Erskine College

Bible (BR)

125. Old Testament Literature and Interpretation (3 s.h.)
A survey of the literature and religious themes of the Old Testament. Special attention is given to the ancient Near Eastern historical and cultural context of the Old Testament and to responsible methods of interpretation. The development of redemptive history, the role of the Old Testament within the Christian canon, and the religious and ethical implications of the Old Testament for modern living will be explored.

126. New Testament Literature and Interpretation (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR125. A survey of the literature and religious themes of the New Testament. Special attention is given to the Graeco-Roman and Jewish backgrounds of the New Testament and to responsible methods of interpretation. The unity and diversity of the New Testament’s witness to the life and significance of Jesus, the rise of the Christian church, and the religious and ethical implications of the New Testament documents for life today are explored.

200. Biblical Ethics (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 125. A study of selected Old and New Testament ethical texts that explores the nature, content and purpose of “covenant behavior,” and discusses redemptive holiness and wholeness (integrity) as the goals of biblical ethics. Problematic biblical texts seen as raising moral difficulties are examined, as is the application of biblical ethics to today.

204. The Story of Redemption (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 125. An examination of the breadth, dynamics, and progress of God’s redemption plan for his people as it unfolds from creation to consummation. Attention will be paid to both the richness and unity of the Bible’s message.

205. Biblical Interpretation (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 125 and 126. An overview of the history of biblical interpretation, an examination of hermeneutics in the historical-critical tradition and current issues in modern hermeneutics. Orientation to the principles and practice of biblical exegesis. Exploration of methodologies and approaches for the interpretation of the major biblical genres.

300. Pentateuch (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 125. A study of the creation of Israel as a people under God’s redemptive initiative: pre-Israelite history, the patriarchs, exodus from Egypt, wilderness wanderings, Sinai covenant and law, tabernacle and worship. Examination of these texts in their ancient Near Eastern literary and cultural background, emphasizing interpretive approaches and theological themes.

303. The Historical Books (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 125. A study of Joshua through Esther. Attention will be paid to covenant context, literary features, historical contexts, theological themes. Special attention will be paid to each book’s unique contribution to the Old Testament.

304. The Life and Teachings of Paul (3 s.h.)
Paul’s life and teachings on the basis of his letters and Luke’s Acts of the Apostles.

305. Synoptic Gospels (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 126. Historical background, literary problems, and proposed methods of interpretation.

306. Prophetic Literature (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 125. Background, content, and interpretation of the Old Testament prophetic literature.

307. Psalms and Wisdom Literature (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 125. A study of Job, (selected) Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs. These books will be studied in their literary, cultural and theological contexts. The continuing developments of wisdom literature in selected intertestamental writings and in the New Testament will be explored.

308. Johannine Literature (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 126. A course in Johannine literature and theology (i.e., the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, and Revelation) with a focus on the fourth Gospel. Exegesis of selected passages in the light of contemporary research. These documents will be interpreted in light of the historical, cultural, and religious context of the late first century. The importance of Johannine theology for later Christian thought will also be explored.

309. General Epistles (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 126. An examination of Hebrews through Revelation. Selected passages will be examined in order to disclose the structure and themes of these books, and the distinctive concerns of the Christian communities to which they were written.

320. Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 125. This course will focus on the intertestamental literature. Attention will be paid to its value in illuminating the history and religious context of the period, its interpretation of the Old Testament, its development of themes affecting the New Testament, and its role in the creation of Early Judaism.

401. Advanced New Testament Studies (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 126. Systematic studies of selected areas of the New Testament. Since the area of study varies from year to year, this course may be repeated for credit.

402. Advanced Old Testament Studies (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 125. Systematic studies of selected areas of the Old Testament. Since the area of study varies from year to year, this course may be repeated for credit.

Christian Education (BR)

312. Christian Education (3 s.h.)
A basic course in Christian Education dealing with the theology and practice of teaching in the church with special attention to curriculum, teaching methods, programs, and resources for adults, youth, and children.

314. Youth Ministry (3 s.h.)
The course is designed to give an overview of what is involved in youth ministry. Emphasis will be given to development of adolescents, theology of youth ministry, planning a program for youth, and an introduction to resources.

