BBCL675

The Bible's influence in cultural and political contests in the Americas dates back to the earliest European colonial ventures of the 15th century and extends into our own time. Americans have marshaled the Bible to support their own side – for or against slavery, for or against war, for or against immigration, for or against civil rights for women and sexual minorities. These contests and their performance of scriptural interpretations are what we call "Bible Politics." Students focus on identifying the contests, interpreting their appeals in light of the historical moment, judging them by what they know of the biblical texts themselves, and encouraging a smart and accessible reinterpretation for the realities and challenges of our own time.

Level: GD (E), GM (E), PD (E), PM (E), TM (E), TP (E),