Course Description Masters Level
McCormick Theological Seminary
Course Number and Title: B457 Women in the Religious Life of Ancient Israel
Faculty: Melody D. Knowles
Term: Spring 2011
Course Description:
How did ancient Israelite/Judean women worship in the popular and official cult? How were they
included or excluded from these cults? This class will reconstruct aspects of the religious life of
ancient Israelite women (ca 1250-330 BCE), taking into consideration their historical context, the
practices of other ancient women, and the ideological slant of the historical record. Besides from
the task and theory of historical construction, we will also examine how this project is taken up and
used in the church today.
Some of the specific topics that will be discussed include:
-methodological issues in historical reconstruction (especially as this pertains to
biblical texts and the task of reconstructing the lives of ancient women)
-goddesses and their worship
-women’s role in domestic religion
-women’s role in the temple cult (as participants and cultic functionaries)
-religion at key moments in women’s life cycles (marriage, birthing, death)
-women as prophets
-women as pilgrims
-women’s role in cultic reforms (especially queen mothers)
-historiographic description and theological normativity
Course Objectives:
At the end of the class, students should have a general familiarity with the portrayal
of women as religious actors in ancient Israel.
Masters Program Learning Outcomes
Course Description Masters
Spring 2010
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The learning outcomes established for each degree program are below. The ones that are underlined are those addressed by the
course above. Because a course may be taken by students in any masters degree program, outcomes in more than one degree
program may be addressed by this course.
M.Div. Learning Outcomes
1. Lead communities of faith with integrity, imagination and compassion.
2. Perform the skills related to nurturing the life of faith (for self and others) including
preaching, teaching, care-giving, leading public worship and public ministries.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the Bible and Christian traditions and the ability to interpret
texts and practices.
4. Work and worship with people from diverse backgrounds (racial, ethnic, religious)
informed by knowledge from cross-cultural and anti-racist perspectives.
5. Analyze social locations and cultural contexts in order to develop contextual forms of
Christian ministry.
6. Be proficient in the theological and ethical reflection related to situations and decisions in
local, national and global contexts.
7. Practice appropriate habits of spiritual formation and self-care and possess a growing,
healthy sense of vocational identity.
MTS Learning Outcomes
1. Exhibit the ability to interpret and teach Christian traditions, texts, and practices that
nurture the life of faith and scholarship in themselves and the communities they serve.
2. Articulate a point of view effectively and coherently in spoken and written
communication.
3. Engage in theological research and analysis based upon an argument and construct a
theological essay or thesis article.
MA in Discipleship Development Learning Outcomes
1. Teach basic concepts of Christian belief, traditions and practices.
2. Equip others to engage in a variety of spiritual practices (such as prayer, hospitality, or
worship).
3. Plan and lead programs of Christian formation in a variety of settings.
4. Analyze and evaluate resources and practices for Christian formation.
MA in Urban Ministry Learning Outcomes
1. Examine and analyze urban contexts using Chicago as a laboratory / case study.
2. Draw on biblical and theological resources to reflect ethically on issues of church and
society.
3. Demonstrate capacity to engage in cross-cultural ministries.
Course Description Masters
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4. Evaluate skills and strategies to organize communities and access political power in
urban settings.
Primary Texts
Required Text
Alice Bach (ed.) Women in the Hebrew Bible: A Reader (New York/London: Routledge, 1998).
ISBN: 0-415-915-61-9
Highly Recommended Texts
Phyllis A. Bird, Missing Persons and Mistaken Identities: Women and Gender in Ancient Israel
(Minneapolis: Fortress, 1997).
Carol Meyers, Discovering Eve: Ancient Israelite Women in Context (New York: Oxford University
Press, 1988). Reprint edition: 1991.
Susan Niditch, Ancient Israelite Religion (New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997).
Leo G. Perdue, Joseph Blenkinsopp, John J. Collins, Carol Meyers (eds.), Families in Ancient
Israel: Families, Religion, and Culture (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997).
Tikva Frymer-Kensky, In the Wake of the Goddesses: Women, Culture and the Biblical Transformation
of Pagan Myth (New York: Fawcett Columbine, 1993).
Karl van der Toorn, From Her Cradle to Her Grave. (BSS 23; trans. Sara J. Denning-Bolle;
Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1994).
Approximate amount of work per week students can expect (reading, writing, etc.)
About 100 pages a week of reading and analysis. 1 in-class paper/presentation, 1 response to a
colleague’s paper/presentation. 1 final paper.
Course Assignments and Projects
The class will be seminar style, meaning that a great deal of value will be placed upon the
ability to read the resources thoroughly and critically, and interact with colleagues in a
scholarly manner (engaged, critical, and respectful). Every student will present a paper or
project in class, and be responsible for responding to the work of another student (the
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written form of your response should be handed in to the professor). In addition, the inclass paper/project must be re-worked into a final paper/project.
Papers must be distributed via email by 3:30 on the Friday before the week you are to present.
Failure to submit assignments at the time noted will result in an automatic lowering of the grade by
one letter.
20%
Participation
20%
Response to a colleague’s paper
30%
In-class paper/presentation
30%
Final paper
Course Description Masters
Spring 2010
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