Gender, Sexuality and the Bible (BS9032W)

Content

This unit will introduce students to diverse texts from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament that provide representations of gender, women, and sexuality. Students will examine biblical texts within their historical, social, cultural, and literary contexts, and through contemporary feminist and gender perspectives. Students will also consider the use and misuse of biblical texts in contemporary theological contexts and discussions on gender and sexuality.

Learning outcomes

Pedagogy

lectures, discussion, tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

• Anderson, Cheryl B. Ancient Laws and Contemporary Controversies: The Need for Inclusive Interpretation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.
• Brenner, Athalya. The Intercourse of Knowledge: On Gendering Desire and “Sexuality” in the Hebrew Bible. Biblical Interpretation Series 26. Leiden; New York: Brill, 1997.
• Claassens, Juliana L. and Carolyn J. Sharp, eds. Feminist Frameworks and the Bible: Celebrating Intersectionality, Interrogating Power, Embracing Ambiguity. Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies 621. New York: T&T Clark, 2017
• Deutschmann, Barbara. Creating Gender in the Garden: The Inconstant Partnership of Eve and Adam. Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament studies 729. London: T&T Clark, 2022.
• Dunning, Benjamin H, ed. The Oxford Handbook of New Testament, Gender, and Sexuality. Oxford Handbooks. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2019.
• Huber, Lynn R, and Rhiannon Graybill, eds. The Bible, Gender, and Sexuality: Critical Readings. Critical Readings. London, UK: T&T Clark, 2021.
• Loader, William R. G. The New Testament on Sexuality: Attitudes Towards Sexuality in Judaism and Christianity in the Hellenistic Greco-Roman Era. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub, 2012.
• Melanchthon, Monica J. and Robyn J Whitaker. Terror in the Bible: Rhetoric, Gender, and Violence. Atlanta: SBL Press, 2021.
• Sawyer, Deborah F., David Gunn and Gary. A Philips, eds. God, Gender, and the Bible. Biblical Limits. London: Routledge, 2002.
• Newsom, Carol A., Sharon H. Ringe, Jacqueline Lapsley, eds. Women’s Bible Commentary. 3rd ed. Louisville: John Knox Press, 2012.
• O’Brien, Julia M, ed. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Gender Studies. 2 Vols. Oxford University Press, 2014.
• Yee, Gale A. The Hebrew Bible: Feminist and Intersectional Perspectives. Baltimore, Maryland: Project Muse, 2018.

Assessment