316. Pastoral Care and Counseling (3 s.h.)
An introduction to pastoral care and counseling in the local church setting. Issues relevant to Christian educators, youth directors, and pastors such as understanding the tasks of pastoral care and counseling in light of the practical needs and teachings of the church, when to offer counsel, and when to refer to professional therapy, will be addressed. Several biblical counseling models will be presented.

412. Practicum in Ministry (4 s.h.)
The student will work in a specific ministry context under the supervision of a professional sponsor. At least 120 hours of work shall be completed during the semester. Prerequisites of pre-professional externships apply. Hours earned will not count toward the 30 required semester hours required for the Biblical and Theological Studies track. Pass/Fail.

J-76. Pre-Professional Externship in Ministry (4 s.h.)
The student will work in a specific ministry context under the supervision of a professional sponsor. Offered only during the Winter Term. Hours earned will not count toward the 30 required semester hours for the Biblical and Theological Studies track. Pass/Fail.

Religion (BR)

251. Church History I (3 s.h.)
The history and theology of the Christian Church from its beginning to the eve of the Reformation. The church’s relationship to the Roman Empire, the history and doctrinal development of its Creeds, intellectual currents and institutional developments within medieval Christendom, and the rise of Eastern Orthodoxy.

252. Church History II (3 s.h.)
The history and theology of the Christian Church from the beginning of the Reformation to the present. The major Protestant traditions (Reformed, Lutheran, and Anabaptist), their rise and development, Pietism, Enlightenment, and ensuing religious and intellectual currents.

325. Christian Theology: Structures and Concepts (3 s.h.)
An examination of the methods, structures, and concepts of Christian theology. The Biblical foundation and historical development of the major doctrines of the Christian faith will be explored, with an emphasis upon the Reformed expression of these doctrines and their application to contemporary life and thought.

352. History of Christianity in America (3 s.h.)
The religious history of North America from the arrival of the Puritans until the present. Colonial religion and theology, frontier revivalism, the 19th century evangelical “united front,“ the rise of religious liberalism and neo-orthodoxy, African-American Christianity, the religious impact of the Vietnam War, the relationship between church and state, and the contemporary American religious diversity.

354. World Religions (3 s.h.)
A study of the major world religions and religious philosophies, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The origin, basic concepts, influence, and present status of each religion will be studied, the various religions will be compared and contrasted with one another, and attention will be given to developing a Christian perspective on the religions.

375. Philosophy of Religion (3 s.h.)
A study of philosophical questions that arise from religion, and particularly from the Judeo-Christian tradition. Issues explored include the existence and nature of God, the nature of God’s relationship to the world, the problem of evil, the problem of religious language, the rationality of religious belief, life after death, miracles, religious experience, religious plurality, and the relation between religion and morality.

378. Christian Apologetics (3 s.h.)
A study of various approaches and problems in defending the Christian faith. Special attention will be given to contemporary challenges to the Christian faith. Some consideration will also be given to the ways in which Christian apologetics is related to philosophy, theology, and evangelism.

413. Selected Topics in Religion and Practical Theology (3 s.h.)
Studies of selected topics in the history, psychology, sociology, or philosophy of religion, ethics, theology, or the practice of Christian education and ministry. Since the area of study varies from year to year, this course may be repeated for credit.

420. Contemporary Theology (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: BR 325. An examination of the development of Christian theology from the Enlightenment to the contemporary theological diversity. Attention will be paid to the impact of Enlightenment, post-Enlightenment, and post-modern cultural and intellectual influences on the theological enterprise. Key figures examined include Kant, Schleiermacher, Hegel, Kierkegaard, Harnack, Machen, Barth, Tillich, and Bultmann, as well as contemporary liberation, African-American, and feminist thinkers.

452. Religion and Contemporary American Culture (3 s.h.)
This seminar course examines the interaction of American religion with its cultural context. Topics treated include the persistence of religious commitment in an increasingly secularized America, the “restructuring” of the contours of American religion since the middle of the 20th century, the relationship of church and state, the relationship of religion and the media, and the issues arising from the relationship of religion and sexuality.

Bible, Christian Education, or Religion

410. Independent Study (Credit to be determined)
A thesis course in a particular area of the field of Bible, of Religion, or of Christian Education. The student spends most of the required time doing research work under the guidance of the professor. Independent study is not ordinarily given in lieu of required courses.

