Neo-Confucianism Is a Philosophy Which Was Born TEST1

Bible from a historical and a literary perspective adds a rich scholarly discourse to theological interpretations. Before taking this class, like many people I had preconceived notions about the Bible. The book has transformed lands, cultures, and individuals since the compilation of the early books of the Pentateuch. In many cases, the Bible has been a divisive piece of literature, and a contentious spiritual text. In other cases, the Bible has served as a unifying force for individuals and entire cultures. One of the most enriching aspects of studying the Bible from a historical perspective was being able to better place the Bible's books in a broad perspective. Because what remains of the canonized Bible are essentially disparate texts and fragments of writings, what has gone missing from the Bible is as tantalizing as what has been included. When we read the Bible as it currently exists, it is easy to forget that the book was written and edited over the course of centuries: it is not the solid, cohesive tome that many perceive it to be. Also, approaching the Bible from a historical perspective sheds light on the Jewish religion and traditions. Biblical accounts of historical figures like King David are often among the only surviving primary sources from which scholars can draw accurate pictures of the historical landscape of Judaism. Because the Jews generally call the Old Testament the Torah as opposed to the "Bible," there is a tendency to forget the connection between the Torah and the Christian Bible, too.

Because we live in a secular society, I found it easy to dismiss the Bible as an outdated collection of allegories, myths, legends, and religious dogma. Old Testament books like Genesis, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are filled with almost statistical information about men who lived to be five hundred years old and exact measures of wood or precious metals, which adds to the mythical feel of the Biblical texts. Therefore, approaching the Old and New Testaments as works of literature and as historical relics offers a refreshing alternative to theological and dogmatic perspectives, perspectives that often defy reason. Contemporary approaches to Biblical studies demand a high level of critical analysis that I appreciated, but I also enjoy suspending disbelief and reading the Bible as I would any other work of literature.

For example, the psalms are thoroughly enjoyable works of poetry and are tinged with romanticism. Occasionally the Bible contains passages that almost evoke erotic love, as with the Song of Solomon. I found this surprising and enlightening because love as expressed through Biblical texts has in many ways been the foundation of subsequent works of literature. The Old and New Testaments have not only influenced historical and political realities, but artistic and literary ones as well. Countless works of art and literature have been inspired directly by the Bible. Furthermore, the Bible has influenced the evolution of language. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Old and New Testament are filled with phrases and maxims that have become part of common vernacular, such as "nothing new under the sun" from Ecclesiastics.

One of the overarching themes of this course has been to approach the Bible as a multi-authored collection. Each book possesses unique tones and perspectives that emerge upon close and comparative readings. The collective aspect of the Bible becomes especially clear when reading the Gospels of the New Testament. The alternative perspectives of the life of Jesus of Nazareth sometimes offer contradictory stories and interpretations of his life. Learning about the historical time frame for the Gospels surprised me considerably, as it too often seems that the books of the Bible were written concurrently.