Prof. L. Eslinger
Religious Studies, U. Calgary

Teaching

Courses

The department of Religious Studies organizes its course offerings in three divisions: Eastern religions, Western religions, and the Nature of religion. In the Western religions stream I teach the courses on religion and literature of ancient Israel (Hebrew Bible / Old Testament; Rels 301 and 477) and one on the Christian Bible (Rels 273).

The department also offers instruction in the ancient languages in which the world religions' texts are preserved: Arabic (not currently), classical Chinese, classical Hebrew, Sanskrit, and Tibetan. I teach the classical Hebrew courses (Rels 207, 209, 401, 403), which follow a biennial rotation schedule. The next two-year cycle will begin in September 2010.

I also teach a course that spans the myth and literature of the primary "world religions," (more accurately characterized as classical Asian religions). Rels 200 explores these traditions in the context of the human expansion across Asia.

2009, Fall semester

- Rels 377: Research and Critical Inquiry in Religious Studies
- Rels 601/701: Studies in Western Religions

Biblical Literature

The literary study of the Bible carved out a niche in biblical studies in the 20th century. The new literary study of the Bible bracketed the obsession with ancient history to focus entirely on the literary dimensions of the ancient texts. It was a positive change, optimistic in prospect but limited in disciplinary impact. For two centuries prior and continuing in the present, biblical studies has been unable to escape the legacy of sacred history and its short chronology (cf. D. Smail, "In the Grip of Sacred History"). Like all reactionary movements, the new literary study of the Bible also tended to be defined by its opposition to this focus. A fresh start requires a new framework. That can be gained by the broader historical horizons of deep time (adopted from the historical sciences) and the study of myth.

Religious Mythology

The roots of myth lie deep in evolutionary history and a literary approach to myth expands the scope of its analysis to include this ultimate biological context for culture. Within the Humanities, the requisite perspective for an ecology of myth (and culture) emerged in Northrop Frye's observation that enduring literature (and myth before it) is rooted in "primary concern." By primary concern Frye indicated the basic biological needs and compulsions that produce human behaviour and its cultural expressions. Darwinian evolution and "big history" provide an imaginative framework within which the humanistic project rejoins the historical sciences, adding its critical reflexive perspective. Consilience at last?

Publications and current research