Christian Scriptures

An introduction to the Old and New Testaments (their contents, historical backgrounds, and major themes) and to appropriate strategies for interpretation of the Bible.

As a common course providing all A&S students a shared foundation of knowledge through the study of the Christian Scriptures, this course will introduce students to the basic building blocks of the historic, living Christian faith.

Students will acquire a greater and deeper understanding of the history, religion, ethics, literature, and text of the Christian Bible, the basic authority for Christian faith and practice.

Students will learn to appropriate critically informed strategies for the interpretation of the Bible—learning various critical perspectives needed to evaluate contemporary interpretations of the Bible. With this broader, more in-depth understanding of the Christian Scriptures, students will be better enabled and better equipped to have informed engagement with others from a Christian perspective—a critical dimension of a transformational Christian education.

The course, then, contributes to a transformational general education curriculum that facilitates the process of students becoming informed and productive citizens of a democracy and servant leaders of faith communities, which highlights the cultivation of normative Christian virtues.

The Christian Scriptures Common Course Full Description - PDF