IDS 347 Religion, Sexuality, and Love in the Ancient World

The course will use an interdisciplinary approach to exploring the relationship between religion, sexuality and love in the ancient world, especially the world of the Bible. Thus, theology, biblical studies, literary analysis, archeological studies, art (special lecturer), history, and psychology (special lecturer) will be the primary disciplines used to explore this curricular topic. More specifically, the course will unfold both the human and divine conceptions of love, beauty, pleasure, sacred practices and the sexual ethics of men and women in biblical times. The subtopics of gender, rites of passage, love, courtship, marriage, divorce; adultery, human sexuality and especially, homosexuality will be the focus of readings and discussions. Prerequisite(s): IDS 201, BIB 277, COR 225 and junior standing. 3 hour(s).