The Bill and Carol Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry
Emory University
2009-2010 Great Works Seminar
“The Ten Commandments”
This Great Works seminar will study the Ten Commandments in both their biblical context and
in the context of the monotheistic religions. The commandments (known in the Jewish tradition
as “the Ten Utterances” of God) are central tenets in a number of religious systems, and there is
a wide variety of commentary on their precise meanings and implications. There are even
differences of opinion as to how to number the commandments --- with the Jewish, Eastern
Orthodox and Anglican traditions counting them differently. Recently, the Ten Commandments
have been the focus of a number of American controversies – including some legal cases that
have reached the Supreme Court. In the seminar, we will examine these controversies in the
light of both the religious traditions and American law.
The seminar will be led by Professor Shalom Goldman of Emory’s Department of Middle
Eastern and South Asian Studies and will meet from 7-8:30 p.m. on these Wednesday
evenings (October 14, October 29, and November 2) for three sessions. Professor Goldman
received a B.S. degree in Hebrew Culture and Education (1977), an M.A. in Middle Eastern
Langugages and Cultures from Columbia University (1980), and a Ph.D. in Hebrew and Biblical
Studies from New York University (1986). He joined MESAS in 1997.
Everyone from the Atlanta community is welcome and invited to join us for this seminar. For
further information and to reserve seating on a “first-come basis,” contact Professor Goldman at
slgoldm@emory.edu, 404.727.2694 or the Fox Center at chi@emory.edu.