415. Honors Program in Bible and Religion (1 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Approval of Department. Requirements include the preparation of a senior thesis based on careful research of scholarly literature and other relevant information. The student will present the substance of the thesis findings to a meeting of a scholarly society or to an on-campus colloquium.

Philosophy (PL)

152. Logic (3 s.h.)
An introductory study of traditional and symbolic deductive logic. Attention will be focused primarily on methods of analyzing and evaluating various sorts of deductive inferences.

201. Introduction to Philosophy (3 s.h.)
An introduction to the academic discipline of philosophy, focusing primarily on perennial philosophical problems (e.g., the question of God’s existence, the problem of knowledge, the mind-body problem, and the question of the meaning of life) and representative approaches employed by philosophers in attempting to solve those problems.

251. History of Western Philosophy I (3 s.h.)
An introductory survey of Western philosophy from the 6th century B.C. to the 16th century A.D. Attention will be focused on major metaphysical and ethical issues addressed in the ancient period and on the issue of the relationship between faith and reason in the medieval period. Special attention will be given to Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Thomas Aquinas.

252. History of Western Philosophy II (3 s.h.)
An introductory survey of Western philosophy from the 17th century A.D. to the 20th century A.D., and a continuation of PL 251. Attention will be focused on major epistemological issues during the modern period, with special concentration on the philosophers of the 17th and 18th centuries (e.g., Descartes, Hume, Reid, and Kant).

301. Metaphysics (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PL 201, or PL 251, or PL 252; or approval of the instructor. A consideration of fundamental questions about reality. Attention will be given to such topics as the nature of God, the relation between God and the world, the nature of the human person, the nature of mind, the question of the meaning of life, the problem of freedom and determinism, the nature of truth, and consideration of questions concerning essences and natural kinds.

302. Epistemology (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PL 201 or PL 252; or approval of the instructor. A study of the nature, structure, sources, types, and limits of knowledge and rational belief. In addition to consideration of the main theories of knowledge and rationality, attention will also be given to various forms of skepticism and the problems they pose.

305. Political Philosophy (3 s.h.)
Selected readings from major works in the Western political tradition.

322. Existentialism (3 s.h.)
An introduction to modern existentialism emphasizing the view of Kierkegaard, Nietzche, Dostoevski, Heidegger, Jaspers, Tillich, Marcel, Sartre, Buber, and Berdyaev.

350. Philosophy of the Arts (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PL 201, or PL 251, or PL 252; or approval of the instructor. A study of philosophical issues concerning the fine arts, including the nature of art, art and morality, aesthetic judgments, and the relation of art to worldviews.

375. Philosophy of Religion (3 s.h.)
A study of philosophical questions that arise from religion, and particularly from the Judeo-Christian tradition. Issues explored include the existence and nature of God, the nature of God’s relation to the world, the problem of evil, the problem of religious language, the rationality of religious belief, life after death, miracles, religious experience, religious plurality, and the relationship between religion and morality.

376. Ethics (3 s.h.)
An examination of classical and contemporary ethical theories. Attention will be given to both meta-ethical issues (e.g., the question of whether there is an objective moral order and the question of the relation of God to ethics) and normative ethical theories (e.g., Kantian ethics, utilitarianism, and virtue theory).

377. Contemporary Ethical Issues (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PL 201, or PL 251, or PL 252; or approval of the instructor. Recommended: PL 376. A consideration of some of the prominent ethical issues of our time, such as abortion, the death penalty, homosexuality, and affirmative action.

381. Special Topics (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: PL 201, or PL 251, or PL 252; or approval of the instructor. A study of the thought of some historically significant philosopher(s) or of some important philosophical problem(s).

406. Seminar (3 s.h.)
Prerequisite: At least two 300-level philosophy courses. An advanced seminar on a topic of current interest in philosophy. Requirements include preparation and presentation of a research paper.

415. Honors Program in Philosophy (1 s.h.)
Prerequisite: Approval of Department. Requirements include the preparation of a senior thesis based on careful research of scholarly literature and other relevant information. The student will present the substance of the thesis findings to a meeting of a scholarly society or to an on-campus colloquium.