This course explores major events and themes in the life and
teachings of Jesus of Nazareth by closely studying early Christian
communities and their gospels, found in the Christian / New
Testament canon (in the Bible) and in extra-canonical texts (not in
the Bible). More than a historical survey of the origins and
evolution of early Christianity, this course examines significant
religious, socio-cultural, and political issues, among others, that
shaped early Christian lived and material cultures, i.e.,
communities, beliefs/practices, and texts. Topics include gospel as
a religious, literary, and performative genre; scholarly theories
and methods
of textual interpretation; the canonization of texts and the
development of religious beliefs and practices; gender and
religious leadership; and competing understandings of cosmology,
the divine, salvation, and spirituality (religious life and
practice). We will consider these and other topics and themes from
the perspectives of early Christian gospels and contemporary plays.
- Teacher: Rosemary Carbine