DI3601 - a little help

[muffin66]

i hear this module is a complete nightmare - any truth to this? and if so, what should i know about it & anything i should read before hand to make the experience less awful? this is not about getting ahead, but getting less behind come november...

[android]

Quoting muffin66 from 19:06, 13th Aug 2006
i hear this module is a complete nightmare - any truth to this? and if so, what should i know about it & anything i should read before hand to make the experience less awful? this is not about getting ahead, but getting less behind come november...

Truth? Yes and no. I absolutely loved the module, I just didn't do very well in it. I recommend accepting now that it's about methodology and get ready to delight in poking holes in form criticism, and you should be ok. I found the work quite heavy, but by developing a work ethic (previously undiscovered), I kept up. I recommend looking at John Barton's "Reading the Old Testament" to give you an overview of different types of criticism, or at least the introduction, and check if there's a library collection for the module. You're probably going to cover the following, with a likely book/topic for some:

Source criticism - Flood story, Gen 7, Griesbach hypothesis and Gospel priority
Form criticism - Dibelius. Oh, Dibelius. Don't do what I did and try to read the whole book. Hermann Gunkel on Psalms. jeremias on Parables.
Redaction criticism - Von Rad on Genesis, something about Luke, perhaps?
Social-historical criticism - Try Prof Esler's Luke-Acts book, or his intro to the Galatians one.
Liberation approaches (feminism and liberation theology) - Gustavo Gutierrez and Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza. Don't knock yourself out on this- we only read the two books in my day.
Biblical Theology Movement - Bruggeman critiques this in his mammoth OT introduction, which is a helpful book
Literary approaches - Moberly, Rentdorff (try them on Genesis)
Canonical approach - anything by Brevard Childs
Rhetorical criticism
Structural criticism (I suggest leaving these two till you have a bit of a run up - I still don't understand them)

Sure I've forgotten some. But hope that helps. I think it's wise to get a start now!

[hr]

Isn't it weird when the signature is longer than the message? This won't be one o' those.

[android]

Also should add - familiarise yourself with the following passages, which may well be recurring texts:

Genesis: The Flood, Abraham & Sarah Gen 12, 15?, 21, Hagar in Gen 21-22

Amos

Mark 4, Parable of the Sower

Luke: Jesus' first visit in synagogue ("the spirit of the Lord has come upon me")

[hr]

Isn't it weird when the signature is longer than the message? This won't be one o' those.

[muffin66]

i'm actually going to hate this module...i'm only doing it so i can do a few other divinity modules in 3rd & 4th yr, as this one is a requirement. i'm really wondering if its going to be worth it - after all, if i fail it i won't get to do any of the rest will i! it sounds lethal & heavy going. but appreciate the warning!

[smeagol]

Its awful reputation is well deserved, although its absolute rejuvenation was promised far more fervently this year...

[hr]

I'm playing all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order.

[The fox.]

I changed my degree course in order to avoid it. McDonald and Elliott in one go. Methinks not.

Quoting muffin66 from 19:06, 13th Aug 2006
i hear this module is a complete nightmare - any truth to this? and if so, what should i know about it & anything i should read before hand to make the experience less awful? this is not about getting ahead, but getting less behind come november...