"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.

An introduction to Jewish civilization from a variety of perspectives (religion, history, politics, philosophy, literature, and culture) organized around different themes; the theme for Spring 2013 is Environmentalism. Consideration of core ideas, texts, and practices that have animated Jews and Judaism from antiquity to the present, with attention to both classical and modern formulations.

An introduction to the New Testament and its many genres (Gospel, Parable, Epistle, Apocalypse), its ancient Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, and to an array of modern methods (historical criticism, sociological and ideological analysis, feminist approaches) for studying perhaps the most influential set of books in the Western world. Enrollment limited to 35.

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.

How do the world's religions picture the journey beyond death? This course examines conceptions of heaven, hell, and purgatory; immortality, rebirth, and resurrection; the judgement of the dead and the life of the world to come. Readings include classic and sacred texts such as The Epic of Gilgamesh, Plato's Phaedo, the Katha Upanishad, The Tibentan Book of the Dead, Dante's Divine Comedy, and Newman's Dream of Gerontius, and a variety of philosophical and theological reflections on the meaning of death and the hope for eternal life. Enrollment limited to 35.

This course asks the big question, "What is the Meaning of Life?" and explores a range of answers offered by philosophers and religious thinkers from a host of different traditions in different eras of human history. We will explore a variety of forms of philosophical and religious thinking and the ways that they can be directly relevant to our lives.

This course is intended for students who need additional preparation to succeed in courses containing quantitative material. It will provide a supportive environment for learning or reviewing, as well as applying, arithmetic, algebra and mathematical skills. Students develop their numerical and algebraic skills by working with numbers drawn from a variety of sources. Enrollment limited to 20. Permission of the instructor required. This course does not carry a Latin Honors designation.

The poetry concentration stipulates a senior capstone project integrating the skills and perspectives learned through the electives in the concentration and the internships or practical experiences. Students will complete an independent project under the rubric of a group special studies. For example, students might produce and print a chapbook of their own poetry; a portfolio of translations; an integrated packet of curriculum materials for teachers of poetry in a particular grade (K-12), or curate an online exhibit of some part of the poetic process, such as drafts.

By permission of the instructor, for qualified juniors and seniors. A scholarly project conducted under the supervision of any member of the department.