Semester Schedule
This
schedule is based upon an "as-needed" concept of learning which allows for
flexibility and
student
input for the course. Thus, the schedule will be developed in sections or modules as
the
study
progresses in order to best meet the needs of the learners, the learning process and
to allow
the
professor to mentor the learners in the most significant directions and ways of
learning. This
method of learning is, therefore, learner or student-centered,
active, experiential, collaborative,
interactive, creative and critically reflective/contemplative, and
downright enjoyable.
A Course Journal will be posted on the class mailing list (electronic discussion list) at
* Readings from the gospels will be assigned throughout the study
Week 1: Introduction / questions / problems / World-Wide Web
Week 2:
Gospel of Mark 9-16; Sanders 1-48;
8/31
What is a gospel? Formation of the gospels;
Jesus' Many Faces
withdrawal period, 8/31-10/30
Week 3:
A Brief History of the
Quest for the Historical Jesus
9/7
Sanders 49-91
Portraits of Jesus'
World
Week 4:
Sanders 91-111
9/14
Matthew 1-7
Storytellers and the
Gospels
Week 5: Sanders 112-131 ("The Beginning of Jesus' Ministry");
Extrabiblical sources
9/21
Matthew 13-14; 18; 20:1-15; 25
Literary/theological genre review: What are
the Gospels?
Why these four Gospels?:
Emerging 4 Gospel Canon
Background on the Gospel of
Matthew
Week 6: Texts of the Noncanonical Gospels:
free-reading
9/28
Read the Infancy Gospel of Thomas (9/29)
Group summation essays on
noncanonical writings due on or before 9/30
Read a brief
analysis of Thomas by two scholars
(10/1)
Read the Gospel of Thomas (10/1)
Week 7:
A "Q" Festival: Q: The Hypothetical Gospel (Pagels)Week 8: No Class 10/13: work on Self-directed Group Project & Presentation
Week 9:
Scholars in Search of the Historical Jesus On-line
guest (10/21-23): Dr. Luke Timothy Johnson, Professor of New Testament
& Christian Origins, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Week 10:
No class on 10/27
10/26
Jesus Seminar
Sanders 169-188 ("The Coming
of the Kingdom")
[last day to drop an individual
course: 10/30]
Week 11:
Jesus Seminar
& its Critics:
The Search for Authenticity, Criteria to Evaluate
11/2 the Texts, Critiques of the
Methodology, Q, Historical Reconstruction
and its Opponents, Hyperlinks
Sanders 189-204 ("The Kingdom:
Israel & Gentiles," "The Kingdom: Reversal of Values")
Week 12:
Writing the New Testament: The Jesus Tradition
On-line Guest (11/10, 12,
17, 19): Dr. John Dominic Crossan, Professor Emeritus,
DePaul University, Chicago
Group Presentations (10/12): 3
days before each group's presentation, it is to post
a 750-word essay to the class list which explains the group's project and what
was learned about the historical Jesus and his teachings
Week 13:
Group Presentations (10/17 & 10/19)
11/23 -
11/28 Fall Break........
Week 14:
11/30 Sanders 238-275 ("Jesus' View
of His Role in God's Plan," "Jesus' Last Week")
Week
15: Sanders 276-281 ("Epilogue")
12/7
Integration & Evaluation
The Final Essay, in its revised form, is due in Harris Hall
411or 415
no later than 10 am,
Dec. 10th.
Also due at the same
time as the final essay, is the Self-reflective, Self-evaluation Essay on the
learning process in
this course of study. The
Final Essay and the Self-reflection Essay are to be
handed in together. Thank you.