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Department of Religious Studies NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA FACULTY OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSE CODE: CRS113 COURSE TITLE: BIBLE GEOGRAPHY COURSE GUIDE CRS113 BIBLE GEOGRAPHY Course Developer/Writer Emeritus Professor A. Faniran Dept. of Geography University of Ibadan Ibadan, Oyo State Course Editor Dr Olubiyi Adewale Benson Idahosa University Benin Course Reviewer Course Coordinator Dr Abel Aor Inyaregh National Open University of Nigeria Head of Department Dr Michael Enyinwa Okoronkwo NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA ii CRS113 COURSE GUIDE © 2020 by NOUN Press National Open University of Nigeria Headquarters University Village Plot 91, Cadastral Zone Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway Jabi, Abuja Lagos Office 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island, Lagos Email: [email protected] URL: www.noun.edu.ng ISBN: 978-058-578-8 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher. iii CONTENTS PAGE Introduction………………………………………………………. 1 What You Will Learn in this Course…………………………….. 1 Course Aims………………………………………………………. 2 Course Objectives…………………………………………………. 2 Working through this Course…………………………………….. 3 Course Materials…………………………………………………. 3 Study Unit………………………………………………………… 3 Textbooks and References……………………………….……… 4 Assignment File…………………………………………………… 5 Assessment………………………………………………………... 5 Tutor-Marked Assignment ………….…………………………….. 5 Final Examination and Grading…………………………………… 6 Course Marking Scheme……………………………………….…. 6 Course Overview……………………………………………….…. 6 How to Get the Most from This Course……………………….….. 7 Facilitators/Tutors and Tutorials....................................................... 9 iv Introduction CRS113: Bible Geography is designed to show how the land of both Old and New Testament Bible, climate, seasons and other components of the geography, including the people and their culture, are reflected or mirrored in the Christian Bible and so help in the better understanding of both the Bible and Geography. The course is a foundation level course. It is available to all students of Christian Theology, and it is suitable for other students in the humanities and the sciences, especially for the liberal, broad-minded scientist. The course consists of 15 study units and is structured into three modules of 5 study units each. Although the study area and material is basically foreign, relating to far away Bible land as well as to a book written by multiple authors, over several millennia and completed about two thousand years ago, the material in the course, like the Bible, is fresh and is relevant to all cultures and times. This course guide tells you briefly what the course is about, what you are expected to know in each study unit, what course materials you will be using and how you can work your way through these materials. It also emphasizes the need for tutor-marked assignments. There are periodic tutorial classes, among others, as shown in the table of contents of this document. Finally, the course will be of great help to both Bible and Geography students by providing a bridge for safe crossing between both. In other words, the theologian will “operate on the ground”, rather than in abstract, while the geographer will develop the much needed spiritual dimension. In both cases knowledge is advanced. What You Will Learn in this Course The Overall Aim of the Course Bible Geography is designed and produced to help students grasp the content of the Bible in its geographical, cultural and historical settings. The course also shows how a proper knowledge of the geography of the Bible land helps in better comprehending the content of the Bible. Accordingly, during the course, you will learn the definitions and connotations of geography, Bible and Bible land. You will also learn the geographical attributes of the Bible land, especially the physical (rocks, soils, vegetation, landforms/landscapes, water, climate, etc.) and human (people, culture, society, religion, etc.) and how these relate to the 113 BIBLE GEOGRAPHY content/message of the Bible. Specifically, the course will elaborate the close links between the physical and the spiritual in the way physical and human, including man-made (artificial) objects (names) are used in the Bible to convey profound spiritual truths. In addition, proper understanding of the content of this course will assist you in the understanding of several other courses. Also as a bridge between religion (the Bible) and science/social sciences (geography), this course will help students of other courses, especially in the humanities, social sciences and the sciences, in addition to its more specific contribution to better grasping of theological education. Course Aims The aim of this course can be summarized as that of leading you to the understanding of: i. The geography of the Bible land ii. The relationship between, on the one hand, the physical features and, on the other hand, the cultural, socio-political and religious life of the Bible people, whether in the immediate constituency of Palestine or