• This schedule is subject to change at the Professor's discretion. It is the responsibility of each student to keep up with schedule changes, even if absent.
• Assignments should be completed in time for class on the day on which they are listed on the syllabus.
• Students should bring to class any texts assigned for the day or detailed notes.

Wed. August 26 Portraying Jesus:  History, Literature, Art

Fri. August 28 Class will not meet.

Get your textbooks, register for the course on Sakai, and get organized for the semester

Mon. August 31 Will the “real” Jesus please stand up? Can we find the “authentic” portrait?

Fredriksen, pp. 3-7
Select Biblical passages (see handout for your assignment); use NRSV Bible in the bookstore, on reserve, or at bible.oremus.org
Recommended: start in on Wednesday’s reading

Wed. September 2 The Cultural Context of Jesus and the New Testament

Fredriksen, Chapters 2 & 5
Religion in the Roman World at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/religions.html
Roman Religion Gallery at http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/roman_religion_gallery.shtml

Early Portraits

Fri. September 4 “John”’s Portrait Part 1

The Gospel of John

Note: Syllabus has the description/assignment for 9/4 and 9/7 reversed. 9/7 is the holiday. We have class on 9/4.

Mon. September 7 No Class – Labor Day Holiday

Wed. September 9 “John”’s Portrait Part 2

Fredriksen, pp. 18-26

Fri. September 11 “Luke”’s Portrait Part 1

The Gospel of Luke

Mon. September 14 “Luke”’s Portrait Part 2

Fredriksen, pp. 27-36

Wed. September 16 “Matthew”’s Portrait

The Gospel of Matthew
Fredriksen, pp. 36-43

Fri. September 18 “Mark”’s Portrait

The Gospel of Mark
Fredriksen, pp. 44-52

Mon. September 21

FIRST PAPER DUE IN CLASS

Wed. September 23 Jesus’ Second Coming

Fredriksen, chapter 9
Revelation (Bible)

Fri. September 25 Jesus in the Early Church

REVISED SEPTEMBER 23
Fredriksen, chapter 10
Gospel of Judas (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lostgospel/document.html -- you can download a pdf of the English text in a link on the lower left)
Gospel of Truth (http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gostruth.html )

Mon. September 28 Jesus’ Childhood

Infancy Gospel of Thomas (http://www.cygnus-study.com/pageinf.html)

Wed. September 31 Early Pagan and Jewish Portraits of Jesus

REVISED SEPTEMBER 25

Pagan sources about Christianity at http://pages.scrippscollege.edu/~ajacobs/rs92/earlyromans.htm
The writings of  a pagan philosopher named Celsus as they are quoted in a book written by a Christian who is arguing with Celsus.  Celsus’s original book does not survive: http://web.archive.org/web/20080126101021/www.bluffton.edu/~humanities/1/celsus.htm
Handout on Jewish Holy Men (pdf also on Sakai at pacific.rsmart.com)

Will the “Real” Jesus Please Stand Up? Who Was the Historical Jesus?

Fri. October 2 How can we know? What can we know?

Fredriksen, chapters 6 & 7

Mon. October 5 An Apocalyptic Prophet!

Ehrman, Jesus (on Sakai)

Wed. October 7 An Apocalyptic Prophet! continued

REVISED OCTOBER 5

Crossan, Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, Chapter 5 (handout & on Sakai)

Fri. October 9 No Class – Fall Break

Mon. October 12 A Cynic sage!

REVISED OCTOBER 7 -- no class today!!!

Wed. October 14 A Cynic sage! continued

Crossan Chapters 3 & 4 (on Sakai)

Fri. October 16 The Life of Brian: A satirical portrait of the historical Jesus

Outline/draft of 2nd Paper due
Watch Life of Brian in class

Jesus in Art and History

Mon. October 19

Read handout on how to read Pelikan
Pelikan Introduction-chapter 3

Wed. October 21 Class will meet in the Library Classroom for workshop

Final draft of 2nd paper due in class and on Sakai
Library workshop & finish Life of Brian

Fri. October 23

Pelikan, chapters 4, 6, 7

Mon. October 26

Pelikan, chapters 8, 10

Wed. October 28

Pelikan, chapters 11, 12

Student presentations on art begin today

Fri. October 30

Pelikan, chapters 13, 14

Student presentations on art

Jesus in the Americas

Mon. November 2 The “Enlightened Sage” of Early America

Pelikan, chapter 15
Prothero, chapter 1

Student presentations on art

Wed. November 4 The “Sweet Savior” of the 19th century

Prothero, chapter 2

Student presentations on art

Fri. November 6 The “Manly Redeemer”

Prothero, chapter 3

Student presentations on art

Mon. November 9 Pop Culture Jesus of the 20th Century

Prothero, chapter 4

Student discussion facilitations begin today

Wed. November 11 Jesus in Asian America

Prothero, chapter 8

Student discussion facilitation

Fri. November 13 African American Liberation Theology

Prothero, chapter 6

Student discussion facilitation

Mon. November 16 Liberation Theology and Latin America

Gustavo Gutierrez selections (on Sakai)

Student discussion facilitation

Wed. November 18 Jesus and Chicano/a Theology

Corky Gonzalez, “I am Joaquin” (on Sakai)
Additional assignment TBA

Fri. November 20

Paper #3 due

Mon. November 23

Begin reading Saramago

Wed. November 25 NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING BREAK

Fri. November 27 NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING BREAK

Jesus in 20th Century Literature

Mon. November 30 Jose Saramago’s Gospel According to Jesus Christ

Saramago, pp. 1-132

Wed. December 2 Saramago: The Sins of the Father

Saramago, pp. 133-243

Student discussion facilitation Fri.

December 4 Saramago: Jesus and Gender

finish Saramago

Mon. December 7 The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: A Jesus Allegory

Lewis (entire book)

Student discussion facilitation

Wed. December 9 The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, cont.

review Lewis

Fri. December 11 The Last Temptation of Christ: Literature on Film

Film screening time/location TBA

Fri. December 18

Paper #4 due on Sakai by 11 am. (There is no final exam.)