%
Faculty evaluation of student’s written work: 25%

Course Schedule
Class 1	Introduction to the Seminar Reading for next class: Genesis 1-11; Swimme and Berry Discussion leaders: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Class 2	Creation and Cosmic Beginnings Reading for next class: Gen 12-50, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, Discussion leaders: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Class 3	Promise and Fulfillment Reading for next class: Brueggemann; 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings Discussion leaders: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Class 4	The Land and its Loss Reading for next class: Tucker and Grim, part 1; Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel Discussion leaders: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Class 5	The Imagery of Prophetic Warning and Consolation Reading for next class: Tucker and Grim, part 2; The Psalms, Job, Ecclesiastes Discussion leaders: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Class 6	Agricultural Imagery of Praise; Curse and Blessing Reading for next class: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Discussion leaders: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Class 7	Parables from Nature Reading for next class: The Pauline Epistles Discussion leaders: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Class 8	Proclamations of Interdependence Reading for next class: Mason Discussion leaders: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Class 9	An Unnatural Order Reading for next class: Rasmussen Discussion leaders: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Class 10	Earth Community Earth Ethics Reading for next class: Berry Discussion leaders: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Class 11	The Unsettling of America Reading for next class: Weaver Discussion leaders: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Class 12	Defending Mother Earth Reading for next class: Ruether Discussion leaders: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
Class 13	Women Healing Earth Presentations and Papers/Projects
Class 14	Presentations of Papers/Projects