In this course, students will gain an increased familiarity with the Bible, both as a historical document and a source of influence on the past several millennia of Western culture. We will apply conceptual textual-critical frameworks for material presented in class in order to determine how these biblical texts have been and continue to be deployed in culture, explore the process of translation by examining and creating interpretations, considering carefully the elements involved, and evaluate the diversity of biblical perspectives on various topics relating to sex, sexuality, gender, bodies, family, crime, and society.