Jewish Studies

Course Descriptions

Courses are listed and briefly described below.

Please understand that it is impossible to list all of the various texts that might be used in these courses

Therefore, we have not attempted to list the required texts per each course. These are simply some suggested texts for the courses in question. In nearly all cases, there will be other texts also required. These other texts will be determined between the professor and the student.

Click here for Reading and Writing Requirements.

Also, sometimes a text is listed for more than one course—this, however, does not mean that one can simply read a single text for several courses. If a student has read a particular text for a class, he/she cannot use that same text again for another course.

Next, some of the suggested texts may no longer be in print. If this is the case, the students and their mentors will simply select other, newer texts dealing with the same topic.

It is important to make clear that though we offer studies in a variety of theological and philosophical perspectives, CES does not necessarily endorse all of the positions listed in the course descriptions. However, rather than simply telling students what to think, it is our belief that an institution of education should allow an open atmosphere of learning, and that includes reading, studying, and critiquing various perspectives within Christianity. We believe that students deserve the right to read, critique, and decide for themselves which perspectives they believe to be correct. To this end, some courses are set up to see both sides of a debate: for example see courses TH-603/803 Eschatology, TH-206/406 Sanctification, and TH-615/815 Perpetuity of Spiritual Gifts.

(Number Name Hours Description)

JS-601 The Jewish Roots of Christianity 4SH Jesus was Jewish, His disciples were Jewish, Paul was Jewish, and most of the earliest Christians were also Jewish. Additionally, the Hebrew Bible was the basis upon which the New Testament is based.

JS-602 A History of Christian Anti-Semitism: The Dark Side of the Church 4SH Provides a clear understanding of the phenomenon of anti-Semitism as originated and fostered by the Christian Church from antiquity through the Middle Ages.

JS-603 Religious Ideologies in Conflict: A Survey of Jewish Anti-Missionary Arguments 4SH Provides the student with a view toward the arguments used by modern Jewish sources to challenge and dispute Christian missionaries.

JS-604 Modern Anti-Semitism 4SH Discusses the problem of anti-Semitism in this century: current domestic and worldwide trends in anti-Semitism, "Holocaust Denial," and modern expressions of Christian anti-Semitism as evidenced in the Passion Play.

JS-605 Dead Sea Scrolls 4SH Introduction to what many believe is the most exciting archeological discovery of this century.

JS-606 Judaism in Antiquity (Second Temple Era) 4SH Introduction to some important sects of Judaism during the time of Christ: The Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Christians, Sicarii, Zealots, Ebionites, Herodians, and the Therapeutae.

JS-607 The Jewish Festivals 4SH Introduction to some rabbinic Jewish views of prayer, worship, repentance, and atonement. The festivals will be considered from a biblical basis, and from the traditional basis of the festivals. The Christian interpretations and parallel eschatological views will also be considered.

Beyond The Catalog

Students may choose to engage in studies that go beyond the scope of the courses listed in this section under the Jewish Studies Program. This can be done with the mentor's approval and still earn a major or minor in Jewish Studies by approaching other courses and areas of focus from a perspective sensitive to the Jewish nature or Jewish interest of the subject matter. For instance, Church History courses could be tailored to fulfill a Jewish Studies program by focusing attention and reading on the situation of the Jewish people, or the religion of Judaism in the period of Church History under investigation. In like manner, there are many opportunities to develop courses that are not specifically listed in the catalog.

If a mature/skilled student can envision a profound question about a relationship between Judaism and Christianity, the mentor will seek to help that student develop a course of study to answer that question. The intent of this program is to allow students who are interested in learning about their own Christian faith to do so while working through the Jewish grid that has informed and impacted Christian thought. Since this is a directed studies program, alterations to existing courses can be considered.

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