For many tens of millions of people around the world, the Bible - both its Jewish and Christian sections - is a divinely inspired sacred text which is the basis for their respective faiths and practices. For many people in the West, however, regardless of their religious identity or affiliation, the Bible is a rich, complex literary text which has seeped into the culture for the last thousand years or more. The Bible - specifically the King James Version of it - is perhaps one of the most influential literary texts throughout all of Western culture. Allusions to it, its myriad stories, and colorful characters literally fill the languages that dominate the West. Images from it show up all over Western visual arts, including the modern form of film. In short, if one doesn’t know basic stories from the Bible, one will be at a loss to decipher huge chunks of Western culture, literary and otherwise.

Join us as we take a secular tour of some of the most famous and influential stories in the Bible. We will encounter extraordinary people, stunning stories, and amazing situations as we hit the high points of this remarkable collection of ancient texts. Readings from the King James version of The Bible will be assigned before each class.

Twelve-Week Course Schedule | Thursdays
Sept 05 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sept 12 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sept 19 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sept 26 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Oct 03 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Oct 10 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Oct 17 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Oct 24 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Oct 31 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Nov 07 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Nov 14 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Nov 21 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Nov 28 | No Class
Dec 05 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

This class will be held in-person at WIH and simulcast via Zoom