that of the wider area with Bible culture. iii. The close link between the physical and the spiritual as found in the Bible. iv. The message of the Bible of “what the Bible is saying” as different from “what is in the Bible”. Course Objectives To achieve the aim set out above, there is a set of objectives, both general and for each course as well as for the modules thereof. It is advisable that you pay attention to these objectives as they are set out at different stages of the course. They should assist you to assess the extent to which the materials at each stage meet the set objectives. The following are the overall objectives of the course, or what you are expected to know and do on the successful completion of the course: a) Identify some of the various ways in which geography is defined and conceived b) Explain the scope, methods and content of geography c) Appreciate the nature and characteristic features of the Bible land, particularly in its restricted (Palestine) perspective. d) Describe the geography (physical, human, cultural, etc.) of the Bible land vi e) Identify the spiritual connotations, applications and significance of the physical and human landscapes of the Bible land, in both the restricted and expanded scopes. f) Appreciate the cultural heritage of the Israelite people as represented by the Bible Working through this Course To successfully complete this course, you are required to read and carefully study all the 15 course units, and read the recommended sources. Each course unit, as well as parts thereof, has self-assessment exercise(s). Also at designated points in the course, you are required to complete submit assignments assessment purposes. At the end of the course, there will be a final examination. The total marks will be shared between the assignments and the final examination, as explained below. Course Materials • Course Guide • Study Units • References • Assessment/Assignment file • Presentation schedule • Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMA) • Final Examination and grading • Course Marking Scheme • Course Overview • How to Get the Most from this Course • Facilitators/Tutors and tutorials • Summary Study Units The following is the outline of the 15 study units of this course, divided into 3 modules of 5 study units each. Module 1 Introductory Geography and the Geography of the Bible Unit 1 Definitions, Scope and Content of Geographical Knowledge Unit 2 Branches/Types of Geographical Knowledge Unit 3 Introduction to the Geography of the Bible Unit 4 The Bible Land 1: Definition and Delimitation Unit 5 The Bible Land 2: Nature and Characteristics vii CRS113 BIBLE GEOGRAPHY Module 2 The Physical Geography of the Bible Land Unit 1 The Land and Landscapes of Israel/Bible Land Unit 2 The Waters and Water Bodies of Israel/Bible Land Unit 3 The Trees, Shrubs and Grasses of Israel/Bible Land Unit 4 The Animals and Birds of Israel/Bible Land Unit 5 The Elements, Climates and Seasons of Israel/Bible Land Module 3 The People and Society Life (Human Geography) of Israel/Bible Land Unit 1 Nations and Peoples of Israel/Bible Land Unit 2 Religion and Religious Worship in Israel/Bible Land Unit 3 Home and Family Life in Israel/Bible Land Unit 4 Work and Society in Israel/Bible Land Unit 5 A created Earth sacred to God Textbooks and References Main: Alexander Pat (Editor) The Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible: Life and Times, Meaning and Message, a Comprehensive Guide. England: Lion Publishing Plc, Herts.: Baly, D (1957). The Geography of the Bible: A Study in Historical Geography. New York: Harper & Bros. Publishers. 303pp Dockey D.S. et al (Eds). Holman Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers. Nashville: Tn. 894pp Faniran, A. (2001). Nature in the Bible: A Commentary on God’s Revelation in His Creation. Sacred – Earth Monograph Series 2: Ibadan: Man & Nature Study Action Centre, 207pp Faniran, A. (2001). Man as God’s Image. Sacred – Earth Ministry Monograph Series 1. Ibadan: Man & Nature Study Action Centre, 34pp. Faniran, A. (2004). Tenants on Earth: A Compilation of Sermons on God, Humans and the Earth. Sacred – Earth Ministry Monograph Series 5. Ibadan: Man & Nature Study Action Centre, 165pp. Stott, John, (1984), Understanding the Bible. England: Scripture Union, Bletchlaj 192pp. viii Others (Supplementary) Areola, O & S.I. Okafor (eds), (1998). 50 Years of Geography in Nigeria: The Ibadan Story. University of Ibadan Press, 474pp. Ayeni, B. and Faniran A. (1990). Geographical Perspectives on Nigeria’s Development. Nigerian Geographical Association, Dept. of Geography. University of Ibadan, 335pp. Douglas, I., R. Huggett and M. Robinson, (1996). A Companion Encyclopedia of Geography. London: The Environment and Humankind. Rutledge: 1021pp. Assignment File In this file, you will find all the details of the assignments you must submit to your tutor for marking. The mark you obtain in these assignments will count towards the final mark for this course, in the ratio of 30:70. Assessment Your assessment will be based in tutor-marked assignments (TMA), seminars and written examination.
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