This Strange and Sacred Scripture

The Candler Foundry in partnership with Mayflower UCC

Course Information

Course Dates: January 23, 30; February 6, 13, 20 (5 sessions)

Course Time: Sunday’s 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM (online)

Course Description

The Old Testament can seem strange, even disturbing, for many Christians. How do we make sense of texts that portray God as wrathful? Why does the OT contain so much violence? How do we relate to all of the strange laws and rituals? Is there a way to resolve all the contradictions? Drawing on biblical scholarship and pastoral insights, this course offers strategies for reading and responding to the Old Testament in ways that are both faithful and constructive. Emphasis will be placed on how this sacred text, despite its oddities, can inform Christian faith and practice today.

For more information, please email our Coordinator of Courses in the Community Damellys Sacriste at candlerfoundry@emory.edu.

Join the Course Zoom Here

Pitts Theology Library Digital Resource Access

All registered participants in the Courses in the Community program have access to select Pitts Theology Library resources. These resources can be used to research topics, authors, or areas of interest from class discussions. Please click on the link below be taken to the library access portal. If you need any assistance, please contact Cristha Edwards, Coordinator of Digital Initiatives, at candlerfoundry@emory.edu.

Request Access Here

Meet the Instructor: Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio

The Candler Foundry, Director

Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio joined the Candler faculty in 2018. He previously taught at Columbia Theological Seminary and served as the John H. Stembler Scholar in Residence at the First Presbyterian Church (USA) of Atlanta. He is also the director of the TheoEd Talks speaker series and chair of the Metaphor Theory and Hebrew Bible Program Unit at the Society of Biblical Literature. His research and teaching interests include ancient Near Eastern iconography, Israelite religion, biblical metaphors, the Pentateuch, and various topics in Old Testament theology.

If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to reach out to Ryan at Ryan.P.Bonfiglio@emory.edu.