REL 362 - Approaching the Qur'an

This is an introductory course in the academic study of the Islamic scripture, the Qur’an. The course will provide some of the basic analytic tools needed for approaching and appreciating the text and teachings of the Qur’an, including an introduction to its historical context, literary qualities, esthetic reception and interpretive traditions – both classical and modern. The course is aimed at helping students understand the nature and function of the Islamic scripture both in its native context of Muslim history and cultural life, as well as in its relation to the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament.