RELG 410 - Dead Sea Scrolls

Credit(s): 3
The Dead Sea Scrolls have been described as the most important archeological find of the 20th century. Since their discovery in 1947, this collection of over 900 manuscripts (written between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE) has been the subject of concentrated study and intense debate. After years of excavation, reassembly, and translation, the Dead Sea Scrolls have profoundly shaped the modern understanding of ancient Judaism and early Christianity. This course will examine a number of the Dead Sea Scrolls, along with the communities responsible for their composition and preservation. We will consider their message within the appropriate historical and theological contexts, as well as their significance for later Jewish and Christian traditions.

Course Level: Undergraduate