SRJC Course Outlines

3/29/2024 7:34:18 AMRELS 22 Course Outline as of Summer 2022

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  RELS 22Title:  JESUS & INVENT OF CHRIST  
Full Title:  Jesus and the Invention of Christianity
Last Reviewed:5/13/2019

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled3.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled52.50
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled06 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  HUMAN 10.2

Catalog Description:
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An historical-critical study of the origins and  development of early Christian traditions through a  range of documents and archaeological artifacts from the first five centuries against the background of  Jewish and Greco-Roman cultural contexts-- with attention to their influence on world cultures.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent, or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
An historical-critical study of the origins and  development of early Christian traditions through a  range of documents and archaeological artifacts from the first five centuries against the background of  Jewish and Greco-Roman cultural contexts-- with attention to their influence on world cultures.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent, or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Fall 1981
Inactive: 
 Area:E
Humanities
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 C2HumanitiesFall 1981
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 3BHumanitiesFall 1981
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1981Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1981Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1.  Summarize and evaluate the evidence for the historical Jesus.
2.  Explain early Christian diversity and the triumph of "Orthodoxy."
3.  Describe connections between Christian scripture, art, and Biblical
     interpretation with major aspects of historical and contemporary cultures.
4.   Explain the relationship of Christianity to Judaism including the roots
     and history of Anti-Semitism.

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
 
1. Account for the foreign and sometimes difficult structure of biblical narrative.
2. Distinguish between the assumptions and hermeneutic techniques of
    traditional biblical exegesis and the methodology and conclusions of
    modern biblical criticism.
3. Delineate critically and aesthetically the distinctive portraits of
    the life and teachings of Jesus in  Gospel accounts - in and outside of the New Testament.
4. Describe and explain the contribution of Paul to the growth of the
    early Church against the complex cultural background of the
    Hellenistic Roman world.
5. Discuss the centrality of the contemporary quest of the historical
    Jesus in the development of modern biblical criticism.
6. Describe the connection between Orthodox and Gnostic Christianity
    and the process of scriptural canonization.
7. Describe the connections between some Christian texts, art, and Biblical
     interpretation with major aspects of historical and contemporary global
     cultures such as: anti-Semitism, support/opposition to slavery, gender roles,
     LGBTQIA persons and ecology.

Topics and Scope
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I. Contrasting Traditional and Modern Methods of Interpretation and Study, such as:
     A. Theological theories of inspiration
    B. Redaction theory
    C. Source theory
    D. Form criticism
    E. Rhetorical criticism
     F. Tradition-historical criticism
II. Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts of the Jewish and Greco-Roman Worlds, Including
    but not limited to:
    A. Hellenism and the Septuagint
    B. Classical philosophy and religion
    C. Cult of the Emperor
III. Apocalypticism and Eschatology
IV. A Diversity of Canonical and Non-Canonical Literature from the Following Genres:
     A. Gospels
    B. Letters
    C. Apocalypses
    D. Martyrdoms
    E. Liturgical literatures
V.    Formation of Institutions and Canon
VI.   Ecumenical Councils
VII.  Historical Jesus & Depictions of Jesus
VIII. The Life, Thought and Influence of Paul
IX.   Women and Gender in Early Christian Traditions
X.    Anti-Judaism/Anti-Semitism in the New Testament and Early Church Fathers
XI.   Influences of Christian Traditions and Scriptures on Support/Opposition to:
     A. Slavery
     B. LGBTQIA issues
     C. Ecology

Assignments:
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1. Weekly reading assignments of between 20-50 pages
2. Two to six  essays of 500-1000 words
3. One to three exams of objective or essay or combined format
4. Two to seven quizzes
5. Final exam (objective, essay or a combination)
6. A research paper of 1500-2500 words
7. Optional field trips and oral presentations

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
40 - 80%
Research paper and essays
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
20 - 50%
Quizzes, exams and final exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 10%
Classroom participation, optional: oral presentations, reports on interviews, museum visits, or field trips


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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The Complete Gospels. 2nd ed. Miller, Robert J. Polebridge Press. 1994 (classic)
 
Did Jesus Exist? The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth. Ehrman, Bart. HarperOne. 2012 (classic)
 
The HarperCollins Visual Guide to the New Testament: What Archaeology Reveals about the First Christians. Reed, Jonathan L. HarperOne. 2007 (classic)
 
Toward Decentering the New Testament: A Reintroduction. Smith, Mitzi J. and Kim, Yung Suk. Cascade Books. 2018
 
The World of the New Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts. Green, Joel B and McDonald, Lee  Martin. Baker Academic. 2017

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