Imperial Biblical Criticism

3 credits · Divinity School

This course addresses the problematic of geopolitics-the differential formations and relations of power revolving around the axis of imperial-colonial frameworks-and the tradition of imperial biblical criticism. As such, the course deals with the juncture between Early Christian Studies and Empire Studies. Its focus is twofold: the world of production-the texts and contexts of early Christianity; and the world of reception-the texts and contexts of geopolitical interpretations and interpreters of early Christianity. Topics to be addressed include: (1) the tradition of Empire Studies as a field of studies; (2) the analysis of the imperial-colonial framework of Rome, including its religious-theological dimensions; (3) overview of geopolitical approaches to the texts and contexts of the New Testament; and (4) the significance and relevance of such study in our contemporary social-cultural world, especially our religious-theological world. [3] Mr. Segovia