[Wesleyan Home Page]
[Wesmaps Home Page]
[Availability Statistics Search]
[Course Description Search]
[Dept. Search]
RELI380
The Gospel of Mark and Christian Origins
RELI380 SP
Spring 97 Availability (Last Updated on Thu Apr 17 05:00:17 EDT 1997
)
Section Limit Enrollment Available
01 18 0 18
Next Offered in 9798 SP
Borges has written that "the generations of men, throughout
recorded time, have always told and retold two stories--that
of a lost ship which searches the Mediterranean Sea for a
dearly beloved island and that of a god who is crucified on
Golgotha". This seminar will examine the fateful
construction of an epic hero myth of Christian origins by
tracing the social history and patterns of sectarian
formation coursing through and under the Gospel of Mark.
Through a close reading of Mark's parables and
controversies, aphorisms and anecdotes, miracle stories and
passion narratives, analyzed contextually with
contemporaneous Jewish, Greek, Roman, and Christian
literature, the Gospel will be exposed as an apologetic
rationalization of a specific apocalyptic, parabolic and
paradigmatic mythology.
MAJOR READINGS
G. Vermes, THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS IN ENGLISH
Aland, K., SYNOPSIS OF THE FOUR GOSPELS
B. Mack, A MYTH OF INNOCENCE
C. Tuckett, THE MESSIANIC SECRET
W. Telford, THE INTERPRETATION OF MARK
THE OXFORD ANNOTATED BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA
and numerous xeroxed articles
EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
One major paper (10-15 pages);
and 3-4 shorter working papers (2-3 pages each)
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS
This course
fulfills a "Religion in Society" departmental requirement.
Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting
or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the
first class, they will be dropped from the class list.
NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form
to the Registrar's office.
COURSE FORMAT: Discussion Seminar
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Level: UG Credit: 1.00
Gen Ed Area & Dept: SBS RELI
Prerequisites:
None
Last Updated on MAR-10-1997
Contact wesmaps@wesleyan.edu to
submit comments or suggestions.
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459