Survey of the Psalms (8 Week Semester)

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Professor Dave, PhD

Star Educator

Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(89)

This is a historical and literary survey course on the Book of Psalms

Class Experience

US Grade 7 - 10

This course combines my one-time course (Introduction to the Psalms) with my multi-week course (The Hallelujah Psalms) into a full 8-week semester.  It is especially for those parents looking for a semester length class for their young learners.  This course may be taken first with no prior classes, and no prior knowledge or background on the subject matter is required.  We start from scratch!  

This is a course in Religious Studies, which is a secular academic discipline not based in any...

I have a PhD in Religious Studies from McGill University (a secular institution), and have taught many courses in the academic study of religion at university since 2008.  See my Teacher Profile for more details.

Homework Offered
Assessments Offered
For each week there will be a quiz based on the lecture.  This is a great learning tool for focusing on important events, historical figures, and literary themes.  
Grades Offered

This class examines the Psalms, which are part of the Wisdom Literature tradition of Judaism, being simultaneously part of the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Old Testament, and the Book of Daud (Zabūr) in Islam.  While the Psalms are religious texts and devotional, this class approaches them as literature using the secular tools of academic analysis.  The presentation will be both respectful and neutral with respect to the subject matter, open to those of any world religion or none at all.  It is not presumed the the students will have any interest in the Psalms other than as history and literature, nor will my personal beliefs be presented.  Instead, the class presents the academic findings of scholars that are inclusive of multiple perspectives, who are listed below in the Sources section.

LaSor, William Sanford, David Allan Hubbard, Federic Wm. Bush.  1996.  Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament.  Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Brueggemann, Walter, and William H. Bellinger, Jr.  2014.  Psalms (New Cambridge Bible Commentary).  New York: Cambridge University Press.  

Gillingham, Susan.  2018.  Psalms through the Centuries: A Reception History Commentary (Volumes One and Two).  Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Hunter, Alastair G.  1999.  Psalms.  New York: Routledge.

Becking, Bob and Eric Peels (ed.).  2007.  Psalms and Prayers: Papers Read at the Joint Meeting of the Society of Old Testament Study and Het Oudtestamentisch Werkgezelschap in Nederland en België, Apeldoorn August 2006.  Boston: Brill.   

Mowinckel, Sigmund.  1967.  Psalms in Israel's Worship.  New York: Abingdon Press.

Available times

Pacific

Table of available sections

Meet the teacher

Professor Dave, PhD

Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(89)

Hello !

I am a professor of philosophy, ecology, and religious studies, and I will be offering classes to help students make that sometimes difficult transition to college and university.  

So often I see 1st year undergraduate students struggle...