Queering Early Christianity

Jesus and John at the Last Supper, Valentin de Boulogne, 17th century

Instructor: Eric C. Smith (he/him/his)

A message about the syllabus.

Course Description

This course surveys some of the major influences of queer theory on the study of the New Testament and early Christianity, beginning with the work of Judith Butler and continuing through the contributions of queer theorizations inflected by affect, violence, diaspora, race and racialization, and trans discourses. The course considers a variety of canonical and non-canonical texts and practices from the first centuries of the Christian tradition, with an eye to how theorizations of queerness help frame inquiry into the formation of Christian “identity” and belonging.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will:

• Develop an understanding of how theories of gender and queerness have influenced the study of the New Testament and early Christianity,
• Become familiar with major attempts to read New Testament texts and early Christian traditions and practices with the resources of queer theories and allied perspectives, and
• Apply these theories and perspectives to biblical texts and other aspects of early Christianity to produce interpretations and understandings that might not otherwise be apparent.

Required Texts (many available in e-book format from Iliff’s library):

Burrus, Virginia. The Sex Lives of Saints: An Erotics of Ancient Hagiography . Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 2007.

Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity . London: Routledge Classics, 2006.

Goss, Robert E., and Mona West, eds. Take Back the Word: A Queer Reading of the Bible . Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 2000.

Hornsby, Teresa J. And Ken Stone, eds. Bible Trouble: Queer Reading at the Boundaries of Biblical Scholarship. Atlanta: SBL, 2011.

Lopez, Davina. Apostle to the Conquered: Reimagining Paul’s Mission . Minneapolis: Fortress, 2008.

Marchal, Joseph A., ed. Bodies on the Verge: Queering Pauline Epistles. Atlanta: SBL, 2019.

Puar, Jasbir. Terrorist Assemblages: Homonationalism in Queer Times (Tenth Anniversary Edition). Durham: Duke UP, 2018.

Taussig, et. al. The Thunder: Perfect Mind . New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.

Recommended Texts:

Brintnall, Kent L., Joseph A. Marchal, and Stephen D. Moore, eds. Sexual Disorientations: Queer Temporalities, Affects, Theologies. New York: Fordham University Press, 2018.

Guest, Deryn, Robert E. Goss, Mona West, and Thomas Bohache, eds. The Queer Bible Commentary. London: SCM Press, 2006.

Note: This course includes three synchronous sessions, in weeks 2, 5, and 8. See the course schedule, and the "Queering Exegesis" assignment for those weeks, for more information.

Here is a short video I made about the class:

https://youtu.be/dG9vUrkhj5M

Course Overview

This course surveys some of the major influences of queer theory on the study of the New Testament and early Christianity, beginning with the work of Judith Butler and continuing through the contributions of queer theorizations inflected by affect, violence, diaspora, race and racialization, and trans discourses. The course considers a variety of canonical and non-canonical texts and practices from the first centuries of the Christian tradition, with an eye to how theorizations of queerness help frame inquiry into the formation of Christian “identity” and belonging.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Develop an understanding of how theories of gender and queerness have influenced the study of the New Testament and early Christianity,
• Become familiar with major attempts to read New Testament texts and early Christian traditions and practices with the resources of queer theories and allied perspectives, and
• Apply these theories and perspectives to biblical texts and other aspects of early Christianity to produce interpretations and understandings that might not otherwise be apparent.

This course offers tiered grading options, in the "contract grading" sense. Students may opt to commit to the choice that best suits their life circumstances and educational goals. Although you are asked to indicate a preference at the beginning of the quarter, you may change your selection at any point in the course. 

To receive a grade of Pass or C, students must complete the following:

Each week consists of three posts (or, in weeks 2, 5, and 8, two posts and a synchronous Zoom). These are worth 2 points each, for a total of 60 points for the course. These posts are “low-stakes” in that they are designed to provoke engagement and conversation, not to be formal academic writing, and they are generally graded on a credit/no credit basis. If a post is egregiously short, off-topic, or unreadable, the student may receive less than full credit. Failure to complete all of these posts will result in a grade of Fail or lower than C, which will not give you credit toward graduation. 

To receive a grade in the B range, students must complete the following:

To receive a grade in the B range, you must complete all the posts as listed in the top section. 

Additionally, you must complete a 3-5 page exegesis of a passage of text from the New Testament or another early Christian writing. This is not a formal research paper, but rather a reading of a text through the lens of queer theory. This could be the beginnings of a sermon or lesson, or a kind of abstract for a longer and more formal academic paper. It should show clear ways that queer theory helps you understand and interpret a text, and in some systematic way consider the implications of theory for interpretation. 

Students who complete this work adequately will receive a B. Students who complete it but exhibit deficiencies (see rubric) will receive a B-. Students who complete this work in an exemplary manner will receive a B+. 

To receive a grade in the A range, students must complete the following:

To receive a grade in the A range, you must complete all the posts listed in the top section. 

Additionally, you must complete a research paper. Due at the end of the quarter, this paper of 5000-7000 words moves students to thinking more deeply about the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of reading the New Testament and early Christianity with the category of “queerness.” This might summarize a common focus in the field (such as applying a lesbian lens to Lydia) and glean insights from across the work of various scholars. Alternately, it might interrogate gaps in scholarship, and suggest directions for scholarship to move. This paper certainly can be centered on the practice of ministry (including pastoral care, preaching, education, etc.), but it should engage these practices on theoretical and methodological grounds, in addition to the practical. This paper should follow the conventions of academic writing, including adequate research and attribution. 

Students who complete this work in an adequate or exemplary way will receive an A (because Iliff does not allow for a grade of A+). Students who complete this work but exhibit deficiencies (see rubric) will receive an A-.