FALL 2013 100 COURSE OFFERINGS

100-01 – Religion and Atrocity – HOOGERWERF – MWF – 9:30-10:20 am
In this course we will examine the relationship between religion and atrocity. At times, religion has been a causative factor in the perpetration of violence – or has failed to marshal resistance against it. The perceived connection between religion and atrocity or religion’s apparent impotence to do anything about it has led some to denounce religion. Whether we renounce it or not, it is important to ask: “Why does religion sometimes function to fuel and justify atrocity?”

In the midst of atrocity, the victims who suffer also often turn to religion as a source of comfort, escape, empowerment, or salvation. Religion’s power to alleviate suffering by eliminating its causes or by ameliorating its impact matches its power to inspire atrocity. How do the resources of religion – especially Judaism and Christianity – enable people to cope with the suffering that is caused by personal atrocities or tragedies they suffer?

100-02 – Which Jesus? – BROUWER – MWF – 11:00-11:50 am
“ Which Jesus?” - Everyone seems to have a different opinion about Jesus. Where did these ideas about Jesus come from? Which one is the “real” Jesus? What do those around me and in society believe about Jesus? These are the questions we will address as we explore Jesus through the centuries and search for the historical Jesus.

100-03 – Many Faces of Christianity – EVERTS – MWF – 11:00-11:50 am
100-04 - Many Faces of Christianity - EVERTS - MWF - 12:00-12:50 pm This course will examine the ways different denominations and cultural traditions interpret Christianity in their worship and teaching. Students will attend and report on worship services at a variety of Holland area churches.

100-05 – Navigating the Christian Past – HUSBANDS – MWF – 12:00-12:50 pm

100-06 – Earth and Ethics – BOUMA-PREDIGER – MWF – 1:00-1:50 pm
Global warming, holes in the ozone layer, toxic wastes, oil spills, acid, drinking water contamination, overflowing landfills, topsoil erosion, species extinction, smog. The earth and its many inhabitants are in trouble, claim numerous professional earth-watchers. In this course we will ask these and other crucial questions. And we will learn how religious folk answer such questions. This course, in short, is an inquiry into religion through an environment lens.

100-07 – The Bible in the Real World - Religion – BANDSTRA - TR 9:30-10:50 am
This course will examine how the Bible is interpreted and used in various historical and contemporary issues, such as slavery, human origins, and sexuality.

195-01 – Biblical Hebrew – BANDSTRA – MWF 12:00-12:50 pm
Register for this course under HEB171. Introduction to Biblical Hebrew is a one semester course covering the foundational grammar of the language of the Hebrew Bible, also called the Old Testament. Hebrew is the language of the vast majority of texts in the Old Testament. The course uses the Hebrew alphabet, and we learn the basic vocabularly of the Hebrew Bible, the forms of nouns and verbs, and basic clause types. Class activities include speaking and translating examples from the Hebrew Bible, and writing basic Hebrew exercises. Hebrew conversations, songs, and other activities reinforce language lessons. By the end of the course we will read and undersatnd texts from the Hebrew Bible.