Biblical / Islamic History

[rbbailey]

I'm teaching (making it up as I go) a course on World Cultures through Literature. It's a fun topic, starting with the Epic of Gilgamesh and ending up with 1984 and Brave New World.

Anyway, when it comes to what we read and discuss, I like to put together my own curriculum with primary (usually translated) source material, peer reviewed work to go with it, and a little bit of commentary and stuff to get the students started.

So, I'm putting together a packet of selected readings from the Quran and the Old and New Testaments. It has to be fairly short, and I'm looking for stuff that sort of says: This is what it's about.

Don't know my Quran well, I've found some good stuff, but if you have any suggestions, it is appreciated.

Now for the controversy.... sigh....

I usually go searching through the internets to find online course material from the university level to use as my history/commentary materials before the students read the related text. This helps my students (seniors) think about college on a daily basis, and it means that I'm automatically getting materials that are defensible on my end, if any parents or school officials come asking.

If one searches for "Islamic history course" one easily finds pages of links from various universities.edu's...

however, if one searches for "Biblical history course" one finds.... well, try it for yourself. ...junk...

I'll let you comment on the reality <--------> conspiracy theory behind this phenomenon.

But I also want non-Christian Biblical history links if you can throw them my way.

[Josh]

Don't know my Quran well, I've found some good stuff, but if you have any suggestions, it is appreciated.

I did something similar years ago. I have the curriculum I used in my classroom. I'll make a note to email you the passages from the Quran I used (hopefully tomorrow?)

[rbbailey]

Cool, looking forward to it!

[Josh]

Ok, here's what I used:

Surah I and II: 1-16,21-25

[rbbailey]

Thanks, I'll be putting things together tonight and tomorrow.

[rbbailey]

Went well. I didn't get a chance to splice in the stuff you sent over, Josh, but I'll put it in there next year.

The students read through a set of quotes from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Quran, then answered the following five questions for homework. When they came to class the next day I split the class into two groups and they discussed the answers to these questions by themselves. Went really well, had lots of good stuff going on in the groups. Now on to the Greeks! Excerpts from Lycurgus, Plato, & Aristotle, then a reading of Antigone.

1. As you read, look for, and take notes on things that you think have had an influence on culture(s) throughout history. Specifically, look for things that we are still influenced by today.
2. Create a Compare & Contrast chart in your notebooks to show related views or main points from each of the three cultures. (Three interlocking circles would work well for this.)
3. Which religion do you think commands the most influence on our modern culture, and why?
4. What do you think is the strongest link of beliefs between any two of these religions? Explain your answer.
5. Rate these religions on a scale of 1-5, on how strict they are with laws being the basis for salvation. Explain your answer with evidence from the texts you have read.

Also, on my web site I used a picture of Bono with the COEXIST bandana across his face. So that was cool.