Areas of Teaching
SUBJECT AREAS
New Testament
Christian Origins
Early Christianities
Apocryphal
Literature
History of Christian Thought
Sexuality and Christianity
Early Jewish and Christian Mysticism
Nag Hammadi and Gnostic Literature
Classic
Gnostic Studies
Coptic Language
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Undergraduate Courses
RELI 103 - INTRODUCTION TO NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES
Credits: 3
Focuses on understanding the historical, cultural and religious traditions within the biblical narratives, the process of the canonization of the New Testament texts, the variety of methods of interpretation used to study the biblical materials.
RELI 211 - JESUS AT THE MOVIES
Credits: 3
Explores how the portrayal of Jesus and the biblical narrative has varied in cinema as social, political and religious perspectives have shifted over this centtury.
RELI 306 - SEXUALITY & EARLY CHRISTIANITY
Credits: 3
Studies the development of attitudes toward sexuality and the body in many varieties of early Christianity. A historical-critical and feminist study of biblical texts will be made, as well as extracanonical materials from Nag Hammadi, the Church Fathers, the Apocryphal Acts, and the monastic literature.
RELI 316 - THE ANCIENT GNOSTICS
Credits: 3
A lecture course that covers the beginnings and development of Gnosticism as an ancient New Age movement.
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| Jesus, traditional iconic painting |
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RELI 307 - INTRODUCTION TO COPTIC LANGUAGE I
Credits: 3
A first semester introduction to Coptic grammer and vocabulary.
RELI 308 - INTRODUCTION TO COPTIC LANGUAGE 2
Credits: 3
Second semester introduction to Coptic grammar and vocabulary, with selected readings from the Coptic New Testament, Nag Hammadi, and monastic literature. Pre-requisite: Introduction to Coptic Language I.
RELI 309 - READING COPTIC TEXTS
Credits: 3
Varied readings in original language to include the New Testament, Nag Hammadi, and monastic literature. Prerequisite: Coptic 1 and 2.
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| Apocryphon of John, Nag Hammadi Collection, Coptic Museum, Cairo |
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RELI 310 - CHRISTIAN CONTROVERSIES & CREEDS FROM THE BIBLE TO CHALCEDON
Credits: 3
Traces the development of the major doctrinal traditions that gained authoritative status within the ancient Church from the Bible to the Council of Chalcedon. These traditions are the result of dialogue and controversy between Christians including the Church Fathers, Jewish Christians, Gnostics, Arians and Nestorians.
RELI 365 - NEW TESTAMENT & CHRISTIAN ORIGINS
Credits: 3
Examines the growth of Christianity from its origins as a Jewish group to a religion in the mid-second century that distinguished itself from Judaism. Includes discussion of Acts, Paul's letters, Johannine corpus, Gospel of Thomas, Pastorals, Catholic letters, Hebrews, and Revelation.
RELI 481 - GNOSTIC GOSPELS SEMINAR
Credits: 3
Examines the second century's great debate between the Gnostic Christians and their opponents, the Christians who later became known as the "orthodox". The conflict concerned ideas about "correct" interpretations of the nature of Jesus and his relationship to God and the world. Nag Hammadi texts as well as Patristic literature will be analyzed by individual students.
Full Curriculum in Religious Studies at Rice University
Undergraduate Major Requirements in Religious Studies at Rice University
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| Paul, Traditional Icon |
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Graduate Courses
RELI 504 - JESUS AND THE GOSPELS
Credits: 3
Explores the various portraits of Jesus in the New Testament and extra-canonical gospels (including the gospels of Thomas Philip, Mary and Judas) in order to reconstruct each gospel's Christological interpretation of Jesus as well as the "historical" Jesus himself. Additional readings, research and writing required at the graduate level.
RELI 581 - GNOSTIC GOSPELS SEMINAR
Credits: 3
Examines the second century's great debate between the Gnostic Christians and their opponents, the Christians who later became known as the "orthodox". The conflict concerned ideas about "correct" interpretations of the nature of Jesus and his relationship to God and the world. Nag Hammadi texts as well as Patristic literature will be analyzed by individual students.
RELI 586 - SEXUALITY & CHRISTIANITY
Credits: 3
Studies the develpment of attitudes toward sexuality and the body in many varieties of early Christianity. A historical- critical and feminist study of biblical texts will be made, as well as extracanonical materials from Nag Hammadi, the Church Fathers, the apocryphal Acts, and the monastic literature. Additional research and oral presentation required for graduate students.
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| Demeter at Eleusis, Photo by DeConick |
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RELI 591 - INTRODUCTION TO COPTIC LANGUAGE I
Credits: 3
A first semester introduction to Coptic grammar and vocabulary. Select a Coptic text, read in its original language, and prepare a commentary or an exegesis on that text (5,000 words).
RELI 592 - INTRODUCTION TO COPTIC LANGUAGE 2
Credits: 3
Second semester introduction to Coptic grammar and vocabulary, with selected readings from the Coptic New Testament, Nag Hammadi, and monastic literature. Select a Coptic text, read in its original language, and prepare a commentary or a exegesis on that text (5,000 words).Pre-requisite: Introduction to Coptic Language I RELI 592.
RELI 593 - READING COPTIC TEXTS
Credits: 3
Varied readings in original language to include the New Testament, Nag Hammadi, and monastic literature. Students will select a Coptic text, and in addition to reading it in its original language, prepare a commentary or an exegesis on that text (5,000 words). Pre-requisite: Coptic 1 and 2.
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| Dialogue of the Savior, Nag Hammadi Collection, Yale University |
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RELI 594 - CHRISTIAN CONTROVERSIES & CREEDS FROM THE BIBLE TO CHALCEDON
Credits: 3
Traces the development of the major doctrinal traditions that gained authroitative status within the ancient Church from the Bible to the Council of Chalcedon. These traditions are the result of dialogue and controversy between Christians including the Church Fathers, Jewish Christians, Gnostics, Arians, and Nestorians. Select a piece of patristic literature and prepare an original commentary or exegesis on that test (5,000 words). Work in original languages is strongly recommended, if not required.
RELI 595 - NEW TESTAMENT & CHRISTIAN ORIGINS
Credits: 3
Examines the growth of Christianity from its origins as a Jewish group to a religion in the mid-second century that distinguished itself from Judaism. Includes discussion of Acts, Paul's letters, Johannine corpus, Gospel of Thomas, Pastorals, Catholic letters, Hebrews, and Revelation. RELI 595: Prepare an original thesis on a New Testament text or topic (5,000). Work in original languages is strongly recommended, if not required. Write a lecture about the history of the academic interpretation of the text and present it orally to undergraduates in the course.
RELI 598/599 - EARLY CHRISTIANITY RESEARCH SEMINAR
Credits: Hours Variable
Graduate students will be mentored collectively in research methods and study topics. Seminar topics and assignments usually are linked to regular course offerings of the faculty member, so that the seminar functions as a research addendum or supplement to a faculty's course offering(s).
Instructor permission required
Full Curriculum in Religious Studies at Rice University
Graduate Requirements in Religious Studies at Rice University
Graduate Areas of Concentration in Religious Studies at Rice University
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| Sphinx, Cairo, Egypt, Photo by DeConick |
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