Aims

By the end of this course, the student should be able:
- to confront him/herself in a personal and critical way with the reflection developed during the lectures on the basis of biblical texts, and to argue his/her position, showing that he/she is conscious of the complexity of the questions at stake, also when confronted with various philosophical and religious traditions.
- to read a biblical text methodically, showing that he/she understands what is implied by such a process of reading and interpreting a text in the present context.

Main themes

In order to achieve these objectives, the instructor proposes reading certain chosen biblical texts, using a method that is clarified and justified in light of the present cultural context. In reading these texts, he/she develops a reflection on the biblical message about the human being in the world and about possible paths for life. The basic awareness of the plurality of religious and laic approaches protects the discourse from close-mindedness, opening it to different traditions and other approaches.

Content and teaching methods

After an historical and literary introduction to the New Testament, the course will offer an introduction to the reading of the synoptic Gospels and to their message. The evangelical passages will be chosen in view of the diversity of literary forms (miracle, parable, appearance of the risen Lord, infancy narrative) and will be read mainly according to the historicocritical exegesis, the structural analysis or the narrative approach.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

The student must choose a course among 3 possibilities (TECO1210, TECO1220, TECO 1230). Maximum of students in each course: 150.

Other credits in programs