Advanced research on the worldview and literature of Sumeria, Babylonia and Assyria. Students’ advanced research focuses on creation stories, wisdom literature, literature that indicates royal ideology or ritual texts. It presupposes some knowledge of Sumerian and/or Akkadian. It is a step toward indepth knowledge that leads to original research in contextual theology involving the Hebrew Bible and Mesopotamian thought.
Students develop specialized knowledge in a particular aspect of Mesopotamian thought and literature. They gain advanced understanding of Mesopotamian thought and literature in order to make valid comparisons for the development of contextual theologies.
Valid cross-cultural comparisons from which to develop contextual theology involves a deep knowledge of the worldview of both cultures. Students develop this level of knowledge concerning Mesopotamian thought in this course.
The research generated leads to valid comparison with the Hebrew Bible.
The study is missionally-driven by its goal to develop indepth research that leads to a cultural informed understanding of the Missio Dei.
The research leads to a development of contextual theology based on valid comparisons between the Mesopotamian, biblical and contemporary contexts.
Mesopotamia shared a number of commonalities with Ancient Israel. As Mesopotamian culture is better understood than Ancient Israel’s, it can serve as a model for a better understanding of Israel’s culture.
Students conduct original research that leads to valid comparisons between the Mesopotamian worldview and culture with the Hebrew Bible. This is an important step in using the Hebrew Bible to develop contextual theology.
Students are measured through papers that analyze a chosen major theme in Mesopotamian worldview and culture in comparison with the Hebrew Bible. Assessment stresses valid comparative method.
