Among the most creative and engaging areas of academic Bible studies to emerge in recent years is ‘reception’ studies – how the Bible has been ‘received’, used, interpreted in art, music, literature, politics, popular culture and more.  In this course we will explore challenging methodological and theoretical questions around reception studies: How should we navigate between the conscious, subconscious and unconscious, whether the ‘receiver’s’ or the scholar’s?  Is academic scholarship itself reception? Who is qualified to be an expert in this complex field? What if anything can we learn about the Bible from reception studies?  Mostly, though, this course will be ‘hands on’; we will explore fascinating examples of how influential biblical texts and themes have been received – from Adam and Eve and the Akedah, through Samson and Delilah and the book of Ruth, to Lamentations and Ezekiel’s Dry Bones.

Final assignment: This course will be assessed by a 20 minute class presentation with a handout (75%), and a multiple choice ‘American’ exam (25%).