"Who do you say that I am"? Reportedly posed by Jesus to his disciples, this question remained no less relevant to future generations of his followers as well as their detractors, and it continues to challenge views of Christianity's Christ to this day. This course examines some of the most prominent texts, images and films that have informed understandings of Jesus over the past two millennia and have contributed to making Jesus one of the most well-known yet controversial figures in history. Enrollment limited to 35. Open to first-year students.

This course focuses on the lives of women in ancient Israelite society through close readings of the Hebrew Bible. We look at detailed portraits of female characters as well as the role of many unnamed women in the text to consider the range and logic of biblical attitudes toward women, including reverence, disgust and sympathy. We also consider female deities in the ancient Near East, women in biblical law, sex in prophetic and Wisdom literature, and the female body as a source of metaphor. (E)

Critical reading and discussion of Wisdom texts in the Hebrew Bible and Apocrypha (Job, selected Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Sirach, Wisdom of Solomon, etc.) as well as some of the shorter narrative and poetic texts in the Writings such as Ruth, Esther and Song of Songs.

The Inklings were a group of Oxford intellectuals who met in the Magdalen College rooms of the literary historian, apologist and fantasist C.S. Lewis to read aloud and discuss their works in progress. This course examines the Inklings' shared concerns, among them mythology, philology, recovery of the Christian intellectual tradition, and resistance to "the machine." Readings include essays and letters by Tolkien, Lewis, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield and quasi-Inkling Dorothy Sayers, as well as selections from their major works of fiction, theology and criticism.

Literature, like religion, is a systematic effort to make sense of the human experience. Through the creation of narrative and character, writers discover various ways of defining the truth that underlies our relationship with the world and each other. We surrender to the fictive drama of literature because it resonates with our personal narratives -- the stories we weave to redeem our experience. This course explores a series of literary works that confront the problem of meaning in our lives. There are reading and discussion. Enrollment limit of 20. Meets first half of the semester only.

Topics course. This course examines the concept of the "Holy Land" according to the religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It explores the ways the Holy Land has been defined and sanctified in scripture and in works of art, architecture, literature, poetry and film. It also explores the ways that political rulers have tried to tap into the sanctity of the Holy Land to promote their own legitimacy. The course emphasizes the significance of the common heritage of the Holy Land, as well as how it has inspired religious and political conflict. Enrollment limited to 20.

Prerequisite for students applying to study abroad in Florence. Reading of outstanding works and consideration of their cultural and social backgrounds from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Prerequisite: ITL 220, and/or 230, and/or 231 or permission of the instructor. Course may not be taken S/U by ITL or ITS majors, Italian minors, or students applying to the JYA in Florence program.

Prerequisite for students applying to study abroad in Florence. Reading of outstanding works and consideration of their cultural and social backgrounds from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Prerequisite: ITL 220, and/or 230, and/or 231 or permission of the instructor. Course may not be taken S/U by ITL or ITS majors, Italian minors, or students applying to the JYA in Florence program.

This research seminar is an introduction to research literature and techniques in social-cultural psychology. Cultural psychology focuses on how sociocultural contexts and cultural practices impact and reflect the human psyche. We examine how culture influences social psychological processes, including the self, social support and psychological well-being. We read about and discuss methodological issues in conducting social-cultural research as well as theoretical and empirical work.

Examination of the empirical and theoretical research relevant to anxiety disorders and their associated features in youth. Using a developmental perspective, we focus on risk factors, theoretical models, and methods of assessment and intervention. Prerequisite: 111 and 150 or 253. Permission of the instructor required.